Dear Church,
From the time we are born, we inherently have an interest in what’s sinful. Toddlers make that plain enough, tell a toddler “no” and watch what happens. Teenagers often do the same thing, just with bigger bodies and stronger opinions. Same with Adults. And the truth is, this instinct didn’t start with us. We inherited it from the first sin in the Garden, a bent toward resisting limits, questioning boundaries, and wanting what we’re told not to have.
Yet here’s the irony: What fascinates us from a distance, we despise when it touches us personally. We are outraged by evil when it harms us. We grieve injustice when it finds its way into our homes, our relationships, our stories. Darkness is tolerable in theory, but unbearable when it’s personal.
That’s why Proverbs 6 stops us in our tracks. “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:” (Proverbs 6:16)
This is not a list meant to make us feel superior. It’s a mirror meant to help us see clearly.
1. “Haughty eyes” (v.17) Arrogant eyes look down on others with contempt. None of us wants to be belittled, dismissed, or made to feel small. And yet pride can quietly take root in us, subtle, respectable, even spiritual sounding.
2. “A lying tongue” (v.17) A lying tongue destroys trust. It’s not just about false words, but a fractured character. When truth is bent, relationships suffer, and so does community.
3. “Hands that shed innocent blood” (v.17) The intentional harming of the innocent reveals a hardened heart. Whether through action or indifference, violence against the innocent is always an offense to God.
4. “A heart that devises wicked schemes” (v.18) This speaks of calculated wrongdoing. A mind set on deception cannot be trusted, neither its plans nor its promises.
5. “Feet that are quick to rush into evil” (v.18) This is recklessness without restraint. When someone seems eager to do wrong, everyone around them is at risk, including themselves.
6. “A false witness who pours out lies” (v.19) False testimony has destroyed lives, families, and futures. When lies are presented as truth, the cost is always shared.
7. “A person who stirs up conflict in the community” (v.19) Contention poisons relationships. Whether in a family, a church, or a circle of friends, when someone thrives on division, everyone suffers.
Which of these have you been on the wrong end of this year? What have you felt the sting of? And more courageously, have you found any of these seven in yourself? This is not about condemnation. It’s about clarity.
As the year closes, Scripture invites us not to excuse sin, but to examine our hearts, repent where needed, and step into the new year with humility, truth, and peace.
“Search me, God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23)
Be Encouraged,
Mathews
