Yes, It Was on Purpose

(Pro 12:20 KJV)  Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

In my history class we were reviewing the Homestead Act of 1862.  It had the purpose, and the effect, of making homes and futures available for millions of poor people.  The dispossessed who came here looking for hope found it.  Does that mean that everything that happened was a “joy” (8057)?  No.  You had land speculators.  People made poor choices of location.  In fact between the natural proclivity of humans to make mistakes and the reality of sin there were lots of problems. 

That is the way it is in life.  It doesn’t matter how much good you try to do there will always be people who “imagine" (devise NASB) (2790a) “evil” (7451b).  They see a good thing and look for ways to turn it to their own benefit.  Often that is to your detriment. 

So?  Be aware of the heart (3820) facing you.  Examine your own and make sure that your motives are of “peace” (7965).