I Get It

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
I GET IT
Prov 3:29-30
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 30 Do not accuse a man for no reason — when he has done you no harm.
NIV
I have heard in the past about individuals climbing the corporate ladder on the backs of other people and maybe in a sense that is one example of how this may apply. Yet I am having a sense more is afoot here. I am not sure if it is even necessary to speak those accusations in order to do harm to my neighbor. I am thinking that even if I think something ill about him, I am in a sense thinking myself better than he is. I am sitting in judgment and thus it becomes a plot to lift myself up and put him down. This could be nothing less than harming him in some way. I remember one person who said not a word, but nevertheless I believe was doing harm because at the mention of someone’s name, an expression said it all, just a simply raised eyebrow indicated some form of harm, and perhaps that was a plot in itself. To cast some kind of doubt as to the character or personality toward this neighbor was intended. Does not God tell me that as I think so am I? I cannot afford to think anything ill about another, especially those I live close to, my neighbor, or as the Hebrew implies my associates. I believe if I think it, it will come out in some form or another and harm would be in the gate, ready to race through the gossip course to the finish line. I think anything of this nature of harm flies directly in the face of not thinking more of myself than I should and especially the golden rule, of doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. I think if I loved my neighbor as Christ loves me, I could not possibly ever do any harm, or accuse in any manner anyone who lives trustfully near me. Yet I think it is so easy to forget and speak out so form of harm in conversation. I think it might also be too easy, because of thinking too much of myself, to consider some action, or nor action by another as a form of harm against me and thus free me to harm back. Careful consideration to this phrase spoken here must be given. Love covers it completely so I would do no harm. I do not think I am doing justice to this saying of God, but I get it.