Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 12:3, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
American Standard Version
A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
World English Bible version
A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Proverbs 12:3 Meaning & Commentary
No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. Proverbs 12:3 (ESV)
If you have ever built anything like a house or something similar, you would know that having a firm and solid foundation is critical. If your foundation is not strong, what you build stands to topple over. Likewise, a root goes deep into the ground and is not visible. Yet the root gives a tree the ability to stand many meters tall. A tree is not simply just pushed over, but it is firmly rooted in the ground.
Metaphorically speaking, we can say that a tall tree was “established” many years ago, and its root gives it the strength to stand. Jesus used a parable and likened someone who took The Word of God seriously and applied it to their lives as someone who built on a firm foundation: Matthew 7:24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Likewise, someone who tries to build their life on the sand – Anything outside of God and His word is likened to a foolish person who would not be able to stand when the “floods of life” come: Matthew 7:26-27 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
Wickedness cannot establish us and build a firm foundation; instead, being rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus does!
Application
How can we practically apply Proverbs 12:3 to our lives?
Having a firm and solid foundation speaks primarily of two things. Firstly, having a relationship with God and putting His Kingdom first, and secondly, knowing and applying God’s Word in our lives. This is how we also seek The Kingdom of God first: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We must take stock of our lives and what we have “built.” We need to ask ourselves if we have built on God or if we have built our own “kingdom”? Our primary commandment from Jesus Christ is to love God, and then to love others: Matthew 22:37-29 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. If we do the will of God, we will have lasting fruit that will abide and last forever: 1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Whatever is in the world is passing along, so if we choose to chase after the world and what it offers, we will find no lasting fruit.
We are warned against chasing after money, and that riches are fleeting – Meaning that they can come and go and do not pass with us into the next life: James 1:11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
The rich man spoken of here in James 1 is trying to establish himself in wickedness. He has no firm foundation and is chasing after things that do not matter! He has no root in his life and, therefore, no staying or lasting power. As The Bible says, he “fades away” in the midst of his pursuits. When we establish ourselves in Christ and do His will, we have lasting fruit that remains forever! John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I desire to be like the wise man who built his life on the rock. Help me recognize any areas of my life where I may not have built on a firm foundation. I pray that anything wicked in my life will be rooted out so I can only build on Jesus Christ. Give me a desire and a hunger to carry out Your Will and your purposes in my life. I ask this all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
