Following righteousness instead of violence

Proverbs 11:11 (NLT)
11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

Here Solomon observes good men are generally well liked by their community. For the most part they are liked; but there will be some who covet a good man’s power and prosperity. It is these who by their own wickedness become public nuisances. Their outcries become embittered voices trying to destroy the prosperity of the city. Their evil words can corrupt the goodness of a town and bring it’s virtue to ruin.



This past Saturday rioting began in Britain and as spurred on by protestors who said the police shot a man to death. As these voices of protest rose, so did the violence against innocent people. You would think those who were upset with injustice would avoid injustice against others, but that was not the case. The rioters began burning homes and businesses. It is estimated that in the four nights of riots that have ensued $161 million dollars in damages have been incurred.

"I lost my son," Jahan told a crowd of more than 1,000 that had flooded the neighborhood. "Blacks, Asians, whites. We all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? What started these riots, and what's escalated them? Why are we doing this? I lost my son. Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home. Please!" [CNN]

There were innocent people who lost their lives. There were businesses destroyed. If only the people could have listened to the words of King Solomon. If only they had pursued a course of righteousness instead of one of violence.