The evil next door

[A wicked man] “winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,”
-Proverbs 6:13

Our world is so filled with evil. We see it every day on television and in the newspapers. All over the world is there murder and war and horrible atrocities. And there really doesn’t seem like there’s anything we can do about it. I mean, there are tyrants ruling countries right now, and we know that they are evil, and our solution so often is “sanctions.” The U.N. gets together and declares “sanctions,” and this resolution is ignored by half the countries, because they can make money dealing with the tyrant, and the tyrant isn’t hurting them, so why not?

We sometimes forget that the world was trying to make peace with Hitler for YEARS before everyone finally decided to make war with him. England was trying to make deals with him that he could keep the land he already took by force as long as he doesn’t take more. America just washed their hands of the whole mess until Japan bombed an American target. Everyone was much more interested in starting out of the way than confronting evil.

It seems like everyone is talking about a solution of one kind or another. Conversations are popping up everyone on how to deal with evil in the world, whether it be domestic (crime) or foreign.

What I find very interesting is what the Bible says about it. In the Bible, evil is not that thing that is out there – the tyrant or the murderer, or the warmonger. Evil is always something much closer to home.

Solomon is describing this wicked man in a way that I did not expect. I expected him to be a violent man, who was filled with vile hatred for everyone. Not so. This is a man who is subtly trying to get his way.

He is keeping his actions hidden. We can see it in this passage very clearly. He’s not even speaking those things that are wrong. He’s only motioning them. A little wink, a gesture: that’s all.

This is the sort of evil that is a bit closer to home. This is the sort of evil that is in your office, at the gym, at school, and at the store. It’s the sort of plotting that puts a person’s own desires and greed above everything else.

It’s us. It’s you, and it’s me. Solomon is telling us something here that we don’t want to admit – evil is not only that thing across the ocean that’s hurting people. Evil is also you in that business deal, or cheating on our taxes, or speaking ill about others.

This is a call to be honest and upfront with our dealings, but it is also a pointer to the one man who did not fail in this area, and that is Jesus. He alone was honest at all times. He alone did not try to sneakily manipulate things to get His way. He alone did not sin.

We may have failed to live up to His standard, but there is forgiveness for those who confess their sins and trust in Him for their salvation.

Quit winking so much. Be truthful in your dealings. But don’t be confused about this part of it – it is by Him alone that we can be saved, for He alone was without sin. And it is by His strength that you will be guided in righteousness once you are forgiven.