What are the consequences of seeking evil, according to Proverbs 11:27? Setting the Verse in Context Proverbs is a collection of Spirit-breathed wisdom sayings. Chapter 11 contrasts righteousness and wickedness, repeatedly showing that our choices bring inevitable results established by God’s moral order. Key Passage Proverbs 11:27: “He who diligently seeks good finds favor, but he who searches for evil, it will come upon him.” Observations from the Verse • Two pursuits: seeking good vs. searching for evil. • Two outcomes: favor vs. evil coming back on the seeker. • The language is literal—what is sought inevitably returns to the seeker. Consequences of Seeking Evil • The very evil pursued circles back and “comes upon” the person—inescapably and personally. • Evil becomes a snare; the seeker becomes the victim of his own intentions (Psalm 7:15-16). • Spiritual hardening: the heart grows calloused, dull to God’s truth (Hebrews 3:13). • Broken relationships: mistrust and conflict follow a life aimed at evil (Proverbs 17:11). • Divine judgment in time and eternity; God guarantees justice (Romans 2:5-6). The Principle of Sowing and Reaping • Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” • Hosea 8:7: “For they sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind.” • Proverbs 10:24: “What the wicked dreads will overtake him.” These verses amplify Proverbs 11:27, confirming that the pursuit of evil inevitably produces evil consequences. Real-Life Applications • Examine motives: ask, “Am I chasing anything God calls evil—revenge, greed, immorality?” • Reject small compromises; evil begins in minor choices (James 1:14-15). • Pursue the opposite: actively seek good—truth, mercy, justice—so God’s favor can rest on you (Micah 6:8). Call to Choose the Good God’s moral universe is fixed. Pursuing evil invites the very ruin one imagines will fall only on others. Choose instead to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) and enjoy the favor promised to those who diligently seek what is right. |
    |