--Proverbs 16:7(NLT)
It may be easy to judge, form opinions, or analyze the words and behaviors of others. There are countless forms of media in which analyzing and judging is the meat of their content. Our world seems to revolve around assessing and judging others, but how willing are we to be brave enough to take a introspective step back, and assess ourselves? Questions like, How well am I relating to and loving my spouse? How well am I parenting my children? Is my speech encouraging or demeaning? Are my conversations wholesome or laden with gossip and slander? What about my thoughts--are they optimistic and sound, or negative and pessimistic? Am I walking in faith or doubt and despair? How about my behaviors; are they healthy? Or, am I struggling with habits, addictions, or perversions of some sort? These critical, self-evaluative questions are prudent to ask--but they are rooted in a more critical question, am I living a life that pleases God? It's very sobering to grapple with the realities and challenges of everyday life up against the scriptures. According to Proverbs 16:7, God will even make our enemies to be at peace with us. Oh, the dividends and blessings that come by living a life that pleases God!
Our highest priority in life, as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), is to ensure that we are living lives that please the Father. And the good news is, if upon honest introspection, we find that our speech, behavior, attitudes, mindsets, etc. are not pleasing--we can go to the Father with repentant hearts because He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 145:8).
Hebrew Word Study based on Proverbs 16:7
"When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."--Proverbs 16:7 (KJV)
ways (H1870--derek): moral character, path, conversation
please (H7251--ratsah): delight, approve, enjoy, satisfy, to be pleased
enemies (H341--'oyeb): foe, adversary
peace (H7999--shalam): to be peaceful, live in peace, be sound, restore
***Word Study definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance***