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On Oct 25, 2006: Proverbs 19 · Teachings On This Day On FerventWord

• You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2006. But this evening we're in Proverbs chapter 19. Now, we've been studying this for a few months now. This is the book of Proverbs. It's the sayings of the wisest men, Solomon, who asked for wisdom of God and became the wisest man of his time. And in fact, the wisest man of all history, except for Jesus Christ, of course. And so he he's written down for us so many of these proverbs, these one liners really that speak really well. really deep about life and the truth and the principles that God has called us to live by. Yet, what's interesting about these words and these sayings of the wise and all of these things that Solomon has written down for us is that even though these are the sayings of the wisest men... We find here the simplicity of God's word. None of these truths are rocket science or quantum physics. None of these truths are really new information to us. They're very basic and simple in nature. The challenge of the Proverbs is not to our intellect in trying to understand them or figure them out or think about them and know what they mean. But the challenge in these Proverbs and the challenge in what is written before us this evening is our obedience and not our intellect. The challenge is to believe these truths. And to put them into practice, to live by them and allow God to use them to direct our hearts and our lives. And so I want to encourage you this evening as we go through this chapter, chapter 19, to ask God to be speaking to your heart. where you need to practice these things and where they need to be applied to your life rather than just skimming over them and recognizing the general truths that are there. Lord, what do you want to speak to me, to my heart? And how do you want this to apply in my life this evening? Let's start in verse one. It says, better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Now, I think this should be a requirement for all salespeople. They need to memorize this verse and have this on their shirts and on their hands and on their badges and everywhere they go. That it's more important to have integrity than to have riches. Now, the important thing in here, again, is for us to believe it. Believe that keeping your integrity is more important than getting ahead, than obtaining more, than getting more financially or any other way. Keeping your integrity is more important than any of those things. Now, here's the hard part, because we might agree with the overall principle, but usually what is presented to us Does not seem to be so dramatic, right? It doesn't seem to be so crucial when it's presented to us, because in life, when we're faced with decisions about keeping our integrity or compromising our integrity for something else, it's not usually in humongous areas. But what's presented to us is dramatic. Little steps of compromise. Compromise is just a little bit of something. It's not a complete turning away and abandoning of things, but it's just a little bit of wavering on our guidelines, a wavering on our morals, a wavering in our integrity. You know, we... justify it and think, you know, it's just a little bit of a lie. It's just a little bit of twisting the truth or it's just a little withholding of information. It's not really a big deal. I'm not, you know, trying to wreck people's lives. It's just a little thing. It's just a little bit cutting down of my coworker or it's just a little bit of an exaggeration. We need to learn from the Proverbs this evening not to compromise. Hold your ground. It's better to have integrity and be poor than to get ahead at the expense of compromising your lips and having their perversity or crookedness lies in deception. It's foolish to do so. Believe God at his word and be a person of integrity. Verse two. He says also, it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge. And he sins who hastens with his feet. If the last proverb was for salespeople, this proverb is for consumers. Don't be without knowledge and don't hasten with your feet. You ever rush into things? It's not something that we're called to do. I don't know if you're like me. Have you ever made an impulsive purchase and then later regretted it? My dad would always tell me when I was young, never worked, but he would always tell me, wait one week, wait one week and And see if you still want that thing. Because I would always, I would see it and then immediately, boom, I would need it right then, right there. I couldn't wait for it. A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to buy a truck. And so that same day, I went looking around and that same day, I ended up purchasing a truck that I couldn't afford and had all kinds of problems with later. And you guys will A lot of you know that story. So this is an important principle, not to be impulsive, not to rush into things, but to have knowledge. But of course, this verse is not just talking about shopping. It's not good for us to be without knowledge. Not that we should read the encyclopedia, but that we should be growing in our knowledge of God in your life, in the situations that you face. Don't rush into things. But wait and pray and see what God has to say and what he would have you do rather than rushing in immediately because of the urgency of a situation. Verse 3. The foolishness of a man twists his way and his heart frets against the Lord. I really like the New International Version, the way it renders this verse. It says, a man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord. And it's so true. This is how we are. Now, going back to the beginning of Proverbs, if you remember back in the early chapters of 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the picture there of wisdom calling aloud in the open places, begging for all those who are here to come and receive wisdom and be wise and to get understanding. God is begging us to listen to him. He's calling us to live wisdom. By his principles and he's making it readily available to us. He's not hiding off in a dark corner where we can't find him. But in the open places, wisdom is calling aloud and saying, look, this is how God wants you to live. This is the principles he wants you to live by. And yet it's a man's own folly that ruins his life. And his heart rages against the Lord. It's not God's fault. He's presented every opportunity for us to learn his principles, for us to walk with him and have the strength to be obedient to his word. But when we disregard that and when we think that we can do it anyway and go against those things anyway, when we don't seek after the wisdom that God makes available, when we Think that our situation is different and that the scriptures don't apply to what we're going through. Then we end up and we find ourselves in a mess. And there in that mess, what do we do? We blame God. God, it's your fault. Why did you let me get here? Why didn't you tell me? Or why didn't you fix this? A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord. This evening, if your life is a mess, if you're in a troubled spot, don't blame God. Recognize that it's our own foolishness that gets us there. And the solution to that is to draw close to God and start living by his principles. And he will begin to clean up the mess. You didn't get there overnight and it won't get God won't get you out overnight. But as you draw close to him and live by his principles, he'll clean up the messes of your life and he'll restore the years that the locusts and the worm has eaten. He's in the business of transforming and changing lives. Verse four. Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. Here's a recognition of the truth of how many people are and how life is. That in this life, wealth makes many friends. Those who are wealthy have lots of friends. There's not a shortage of friends for the wealthy. But for the poor, there's separation. There's a need for friends, but there's not many who will fill the gap. Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the prodigal son. If you remember Luke chapter 15 verses 11 through 32. And there Jesus talked about the son who received his inheritance right away and went off and and wasted his inheritance with prodigal living. But while he had the money and while he was doing the partying and and having a great time, he had lots of friends. But then afterwards, when the money was gone, when he was a poor man, he ended up in the pigsty feeding the pigs, craving the food that he was giving to the pigs. There was nobody there with him any longer. The wealth was gone and so went his friends. Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friends. And the challenge for you and I is to be the friend of Proverbs 18, 24 that we looked at last week, which says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. And of course, that friend speaks to us of Jesus Christ. But as Jesus called us to love one another, as he has loved us, we're called to that same type of friendship, regardless of whether the person is wealthy or is beneficial for us to be a friend with them, whether it's difficult or easy. We are to love people, to be their friends, to be there with them through Through the hard times and through the easy times, we need to love people regardless of their financial situation or social status. Verse 5, a false witness will not go unpunished and he who speaks lies will not escape. Here we see, as the Proverbs in his usual style, he's going from topic to topic and he'll touch on some of these again and we'll see them over and over throughout the chapter. But he talks now about a false witness and he says, listen, the false witness will not go unpunished. And there's always that sense of injustice that takes place when you know the person is not telling the truth. When the person gets off from the crime that they committed or or from the penalty that they should receive. Because of these false witnesses, and God promises us, He lets us know, listen, be assured, the false witness will not go unpunished. They may think that they have gotten away with it, but they will get what is coming to them. This is a promise from God, because you cannot get away with sin. You will reap what you sow. And this is important for us to realize because it's not just talking about a courtroom. That's what we think of when we see the words false witness. But he goes on to say that he who speaks lies will not escape. Do you speak lies? We need to believe God's word and live by it and understand we're not to be speaking lies, but to be speaking the truth because he who speaks lies will not escape. Don't think that you can get away with it. You will get what you deserve. Sin will find you out. And the wages of sin is death, Romans 6, 23 tells us. And so we must learn to live and believe God's word and to be people who speak the truth. Verses 6 and 7. Many entreat the favor of nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the brothers of the poor hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him? He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. These verses echo the same message that we looked at in verse 4. People are friendly to those who may be able to help them, whether in the area of money or giving of presents, popularity or notoriety, promotion or maybe receiving a raise, or even just in pride and boosting their ego, We're quick to be friends with those who can do those things for us. They're eager to be a friend of someone who can help them. But the poor begs for friends. They abandon the poor, even though he entreats them with words and begs them and calls out to them and invites them and speaks to them. Yet the poor are often abandoned. It reveals to us how wicked and conniving we can be. Again, the challenge for us is to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. The friend that loves at all times. The friend that is always there to minister, to bless, to serve those around them. As a body, as believers, let's love people. Regardless of their financial situation or social status, let's love people. And serve them and be their friend no matter what. Verse 8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding will find good. And here we see a theme that we have found all throughout Proverbs and we'll see again this evening. God's commands are for your good. God doesn't command you to do things just because he wants control of your life and just because he wants to make you miserable or anything like that. God's commands are because he loves you and he wants what's best for you. And so he commands you to do what is best that you may be blessed. Knowing God is what is best for you. And so if you really care about yourself and if you really love yourself, get wisdom and keep understanding. Both of those things come from God, as Proverbs 2, 6 tells us. It's the Lord who gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. And so if you really want to take good care of yourself, get in right relationship with God. Make your relationship with God the most important part of your life. Let everything else revolve around your time with him. Get to know him. Fall in love with him. Live by his principles and his strength. Because it's what's best for you. And it's when you will be the most blessed. Verse 9. A false witness will not go unpunished. And he who speaks lies shall perish. Here the same theme we saw in verse 5. In fact, it's almost identical to verse 5. The only difference is the last few words. In verse 5 it says that he who speaks lies will not escape. And here in verse nine, it says that he who speaks lies shall perish. Now, there's something important I want you to remember. The things that are repeated in Scripture, the things that God's not really concerned about, the really important things he only says once. And so this is repeated. No, of course, it's not that way. Right. God's repeating it. Why? Why? Because we need to hear it. Because it's important. He'll keep telling us until we learn to live by it and practice it. And so it's important that God says, I want you to speak the truth. Understand that those who speak lies will suffer. There's consequences to sin. And you won't go unpunished. But there will be consequences. The reaping of what you've sowed if you speak in lies. It's repeated because we need to hear it. We need to apply it. We need to consider our hearts and keep ourselves from speaking lies. Again, obeying God is what's best for you. But disobeying God is very bad for you. It's bad for your health. Verse 10. Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes. Here's an observation by Solomon. Luxury is not fitting for a fool. Now, if you remember, fool, we're not talking about someone who isn't very smart, but the wise and the foolish of the Bible, what Proverbs is talking about, Wisdom is about receiving God's word and living by it. And foolishness is about disregarding God's word and living by their own principles. And so luxury is not fitting for a fool, the one who disregards God's principles and God's commands. It's not fitting. It's not right. It doesn't make sense. For them to be living in luxury. Now, it does happen. It's an observation because it's not fitting, but it does happen, much less for a servant to rule over princes. Again, it doesn't make sense. It's not logical. It shouldn't happen, but it does happen because things just happen in life, things that do not make sense. But even though it can happen. Solomon says it's out of place. It's not right. And anything that's out of place and not right, you can be assured God will make it right. He's going to bring justice. He's going to bring what's right into every person's life. Verse 11, the discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Now, this is something we've seen many times in the Proverbs. Solomon has much to say about our anger. And you know, in our society, this is something that we need to hear. The USA Today, back in June 6th of 2006, published an article which is something that's been coming up and it was announcing that road rage is is actually a disease that affects as many as 16 million Americans, according to the study. So there's a study that says, OK, it's not really your fault. What you have is what's called intermittent disease. Explosive Disorder. It's hard to say fast, but you can do it if you work real hard at it. They call it IED. And so you have this IED, this disorder. And so it's not really your fault that you explode and that you have this road rage. It's this disorder that you have and there's nothing that you can do about it. You can check it out for yourself. USA Today, June 6, 2006, as well as many other news carriers published that study that was found. And so doctors are excited because they never knew it was a disease before, but now they know they can start to treat it. and so on and so forth. But that's the craziness of the society that we live in. Road rage? Oh, it's not your fault anymore. It's a disease. Well, unfortunately, that's not biblical. That's not what the Bible says, but that's what society says. And we find more and more, if you look up the types of rage... that are out there, you'll find all kinds of things. I was looking today, I found air rage, you know, people who get crazy on airplanes. Computer rage. Computer rage is a funny one. It says, the definition of computer rage was, it may result in the physical bashing of a computer and or a computer-related item. Computer rage often involves verbal abuse of a computer and or a computer-related item. So the people... Going off on the computers. Office rage, of course, within the workplace. Road rage, which we just talked about. In England, they also have a couple extra. In addition to these, they have bike rage and trolley rage. And so there's, you know, those issues there in England. But the funniest one I found today was called rap rage. And it's not rage against rap music, but it's W-R-A-P. Rap rage. It's... Here's the definition. It's the common name for heightened levels of anger, frustration, and violence resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging. Wrap rage. The examples were bleach bottle tops, shrink-wrapped cheese, small electronics, which I've had experience with that, milk cartons, childproof bottles, and pull-ring cans are common products that induce wrap rage. So there's all these types of rage, and of course... As they progress, each one will become its own disorder. And society will tell you it's not your fault. You have this disorder and it's this disease. It's this problem that you have and you don't have control of it. And that's why you blow up whenever you try to unwrap your iPod or whatever else that you bought. But here's what the Bible says. If you're not slow to anger, it means that you lack discretion, which is another word for wisdom or understanding. Solomon says the discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. The person who is slow to anger is slow to anger because of wisdom or discretion, understanding because of a relationship with God that has taught them to live life by his principles. James 119, I often quote it. So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and and slow to wrath. It's a command to us, which means that we can be obedient. We're not the helpless victims of some disease, but God calls us to be obedient to his word. And in doing us or doing a command or giving us a command, he gives us everything that we need to be obedient to that. Now, the connection with being slow to anger is with the overlooking of a transgression. If you are quick to anger, if you cannot overlook a discretion, Solomon is saying you lack discretion, which means that you need to spend time with God and get wisdom and understanding that you may learn to have self-control, that you may learn to have love and forgiveness, that you may learn to overlook a transgression rather than blow up as a result of transgression. Verse 12 says, The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like the dew on the grass. This verse speaks to us of the importance of serving those in authority over us. You know, it's dangerous for you to anger a king because he can do something about it. And that's why we are to be obedient to those who are in authority over us. Because, well, Romans 13 says it this way, as far as those in authority. In verse four, it says, for he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be Be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is God's minister and avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. And so the king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion. So be careful. Don't anger the king, but instead seek his favor to serve him and be obedient to him. And of course, this verse ultimately applies to God. Live your life to please God and you will be blessed forever. But if you anger him, if you live contrary to him, and if you rebel against him, watch out. He doesn't carry the sword in vain. Verse 13. A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. You ever had a leaky faucet? Drip, drip, all night long. The continual dripping is compared to the contentions of Now, many have suggested that these two, the contentions of a wife and the foolish son, they've suggested that these two are included together because they go hand in hand. That when a house is full of contention, the children are led astray. There is foolishness in the children as a result. Now, God has given us the proper model for the Christian home. And if you need to refresh your mind on what that is, it's Ephesians chapter 5, verses 22 through the end of the chapter. Colossians chapter 3 verses 18 through 21 and 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 1 through 7. That's Ephesians 5, Colossians 3 and 1 Peter 3. It's important for us to apply those principles. Otherwise, you end up like this guy. This is another thing I found on YouTube. The news today, it's an article from Austria and it's in Vienna. It says this, an Austrian man cut off his ring finger and presented the digit still holding the wedding band to his ex-wife after an acrimonious or bitter divorce. Austrian news reported Tuesday. Pretty incredible what this guy went through. The foolish son is the ruin of his father and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. Look at God's model for the Christian home and live by that. Who knows where it will take you if you do not. Verse 14. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. This is kind of the opposite of the previous verse. Not the contentions of the wife, but the prudent wife, which is from the Lord. Now, there's some things that parents can provide, the inheritance of homes and things. And there's some things that you can provide for yourself. But this thing, the prudent wife, can only be given by the Lord. Now, if you've hung around guys for a little bit, you'll probably notice that prudence is not a feature that guys typically look for it. The guys are standing around and a woman walks by. They don't go, whoa, check out her, man. She looks prudent. That's not what they're looking for. The prudent wife is from the Lord. It's not something we find ourselves, but it's something that God finds us. Now, this verse has special meaning to me, especially today, because it was five years ago today when God spoke to my heart and told me that I would marry Kim. She stepped out, I think. But five years ago today and about an hour and a half ago. The Lord spoke to me about her. And so I've received the prudent wife from the Lord. And so I encourage you guys who are still single, wait until God speaks to your heart. Wait until God delivers that person to you. As I encouraged everyone during the 5-6-7 date series, wait to date until it's out of obedience to God. Wait to date so that if you did not... It would be disobedience to God. Wait until it's so clear that God instructs you. If you don't do this, you're going to be in rebellion to me because God wants to give you the person that will minister to you, that you'll minister to, that will complete you. God wants to fulfill you and satisfy you. Let him provide a spouse for you. Oh, there she is. Hi, Kim. Wait to date until it's out of obedience for God. Verse 15 says, Laziness casts one into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep. Now, here's something that we need to understand. Most things in life are progressive. And what I mean by that is laziness leads to more laziness. Idleness leads to more idleness and eventually the suffering of hunger. Now, of course, this is referring to physical principles, but Understand that the spiritual principles are no different. Jesus stressed to his disciples the importance of staying awake, of being alert and watching for his return. And if you are lazy spiritually, you will fall asleep to spiritual things. If you're spiritually idle, you will suffer spiritual hunger. The suffering of spiritual hunger, the falling asleep are not good places to be. And so don't be lazy in your walk. Be diligent in your walk, in your relationship with God, because it's so important. Romans 12, 11 tells us to never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. It's important for us to be diligent, to press on, to keep our passion and fire in our relationship with God. Verse 16 says, He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die. Again, obedience to God's word is what is best for you. To keep his commands is to keep your own soul. If you keep his commands, you'll be blessed and you'll experience the abundant, joyful life that God desires for you. But if you're careless... If you disregard his word, if you go your own way and do your own thing, you will die. Galatians chapter 6 verses 7 and 8. Another couple of verses I quote very often but are so important for us. It says, do not be deceived. God is not mocked for whatever a man sows that he will also reap for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life, life or death, life or corruption. It's your choice and you choose by where you sow. If you sow to the spirit, You'll reap life. If you're obedient to God's word and you spend time with him, if you develop your relationship with him and stay close to him, If you sow to the spirit, you'll reap life. But if you disregard his word and if you follow your own things, if you if you follow your own heart or follow what society says, if you rebel against what he says, you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption. There will be death taking place in your life. This is why spending time with God is. And spending time in his word is so important. And spending time in times of praise and worship, of fellowship and Bible study, of serving the Lord and using your gifts. Because you're sowing to the Spirit. And from that you reap life and not corruption. Now if you're too busy for those things, understand that you're sowing to the flesh. And you will reap corruption. None of us are too busy for a relationship with the Lord. It's a choice that we make. And if we choose to be too busy for God, we're choosing to sow to the flesh. We're choosing to reap corruption instead of choosing to sow to the spirit and reap life. Important for us to spend time with God. Verse 17, he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and he will pay back what he has given. This verse, like many others, speak very clearly of God's heart towards the poor. You know, as far as the poor are concerned, God counts them as his own. He cares for them so dearly to the extent that he promises to pay back those who give to the poor. He promises to pay back those who show grace and mercy to the poor. to the poor, those who extend kindness to the poor. God takes them as his own. And he says, listen, these are mine. And if you take care of them, I'll take care of you. God says, I want you to take care of the poor. I want you to show grace to them. They're mine. And if you lend to them, you lend to the Lord and I will pay back what was given. Now, there's a common saying that God will be a debtor to no man, which means that as you give to the Lord, he's not going to owe you anything. He's going to give you more than what you gave and what you deserve. And so be generous with the money and the finances and the provisions that he gives to you. Have compassion, show grace and mercy. God will take care of you. Verse 18, chasing your son while there is hope. This is an important subject. Something that Solomon covers several times throughout the book of Proverbs. Parents, you need to know the importance of discipline. And you need to chasten your children while there is hope. Not setting your heart on their destruction. Meaning that if you do not chasten them, what you are doing is you're setting your heart on their destruction. You're setting them up for failure. You're going to cause them to be destroyed. God stresses to us the importance of disciplining and chastening because it's good for children. It's good for all of us. It's an act of love and it preserves life. This is the way that God deals with us. He explains it quite well in Hebrews chapter 12, verses 3 through 11. God, it says, disciplines us because he loves us, just as a father disciplines his son because he loves him. And so, parents, it's so important. It's essential because you are representing God and you are to discipline your children in the same way that God disciplines us. And chastens us. And sometimes, well, chastening, it says in Hebrews chapter 12, is never pleasant at the moment. And so if your chastening is pleasant, then you're not doing it right. It's not pleasant at the moment, but it's good for us. Because afterwards, it brings forth fruit to righteousness. Fruit to life. And so it's important to parents to discipline your children. And if you do not, you're setting them up for destruction. Verse 19, a man of great wrath will suffer punishment for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. Here's the rage issue again. A person who has great wrath will suffer punishment. And even if you rescue him, he's going to get into trouble again. This is a good reminder to us not to be too quick to fix situations. Sometimes we need to let people learn their lessons from their mistakes. Here's the deal. The great wrath, if you are indulging the rage and allowing anger to control your actions, it's going to get you into trouble. And if someone comes and rescues you, that's great. They rescue you. But you haven't learned your lesson. And so you'll find yourself in that place again, giving way to wrath, responding in anger. And we take ourselves right back in trouble again. And so the proverb is saying, listen, if you rescue them, you'll have to do it again and you'll have to do it again. And you'll have to do it again because sometimes we just have to learn the hard way from the pain and the consequences of our actions. Sometimes we need to just let people learn their lessons. You can rescue them, but until they learn their lesson, they will keep allowing their wrath to get them into trouble. And if you're the wrathful one, until you learn your lesson, you're going to keep getting yourself in trouble. Get discretion, get wisdom by spending time with God and allow him to give you self-control over your anger. Verse 20 says, Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days. Wisdom, again, it's not how smart you are, but how well you receive instruction. So listen to counsel and receive instruction. Man, this is such a hard lesson for us. Do not lightly esteem those that God has placed in your life. The right thing to do, the wise thing to do is to listen to them, to receive the instruction that they give to you. And then you will be wise. Verse 21. There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord's counsel that will stand. Now, it's good for us and we need to make plans. But the point is that we must be willing to allow God to be God. Because he knows best and he will do what is best for us. And so the plans in our heart, yes, we plan, we make arrangements, we look ahead. But we need to understand that it's God's counsel that will stand. Now, James warns us about the danger of not including the Lord in our plans. In James chapter 4, verses 13 through 15. He talks about, you know, people as we as we talk and today and tomorrow, we're going to go to such a city and and spend some time here and buy and sell there and make a profit. And then we're going to come back. But James points out, you're talking about all these things and you're planning these things, but you don't know what will happen tomorrow. You don't know if your life will extend that long or what's going to be taking place. You need to remember that life is a vapor. It just appears for a little bit of time and then it vanishes away. And so he concludes by saying, instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. Now, what James is not saying is he's not saying that you just add those four words, if the Lord wills to everything and then boom, it's OK. You can make whatever plans that you want. It doesn't mean that we just add those words, but that we have the heart and the attitude of trusting God. That we make the plans and we look ahead and we do our best because God told us, Jesus said, occupy until I come. And so as long as we're here, we're to be raising a family and to be working and occupying ourselves and serving God in different aspects and planning ahead and looking forward. It's a wise thing to do. But we need to have the heart that says, Lord, I'm doing my best to occupy until you come. But you are free to disrupt and change my plans according to your will. Because our hearts and you know how it is. You have these things planned. Right. And you get all set up for it. And then something changes. And boy, does it get us upset. I wasn't planning on this traffic. And man, it just makes me, I mean, I had these great plans, God, and now this traffic. What's the deal with that? Or this sickness? Or this situation? Or this problem? Or maybe things that we didn't expect that were good things and blessings. And wow, I wasn't planning on that, but great. But we need to learn to receive God's direction and receive those things. It's the Lord's plans that will stand. It's his counsel that will stand. And so we need to take in consideration his will and allow him to make those changes in our plans. Verse 22. What is desired in a man is kindness and a poor man is better than a liar. Do you know what's desired in a man? Strength. Confidence. No. Kindness. It's the word that's usually translated mercy in the Old Testament. Mercy. What God desires in you men and you women is mercy. He desires mercy and kindness in us more than other things. If you remember Micah chapter 6 verse 8 says, Micah tells the people of Israel, he has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. To love mercy, to be merciful is something that God desires for you. Jesus told the Pharisees, those who are coming against him, he says, go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice. He desires mercy in you and kindness in you more than sacrifices, more than offerings and gifts, more than all that you can give. He desires you to have a merciful and kind heart. Focus your life on what counts, showing mercy and having integrity. He says a poor man is better than a liar. Again, the same principle we saw from verse one. It's important that we speak the truth and that we speak the truth at all costs, even if it means that we don't get ahead or that we don't have what we've always dreamed of or what everybody else is getting. Honesty and kindness or mercy need to be the things that we focus on. Prosperity, riches, fame, fortune. It's not worth it. A poor man is better than a liar. Verse 23 says, The fear of the Lord leads to life and he who has it will abide in satisfaction. He will not be visited with evil. The fear of the Lord. Now, as I often say, do not quickly dismiss evil. The idea of fearing the Lord as having a simple reverence. You know, we close our eyes when we pray or we don't wear hats in church as some hold to. It's not just simple reverence. Although that is important. We need to revere the Lord and have that reverence. But fear God. He is the king that's talked about in verse 12. The king's wrath is like the roaring lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. Fear God. Understand that disobedience to him incurs his wrath. Understand that he is the one who decides your eternal state. Understand that you are accountable to him. He is God. He is king of kings and Lord of lords. Fear him not to drive you away from him, but fear God and draw close to him and receive the gift that he has given to you of his presence through his son, Jesus Christ. It's what's best for you to fear God and receive what he's given to you. He says, the fear of the Lord leads to life. It's what's good for you. He who has it will abide in satisfaction. It's what's good for you. He will not be visited with evil. Now, some will say, how can this be? Godly people suffer. There's things that they go through. But Romans 8, 28 gives us a wonderful promise. Romans 8, 28 says, And so if you fear the Lord and love him and are called according to his purpose, the things that seem to be evil work for good. And so they're not evil. They work out for good. God works them out and it's his promise. He will work them out for good. And so evil doesn't visit you because God works it all out for good in your life. Now, he's looking at the eternal good, which is not necessarily your immediate happiness, but it is for good and it is what's best for you. And you will thank him later. Verse twenty twenty four. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. Here's an extreme picture of laziness. A man at a table puts the spoon in the bowl but won't even bother to bring it to his mouth. Of course, it's extreme, but it illustrates the reality of laziness. See, everything that's needed for diligence is right there within the grasp of the lazy person. But they don't make any effort. They don't retrieve it. They don't bring it. It's available. It's there. But even though it's right there before them, they don't act upon it. They don't receive those things. Now, of course, it's a physical principle, a literal principle, right? But it's also a spiritual principle. It's the same. As Christians in the United States, we have God's words so readily available to us just as a person who's sitting at a table with a bowl of food in front of them. But how many times are we lazy? Even though it's there on our desk and then there's another one on our table and there's another one on our counter and another one on our bookshelf and another one on our computer. We do not spend time with God and his word. It's like the lazy man. It's right there. But we need to take advantage of it. We need to be diligent in our walk with God and not lazy, but to make sure that we take time and make time to spend with God in his word because it's how we grow. It's how he speaks to us. It's how he leads us and guides us. It's so important for us. Verse 25 says, Strike a scoffer and the simple will become wary. Rebuke one who has understanding and he will discern knowledge. You remember the verse from a couple of weeks ago, Proverbs 17, 10 said, Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool. A hundred blows on a fool is not very effective, Proverbs says. And there's many other verses that are similar that talks about the futility of correcting scoffers and those who are foolish. And so it's prompted many to ask the question, since scoffers and fools do not respond to correction, should they be corrected? Should we make the effort to correct them instead? If they don't respond and if they're not corrected by it, is it really worth it? But this verse here in verse 25, it tells us how important it is to correct scoffers. Not necessarily for the scoffers sake, but for the simples sake. Because even though a scoffer may not receive the correction, even though it's not effective in changing them, it is effective for the simple. Strike a scoffer and the simple will become wary or will become wise. The simple learn when the scoffer is corrected. So even if the scoffer will not respond, the correction is needed. For the sake of the simple around them. Now the contrast is the one who has understanding and doesn't need to be struck, but simply rebuked. The wise don't need to be beaten in order to be corrected, but simply need to be told, instructed. This is the way to do it. This is the way that God calls us to live. And that's enough for them to correct their behavior. Begs the question for you and I. What does it take for us to be corrected? Do we have to learn the hard way? There's many lessons that I've learned the hard way, and I try my best now to not learn the hard way. And I ask God to speak to my heart rather than force myself to find through the painful consequences of my actions that I shouldn't have done something. Verse 26 says, He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. Now, this is one of those simple truths, right? It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that this kind of son causes shame. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. But it is true, even though it's a simple truth. It is true. And it's something that God feels very strongly about. Honor your father and mother. God commands it. Exodus chapter 20, Deuteronomy chapter 5. Check it out. It's a commandment that God gives to us to honor our father and mother. Verse 27. Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Sometimes the question is asked, why should I continue? I've heard all the Bible stories ever since I was in Sunday school. Why do I need to read the word? I know the stories. I know what it's going to say. Why do I need to be a part of the church? Why do I need to attend Bible studies? Because I've heard them before and I've listened to those things before. Well, here's why. Because when you and I cease or stop listening to instruction, We stray from the words of knowledge. Every single one of us, we're quick. Our hearts are prone to wander. And we need the continual instruction of God's word to keep us walking right with him, to keep us where God wants us to be. And that's why it's so important for you to spend time in the word of God on your own and spend time in Bible studies so that you will receive instruction and not stray from the words of knowledge. But understand, If you stop listening to instruction, and that's more than just, you know, being here and listening and hearing the words. But if you stop paying attention or stop applying the words that are spoken and the words that God speaks to you through his word, you're going to stray. It's not a matter of chance. It's a matter of time. If we disregard God's word. If we disregard what he says in his instruction, we will stray. We'll wander away from the truth and we'll follow a different path. Verse 28, a disreputable witness scorns justice and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Here again, we find the false witness or disreputable witness this time who scorns justice. And again, we find the principle that we need to be people of integrity who speak the truth. Not ones who scorn justice, but who uphold justice. Not those who devour iniquity, but those who delight in the truth and doing what's right and walking in integrity. Verse 29, we finish it off. Judgments are prepared for scoffers and beatings for the backs of fools. Chastisement. Punishment. Discipline. It's necessary for those who go astray. Now, I don't know about you, but I've been punished before by my parents and by the Lord. He's chastised me and he chastises all who are his. It's a principle of God. It's because in my heart, there's still times where I'm a scoffer. There's still times where I'm a fool. There's areas where I need to be chastised and corrected by God. There's times when my heart is prone to wander because I stopped listening to what he has said. And I need to know that judgment is prepared for that and beatings for the back of fools. Not that God's out to get me, but God loves me so much that he doesn't want to see me continue in that path of destruction because I bring pain and misery to myself when I disregard his word. Disregarding his word, it's bad for me. But following it, listening to it, obeying it, it's what's best for me. And so God corrects us. But there's those times that we have to go through the judgment, the chastening, the beatings, because he loves us so dearly and he wants what's best for us. Hebrews 12 says it so clearly. He disciplines and chastens those that he loves. Some of you this evening, you might be experiencing some difficulties, challenges. some uncomfortable situation, some chastening. It's not pleasurable at the moment, but it's for your good. Trust God and know that he loves you so dearly. You know, as you're involved in your life and maybe you're involved in a mess, understand God didn't put you there, but he's allowed you to be there so that he could teach you his ways and that he could remind you of how much he loves you. And as you draw close to him, And learn to walk by his principles in his strength. He'll clean up the mess. He'll transform your life. He'll give you new, abundant, joyful life. It's what God desires to do with each and every one of us. And so whether you're here and you've been a believer for a long time, I pray that you would take heed to the word of God and the things that he was speaking to your heart. Or if you're here and you've never been born again, Take heed to the things that God is speaking tonight. He wants to give you a wonderful life of joy and peace. He wants to give you hope. He wants to transform you. His ways are what's best for you. And so come to him and receive him. Be born again and receive the work of forgiveness that he gave you at the cross. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this evening and God, we ask that you would help us. Lord, they're not difficult intellectually to understand. They're not complicated. Lord, the truths are simple, but so difficult to practice, so difficult to carry out in our lives. And so, God, we ask for strength and for help. Lord, we need you. To fill us with your spirit that we might walk according to your ways. That we might be obedient to you and have self-control and speak words of life to those around us. And speak the truth and love the poor and lend to them and minister to them. And to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. God, we need your strength in all of this. We can't do it on our own. And so, Lord, fill us. I pray, Lord, that you would draw us closer to you. Give us a hunger for you and a diligence in our relationship with you. That we would not be lazy and sluggish, but Lord, that we would be diligent, earnest, and eager. And that you would use us to minister to those around us. We thank you, Lord, and we love you. It's in your precious name we pray. Amen. We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.