2 Good people obtain favor from the Lord,
but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
Do you want your life to make a difference? Do you realize that your life can be a source of blessing to other people every day?
‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life’ (11:30). As we look back at Proverbs 11, we can see all the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul describes in Galatians 5:22:
Love (Proverbs 11:23)
Joy (v.10)
Peace (v.8)
Patience (v.16)
Kindness (v.17)
Goodness (v.17)
Faithfulness (v.6)
Gentleness (v.2b, GNB)
Self-control (v.12)
The image of a ‘tree of life’ (v.30) is a beautiful depiction of God’s favour. It recurs again and again in Scripture, and is also closely linked to the work of the Spirit in our lives (see Ezekiel 47:1–12; Revelation 22:1–2). It is the Spirit who enables and helps us to live the kind of righteous life that is described and to enjoy ‘favour from the Lord’ (Proverbs 12:2).