Proverbs 1:31

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about sowing and reaping:

Proverbs 1:31 (ESV)

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

Solomon is describing, in chapter one, the differences between the life of wisdom and the life of folly.  He is not bashful to point out the ways of both.   In the above proverb he is focusing on the way of folly.   He wants us to know that those who practice folly and those who pursue folly will be rewarded.   They will be rewarded by the fruit of their lives and their very own methods.    Since the ways (devices) of the wicked are corrupt, they will fall by their own corrupt ways; the same way they want others to fall by that corruption.   The word used here for “devices” is only used three times.   Twice in the Psalms and once here.  In all three instances the word is used the same.  Notice one such use in the book of Psalms by Solomon's father, David:

Psalms 81:12

So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,

To walk in their own devices.

God is describing in that verse, like the proverb, that those who refuse God's ways are going to end up reaping the very things they sow.   This is the principle of the harvest:  You reap what you sow.   We can't tell lie after lie and expect things to go well with us.   We will only reap good things if we sow good things.   That is the point of the proverbs, especially in regard to how Solomon is painting the picture between the wise and the fool.   Wisdom may have difficulty (see Job) but it will always end good (see Job).   Folly may not always look bad (see the rich man and Lazarus story) but will end up bad in the end.