In the previous column, I wrote about four actions that God, who is the God of love, hates. In this second part, I share with you three more detestable actions addressed by the writer of Proverbs. The previous four, found in Prov. 6:16-18, were prideful haughtiness, intentional lying, despicable murdering and heartless scheming. Proverbs 6:18-19 (NIV1984) says, “…feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Here we see the three additional actions God hates:
• Thirsting for Evil — Throughout the Bible, one truth resonates — unsaved mankind loves to rush into evil. Since Cain impetuously took the life of his brother, Abel, humans have had an unbridled penchant for rushing into acts of evil. Here in the United States, some are continually seeking how they can destroy lives, businesses and property. The Lord is grieved when such actions continue by people who show no constraint, have no conscience, and lack any sort of compassion.
The Lord knows the heart of such people. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve” (Jer. 17:9-10). There is a law of the harvest — whatever a man sows that is what he will reap. (Gal. 6:7-8)
• Bearing False Witness — Coupled with chronic lying is the quest of the unbridled heart to tear down other people by misconstruing circumstances, character and conversations. The evil-hearted person desires to destroy their enemies and their neighbors. God always knew that men would be prone to have such a sin. When giving Moses the Ten Commandments, the Lord said, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exod. 20:16). Some people think that only applies to testimony in the courtroom, but that is untrue. It applies to gossiping to one person or to a group of people with one intent — to destroy the reputation of the person being talked about. God hates such action.
• Stirring Dissension — This is the seventh of the actions God hates. It was a problem with people of various kingdoms throughout the Old Testament. Throughout the New Testament, some stirred dissension among believers as they opposed the ministry of the apostle Paul.
Why is this last one so detestable to God? Because it involves the actions of the previously mentioned sinful actions in this brief passage. The person who stirs dissension is usually arrogant and is a liar. While he may not actually take another’s life, in his heart he may visualize it. By involving others in the dissension, he puts a scheme into place. By doing that, he may rush into evil.
What God Hates
I do not mean to be redundant, but I must say again that God hates the sin, but He truly loves the sinner. Saul of Tarsus stirred dissension. He rushed into a community where Christians were preaching the gospel with the intent of doing evil to them. He was even guilty of falsely imprisoning believers and often seeing that they lost their lives. Yet God sent Jesus to die for Saul just like He sent Him to die for you and me.
God hated our sin, yet He chose to forgive us because He loves us. Here is a great reminder: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
