Wisdom in Action: Shaping Character through Generosity and Humility
September 23, 2024 - Monday, Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Proverbs 3:27-34
Education is crucial to human development, and it matters what kind of education we receive. I have been an educator for most of my adult life, and in my view, contemporary education has one major flaw: it provides information but does not shape character. Our young people acquire vast knowledge, but they do not know how to live. The Book of Proverbs is written by an educator who aims to form character and teach us how to live. In his school, the main concern is not how to make us knowledgeable but how to make us wise.
We begin the reading of the Book of Proverbs in chapter 3, which belongs to a longer section that sets before the reader its aim: to train us in righteous living (Prov. 1-9). At the heart of this section is the fear of the Lord (see Prov. 1:7; 9:10), which captures the essence of biblical piety. Anyone who fears the Lord will consider wisely their choices in life. They will be guided in their daily conduct by reverence for God and His commandments.
In our excerpts from chapter 3, the author follows in the footsteps of the prophets, telling us to do good and avoid evil. Jesus once said that there is more joy in giving than in receiving (see Acts 20:35). This can also be said about helping others. It brings joy and shapes our moral character. We could paraphrase the saying of John Ruskin and say that "the greatest reward for helping others is not what we do for them, but what we become because of it." On the other hand, plotting evil and quarreling with our neighbors who live peacefully among us undermines the trust on which society is built. Someone who does this reveals a lack of moral character.
The author then moves to the topic of envy, defined by the Oxford Online Dictionary as "a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck." Why anyone would envy a violent or lawless man is unclear. Perhaps the author noticed, as we also realize, that those without morals tend to fare well in the world. Envy could lead to imitation and straying away from righteousness.
The last two verses (Prov. 3:33-34) contrast the fate of the wicked and the righteous. We know the well-known saying of James, influenced by the Book of Proverbs: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Humility may have lost its appeal in the contemporary world, but it is the mark of biblical heroes and, foremost, of Jesus Christ. Thus, instead of imitating the lawless person, we are invited to embrace humility and experience God's grace in our lives.
The person who can help us understand the meaning of today's passage from the Book of Proverbs is Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She embodied the principle of doing good whenever possible, never withholding help when she had the power to give it. Her life was marked by humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to serving others. May we also embrace such a lifestyle by becoming persons of service, compassion, and humility.