Introduction

On Jan 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for all persons held as slaves. Yet for a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, it took nearly 2.5 years for the proclamation of freedom to arrive: June 19, 1865. June 19th is a day that represents both freedom and how emancipation was tragically delayed for enslaved people (Cineas). In what areas of your life or the world are you still praying for liberation?

Study

DO NOT. There are five maxims about relationships in Prov 3:27–31, each beginning with the words “Do not.” These are examples of what the wise do not do (Walvoord et al. 913).

Fundamentally, wise people help each other as much as they can. We cannot do the impossible. We cannot give what we do not have. But when it is in our power to do it, when we have it with us, wisdom says, “Give it away” (Ortlund 78). What experiences or stories help you to sustain motivation and maintain a generous mindset?

3:27 GOOD…TO WHOM IT IS DUE. Who deserves good, or a good?

An alternative translation says: “Do not withhold good from its owners.” Who owns this good?

The original context could entail a few situations:

1. The “owners” could be those who have loaned money and deserve to be repaid (Garrett 84). Psa 37:21a says: “The wicked borrow, and do not pay back.” Some people avoid their obligations. Financially, they may not pay their share of a restaurant tab. Or tangibly, they may borrow a book or an item, and not return it. A wise person seeks to fulfill their obligations at the first chance (Newheiser 66). Have you ever lent someone money and they failed to repay you?

2. The “owners” could also refer to hired laborers owed wages (Walvoord et al. 913). God’s law demanded that the laborer be paid his wages daily before the sun set, ‘so that he will not cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you’ (Deut. 24:15) (Newheiser 65). Have you experienced how employers take advantage of those who are helpless?

3. The “owners” may refer to the needy and poor who plead for help, or victims who call for justice (Garrett 84). They deserve support and charity (Perdue 108). The sense seems to be “the person who needs it” (Reyburn and Fry 89).

In the third sense, if you have good you can do for somebody, you may legally own it, but they own it  morally. No one possesses the right to force you to be generous. And no one can walk into your house and start taking things you own. For thieves, the Bible teaches them, “You shall not steal” (Exo 20:15). But here, Proverbs teaches: “You shall not withhold.” We sin against each other not only by the bad things we do but also by the beautiful things we withhold. All around us are opportunities to breathe life into more people. While we cannot do everything, we can do something. If we have the ability, then they have the ownership. And we owe it today, not tomorrow (Ortlund 78). What is the difference between telling ourselves, “I’m not harming anybody” versus, “I’m helping somebody”?

3:27 DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD. Withhold or “hold back” means to refuse to do the good and right thing for someone. Stated positively we may say, for example, “Do whatever is good” or “Do good to” (Reyburn and Fry 89). A smoother translation would be: “Do not refuse to do good to anyone who is in need” or “Do not hesitate to do good to.…” The preceding verses, especially 3:1–10, make clear that God does not withhold His best; how can we treat others this way? (Lennox 56)

3:27 WHEN IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO DO IT. In English, it would be more natural to begin the verse with this clause: “Whenever you are able to do so, do good to the person who is in need” (Reyburn and Fry 90). What are unique strengths and talents set you apart from others? In what ways do your strengths add value to those around you?

Although the wisdom tradition never teaches the renunciation of possessions in order to pursue a life of poverty, it does stress the importance of supporting those in need. In so doing, one emulates the compassion and charity of Yahweh (Perdue 108). How have you experienced God’s support and help?

Another implication is that a person keeping something a neighbor desperately needs (for daily existence) is a form of stealing (Miller 53). Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

3:28 YOUR NEIGHBOR may be another person, someone you interact with, a fellow citizen, a friend or companion, or more relevantly, a person who has need of something (Reyburn and Fry 90).

3:28 DO NOT SAY…“GO, AND COME AGAIN…” This is an encouragement to give promptly and willingly (Reyburn and Fry 90).

3:28 TOMORROW I WILL GIVE IT”—WHEN YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU. A more natural translation would be: “Don’t tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow, if you can help today” (Reyburn and Fry 90). Are there any (ethical) actions or behaviors I have been avoiding or procrastinating on? What might be the underlying reasons for this avoidance?