Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 13:21, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
American Standard Version
Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
World English Bible version
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Proverbs 13:21 Meaning & Commentary
Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. Proverbs 13:21 (ESV)
We see a principle throughout The Bible – the principle of sowing and reaping. It is even mentioned in the first book of The Bible:
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.
We see the principle carried over into The New Testament as well: Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
This is what The Bible is referring to in Proverbs 13:21 – the principle of sowing and reaping. God has set certain “laws” or “principles” in motion on earth. These laws and principles apply to our lives no matter what. God does not decide to reward someone just because He likes them more. Neither does disaster come into a sinner’s life just because we think that maybe God does not like that person.
The Bible says that God shows no partiality: Acts 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality. It is the laws of God that either make or break us. We can decide our choices, but we cannot determine the consequences of our choices!
This is why disaster pursues sinners – they have chosen a certain lifestyle (sin), and disaster, frustration, and heartbreak are the results of their choices. Conversely, a righteous person chooses righteous living and, in doing so, is rewarded with good. This means that he sows to the spirit, as Galatians 6:7 says, and is rewarded with good because of the principle of sowing and reaping at work!
We know that under the new covenant, we are the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. However, we still have a choice to actively pursue and walk with God or choose to rebel against God.
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 13:21 to our lives?
We need to know that if we have accepted Jesus Christ, we are righteous in and through Him: 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We also need to know or be aware that although we are born again when we surrender our lives to Jesus, we must actively walk out our salvation as we follow Jesus. We call this walking in The Spirit:
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The truth is that the desires of the flesh do not go away when we are born again – they are still there. We choose to either gratify them or not, although we are no longer slaves to them, as we once were!
The Bible explains this well in The New Testament: Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Although we have the capacity to sin, we are no longer obliged to sin!
We walk this out practically by following God’s Word and principles in our lives and the Holy Spirit daily. We need to remind ourselves of God’s promises, as we can get weary and discouraged as we continue serving God, but He has given us His Word and His promises to strengthen and encourage us. If we stay firm in serving God, we will reap the harvest He promised us:
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. There is a period between sowing and reaping. If we stick it out while continuing to sow in righteousness, we may not see the reward immediately, but it will certainly come in due time!
Prayer
Mighty God, I thank You for reminding me of the principle of sowing and reaping. I ask that You help me to walk in step with Your Spirit every day of my life. Help me every day to pursue Your will for my life. I ask for forgiveness for when I have chosen to sin and rebel against You. I pray and ask this all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
