Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Do you have any enemies? Are there people in your life that seem to be after you in one way or another? People who are stirring up trouble? Spreading rumors? Undermining you? Would you like it if you could get even with them…put them in their place…or would you settle for living at peace with them?

God will bless those difficult relationships, IF you live righteously and wisely. Living a godly life includes treating others right, which generally brings the natural consequence of peace. But this proverb teaches more than that. The Lord Himself will calm the nastiest of your enemies and protect you from their schemes…when you walk in obedience. There is a dual blessing in living a wise life – you grow in favor with both God AND men…just like Jesus did (Lk. 2:52)!

Consider a few other examples from Scripture…

God changed Laban from a pursuing enemy to an agreeable father-in-law, and He melted Esau’s murderous heart for Jacob’s trust in the Lord. God let Solomon have a great reign of peace, so he could pursue his philosophical studies. Joseph had peace with his master, his jailor, and Pharaoh. Even the Philistines learned to love David, when hiding from Saul. Daniel prospered under both Babylonian and Persian kings. Esther and Mordecai were promoted to the highest levels of Persia and the Romans allowed Paul a rental house and the freedom to have visitors. Get the point?

God does not promise us freedom from enemies – He promises us that when we do have them, if we live righteously, He will cause even our enemies to be at peace with us. When our ways please the Lord, there is an attractiveness to how we live…a peace, a joy, an honesty, a freedom…that will make even our enemies choose peace over strife.