The Wise Neighbor
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome everyone!
I want to remind everyone of what we are doing as a church together:
We are studying chapters 10-30 (the individual Proverbs) and memorizing the ones that really stand out to us.
We are memorizing so that we can internalize them, and then live them out!
Would anyone like to quote a proverb that you have memorized this week?
“Bad, bad says the buyer, but when he goes his own way, then he boasts”
“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold”
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, would you help us today to see the greatness of Your wisdom? Would you help us to put our worldly ways of thinking away and replace them with your ways. And would You help us to come to Your Word today as a life giving substance that is worthy of our complete devotion. We ask that you would not only give us understanding, but help us to apply these truths directly to our lives and be faithful to this Word today. Amen.
Sermon Introduction
We are going to learn some principles today about how to be a wise neighbor. The book of Proverbs teaches has much to say about how to be good neighbors:
Here are a few Proverbs on that subject:
Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Proverbs 14:21 “He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.”
Proverbs 25:17 “Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you.”
Who would classify as our neighbor?
It certainly would include those whom we live close to. That is how we use the term today. But Jesus taught us in the story of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor is anyone that we cross paths with in this life
So our neighbor would be your actual neighbors
It would include your friends
It would be those behind you in the line at Kroger
It would be that person walking down the street
It would be the person sitting next to you in church
Anyone God places in your path would be considered your neighbor
Not all neighbors are lovable….Not all neighbors are likable
You will end up very discouraged and guilt ridden if you think we are supposed to like everyone that we cross paths with in this life!
You are not a bad person if you are not a fan of some people you know. That’s called humanity.
BUT, WE DO HAVE THE GOD GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY TO LOVE EVERYONE.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Love is different than like. Like is about how we feel towards someone, love is a decision we make for the other person’s greater good.
And all of us are capable of loving people we do not like.
THERE IS GREAT WISDOM TO BE FOUND IN THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS NEIGHBORS THE WAY GOD CALLS US TO
And today in our Scripture, we are going to see some specifics about how we can do this faithfully and the implications it will have upon our personal lives when we do
There are five “do not” commands in this section with regard to our neighbors. We will cover each one, then the remaining 4 verses teach us why it is wise to be a good neighbor
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.
1) Do not ignore opportunities to meet people’s needs
(v 27) “Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so”
This has a very broad range of applications, but most likely here refers to material things
It could be simply giving someone money who has come into need
It could be giving someone something you have that they need
It could be paying someone fairly who works for you
It could be paying back a debt that we owe to someone else
When there is a need, believers have a responsibility to meet that need
(v 27b) “When it is in your power to do”
The Bible never expects us to give what we do not have
Generosity is absolutely commendable, but do not let yourselves be put into a bad situation (financially) by trying to help another person
IF God has given you the means, by all means, but if you do not have the means, then let someone else who does help them
On the other hand, we must never think our abundance was given to us by God to keep all for ourselves
God often blesses people with extra so we can be in a position to help others
Do not be a person who swallows up every penny they touch so that they have nothing left to give.
Generosity is a gift for both: those on the receiving end and even more so to those on the giving end
Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive”
Proverbs say, “A generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered”
WARNING: USE DISCERNMENT
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due”
lit: “to its owner”
That is just a poetic way of saying: “ to those who truly have the need”
Not everyone who ask for things truly have the need
And people often prey on the sensitive consciences of Christians to take advantage of them or get something out of them
Especially in the world we live in today. We live in the day where the scammer, the panhandler, the beggar WHO lives a better life than many who work full-time jobs
USE DISCERNMENT!
This is not a call to be selfish, but a call to be wise
I use discernment in my personal life, and we use discernment in this church
Just this last week we had a family (dad, mom, and two kids) come in here asking for money
And someone sent them to me and I’m so glad they did.
The first thing I noticed is the nice clothes they had one. All of them well dressed
The second thing I noticed was the fresh nice haircut on the dad and son (prolly about 8 y/o). Haircut clear cut in a barber shop and freshly styled that morning with hair spray or something.
They arrived conveniently right at the end of our service when they could slip in almost unnoticed.
They told me they needed money for gas to get home.
So I asked where they were coming from, where they were going, and why they were traveling they could not provide me any kind of logical answers, or even answer why they were traveling, so I did not give them money.
Our money, the churches money is the Lord’s money. It is to be used to help others, but only those who have true needs.
That may sound a little unbiblical or unloving but I assure you it is not!
Listen to what Paul said:
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
God’s call to generosity is not for the lazy, or for the crooked, or for the thief, or for the drug attic to buy drugs, it is for those to whom it is due.
How do we know “to whom it is due?”
Look at the situation and story before you give. If there is not a legitimate reason, or some ridiculous story, or they are fully capable of working and do not work because they are simply lazy and unwilling work, use God’s provisions on someone else
I guarantee you there is a legitimate need is we will keep our eyes open to it.
Follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God
There are times when God has moved my Spirit (given me a strong impression to help someone) and I will help them.
When in doubt, err on the side of grace
If you simply don’t know, then just help them
God knows your heart and if you are trying to do the right thing, then He will be gracious toward you for that.
2) Meet other’s needs promptly
(v 28) “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.
When the opportunity arises to do good, don’t delay!
We have to form this conviction deep in our hearts now
It is to be already decided that if someone asks of us who has a legitimate need, we will give to them
Do you know what we are doing when we delay?
We are hoping someone else will come along and take care of that need so we don’t have to
We are hoping that person will not come back and ask again
We think by procrastinating it will free us from that burden
BUT THE REALITY IS: If we wait we will likely miss out on a great blessing from God
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.
Don’t forget it is God who repays the generous man
3) Never be an adversary to your neighbor
(v 29) “Do not devise (plot) harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you”
I want us to focus on the word, “devise” or “plot” or “make plans”
People can do things to others out of an angry response, a reaction to something because emotions run high. This does not mean its ok, but to plan to do evil against someone is another level of wickedness and absolutely has no place in our lives
Our minds run to plotting someone’s death or plotting to rob them
But let’s think about more subtle ways:
Coveting their possessions or even their spouse which can lead to resentment
Gossiping about them to others to give them a bad name
Withholding wise counsel when they ask to see them stumble and fall
Planning to do something takes time. It’s not just a “heat of the moment” response
It takes contemplation
It takes thinking
It takes scheming out something that will bring negative consequences on the other person
Solomon says, It is an abomination to the Lord!
Proverbs 6:16–18 (NASB95)
There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans
Community is built upon trust
And when we people in a community plan harm against others it destroys the trust
And now a community that was designed to live in harmony is broken and both sides end up suffering
4) Do not make false accusations against a person
(v 30) “Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm”
The word “contend” means “accusation”
That is we must be very careful who we accuse of doing wrong
No one in the church would ever make an accusation against another without cause, right??
It happens all the time
And it is a terrible habit to get into
I think this is one of the schemes of the devil that he uses to bring divisions
The book of Revelation calls him “the accuser of the brethren”
In the book of Job, the devil made unjustified accusations to God about Job
That is his nature, and I think he is awfully good at whispering unjustified accusations about others to us
We must be very very careful whom we accuse of wrong doing
From my experience, Christians seem to be the worst at this
I have been accused of countless things since I have been a pastor
I have gotten so accustomed to it that I keep files on people who cause trouble
Some biblical truths to consider:
No one knows a persons motives but God
No one knows a persons heart but God
No one knows the future but God
‘No one has the right to judge another man’s servant but God
Look what this says: “Do not contend with a man without cause”
Never make an accusation against anyone of anything without the facts
There is a difference in an assumption and a fact! And we must not go by assumption alone or we transgress this command
I would even go further to suggest to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove you wrong.
Assumptions destroy relationships
5) Do not envy the wicked
(v 31) “Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.”
First, this Proverb teaches us that there is a temptation to desire to do what the world does
It is most likely that all of us have thought about what it would be like to be in another person’s shoes who does not know God, who live contrary to God’s ways, who live for the pleasures of this world, who do whatever they desire and seem to get by with it.
There is nothing wrong with you, if you have ever had those thoughts. We still carry a sinful nature, and part of that nature is to desire the pleasures of this world
But the wise man (or woman) looks beyond the temporary pleasures of sin and can see eternity
Wise people see what the world cannot see: sin’s destructive nature and turmoil and judgement it brings.
And wise people keep this in mind every time the temptation arises to envy a person who seems to be so successful or happy following the ways of this world.
There is no greater gift IN THIS LIFE than to be a child of God
Not one person can simply make that happen on their own.
And not every human being born is a child of God.
It is a right granted to those who repent and believe.
John 1:12–13 (NASB95)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Only the child of God can renounce sin and walk in righteousness!
Only the child of God can have a living personal relationship with the Creator!
Only the child of God has been forgiven all their sins past parent and future!
Only the child of Gid can worship the Most High and KNOW they have eternal life!
REJOICE! For it cannot get any better than the life you have received In Jesus!
Those are the five “do not commands” of a wise neighbor.
What are the implications of these principles? Does it really make a difference if we obey these commands or not?
Proverbs 3:32–35 (NASB95)
For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.
Main point: The Lord punishes the wicked AND Blesses the righteous
Who is the man who lives in the house of the wicked?
He is the man who does not help those who have needs
He is the man who stores up all his treasure for himself and is unwilling to use it for good
He is the man who sees a need and says, “come back tomorrow”
He is the man who schemes and plots evil against his neighbor
He is the man who makes false accusations against others without cause
He is the man who envies the ways of the people of this world
He is the man who who is cursed.
NOT ONLY THAT MAN BUT HIS ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD
This man believes he is getting ahead in life but truly he only storing up for a life of misery
I would hate to be a man who lives in a CURSED HOME
Who is the man who lives in the dwelling of the righteous?
He is the man that helps those “to whom it is due”
He is the man who does not delay when needs cross his path
He is the man who understands that he has been blessed so that he can bless others
He is the man who prays for his neighbor rather than devises evil against them
He refuses to make accusations against his neighbors because he understands the schemes of the devil.
He loves what God loves, and longs to please God over himself
And because he does this, this man lives is a blessed house.
It is a household with divine favor upon it.
Better than a mansion on a hill
Better than a condo in Panama city is a house of the blessed
“He blesses the home of the just”
His children lived a blessed life
His wife lives a blessed life
His household clearly has the hand of God upon it
And His life brings glory to God!
CONCLUSION
Who is able to follow these principles?
Why does the world not live like this, if God really blesses those who do?
Because the only way to truly love our neighbor like this, requires is to truly love God first
Lets make a full circle back to where we started:
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
We cannot do the second one (love your neighbor as yourself) until we first do the first commandment (love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind)
That is why Jesus says it is the “foremost (first) commandment”
That is why the first 4 commandments tell us how to love God, and the other 6 how to love our neighbor
To love God is not a a feeling, but a lifelong whole hearted commitment just like marriage.
All your heart
All your soul
All your mind
And if you cannot say today you are faithfully married to God, then rekindle your love for Him today.
Love Him, and the love of your neighbor will naturally come.
~PRAYER~
