There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace (Proverbs 12:20).

Are you a peace-keeper?  Or a peace-maker?  Do you spend your time wishing and hoping and waiting for peace to prevail?  Or do you actively campaign for it, going out of your way to establish and promote it?  These are a few of the questions that pop out at me from Proverbs 12:20.

I like to think myself as being a peace-loving person.  But when I really think about if, if I'm really being honest, I have to confess that I often don't do enough to promote peace.  More often, I just try to "hold serve" -- adjusting my actions enough to maintain a demonstrable sense of innocence and "righteous" frustration at any kind of conflict that might arise.  All the while, I allow a sense of bitterness and ill will towards others to develop, and I rarely get to the root of the problem.  And in so doing, I actually end up contributing to the problem:  promoting strife instead of peace.

It's a subtle game of deceit.  For instance, I hear that someone has "a problem" with me.  I publicly broadcast, to anyone who may bring the issue to my attention, that "I don't have any issues with that person; but if they have something against me, I would hope that they would come and talk to me about it."  I disavow knowledge of the situation -- even while clearly demonstrating that I've been made aware of the circumstances -- and then I just try to go about my life, pretending like there's nothing wrong, unless someone else chooses to make an issue of it.  I might even go so far as to be extra-friendly around the person who has this problem with me -- carefully demonstrating that there's peace "as far as I'm concerned."  But I never actually get at the root of the problem.  I take on the guise of "staying out of things," while my actions actually let the problem fester and grow.  Over time, I might even become bitter and cynical at this person who has publicly communicated some kind of problem with me, without ever making a point to personally bring things up with me.  I start to plan out what I would say if things ever did work themselves out to the point of actual conversation.  I rehearse a speech, putting this problem-person back in his (or her) place because it took them so long to personally bring the matter to my attention.  I maintain a cover of innocence and sacharine sweetness towards all parties involved -- even while knowing that there are problems under the surface.  I never bring them up, "because that would disturb the peace."  But turmoil increases internally, even if it may have eventually worked itself out on the other person's end.  The other person's problem starts to become my problem.  Even though my heart bristles and boils at the thought of this other person harboring this problem against me, I keep denying it -- both to myself and to others.  And in so doing, I become deceitful and miserable.

Thus, any avoidance of an opportunity to promote peace is a decision to foster deceit, diabolical scheming, and evil.

But there is another way to come out of such challenging circumstances with -- not just diffusing a problem situation, but actually with joy!  It comes down to a deliberate decision to promote peace:  actively campaigning for it, going out of my way to establish and enhance peace in my personal relationships.  Jesus' Sermon on the Mount explains this beautifully.  It says, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God."  Not peace-keepers, mind you:  peace-makers.  And in any kind of conflict situation, Jesus challenges us to go after the problem and not just wait for the problem to come to us.  He says, "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."  Unless we're actively promoting peace with others, our own relationship with God is impeded!  And unless we have an intimate connection with God, we can't experience the fullness of joy.  We're bogged down by the lies that we tell ourselves, the evil within us which systematically destroys us.

But for those who promote peace... there is joy.