by Bruce Billington

Weekly Devotional 8th of May, 2026

In this session, we will look at Proverbs Chapter 11:15-18. 

Proverbs 11:15-18 – “He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates being a guarantor is secure. 16 A gracious woman attains honour, and ruthless men attain riches. 17 The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm. 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”

Chapter 11 now provides a series of verses offering valuable advice on various life issues. Each one is worth reading and reflecting on. 

Before we begin, we should remember that Proverbs are principles, not promises. A proverb, or the outcome described in a proverb, is true most of the time, yet there are exceptions. Proverbs must be understood as principles that, if followed, will usually produce the stated result. Even so, they must not be viewed as absolute promises from God.

Verse 15 - Solomon strongly warned his son against pledging or guaranteeing a loan for a stranger. A stranger is anyone outside of a person’s family. The wise should never pledge a loan to anyone other than a relative, and even greater caution should be exercised before co-signing for a family member. This is especially true if the loan exceeds our ability to repay it. We should never jeopardise our ability to continue supporting ourselves and our commitments. Those who pledge for another create significant problems for themselves. The wise protect themselves by refusing to commit to another’s debt.

Verse 16 – Firstly, this verse is stating that the way a gracious woman keeps honour is how wise men should keep their wealth. Righteous women put great value on honour. It is a wealth they do not want to lose. They are pursuers of the grace of piety.

Kind and gracious people earn respect and admiration, while the cruel and ruthless only cause harm to themselves. This truth applies across all aspects of life, reminding true believers to always act with kindness towards others. 

Ruthless people might earn more money, but that's all they gain. They will be despised by their victims and communities, and in truth, they bring trouble upon themselves. The Scriptures clearly show that people matter more than profits, and money earned ruthlessly is the result of harming others, and when the victims cry out, their cries reach the Lord (Deuteronomy 15:9). This will lead to the loss of any blessing that riches might bring. 

Verse 17 – A person addicted to harmful habits harms themselves and is being cruel to themselves. They may not realise it at the time, but soon they will see that they have caused themselves great suffering through these terrible habits. However, a person with compassion (for themselves) does not harm themselves; instead, they aim to benefit their body and soul with good things. We might not see this as compassion, but we certainly should see it as common sense. In fact, it is both, as we are called to love ourselves (Psalm 39:14; Matthew 12:31 implied) and steward our body wisely (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

Verse 18 – This point, already strongly emphasised in Verse 16, is reiterated here. It warns that dishonest, unethical people ignore the laws of sowing and reaping. They also overlook the fact that there is a just God in heaven who sees all and, in His timing, balances the scales. Those who sow wickedness may gain short-term profit, but in the long run, they will reap the evil they have sown. Conversely, people who sow righteousness have a guaranteed reward. Without doubt, they will harvest the righteousness they have sown.

Most of what we read above boils down to the choices we make in life. Through the Scriptures and the Way of Life demonstrated by Jesus, we are given plenty of advice on all aspects of life. Let us incorporate these principles into our lives so we can enjoy the blessings of God. 

God bless

Bruce Billington