1. The kind heart (16-23)

The kindhearted woman gains honor and benefits herself. But a beautiful woman with no discretion is like a pig with a gold ring in its nose. The ruthless man is cruel and he brings ruin on himself. The wise man sows kindness and he reaps a sure reward, life. The wicked man pursues unrighteousness and finds death. The Good Samaritan was kind even to a stranger (Lk 10:30-37). The high priest and the Levi were unkind to the needy. Our Lord Jesus was a gentle and kindhearted shepherd. The Lord detests the unkind but he delights in the righteous whose heart is kind.

2. Give freely to win souls (24-31)

Christianity begins with God who gave his one and only son as a sacrificial Lamb. When we freely give the word of God, love and any material, we will gain even more. The wise refresh others and God refreshes them. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He wins souls. But the wicked withholds unduly, hoards grain but comes to poverty. He will be the servant of the wise.