Wise Decision Making
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 23 viewsWe need wisdom for making decisiosn everday. Solomon gives his son wisdom regarding loans, laziness, and life.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Good morning. Please open your Bibles to the book of Proverbs. We will be studying 6:1-19 this morning.
Life is made up of decisions. Small decisions like when to wake up, what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, what time to go to work, how you will get to work, what to eat for lunch, whether or not you need to respond to that email.
And there are the big decisions. What school you should attend, what career path you should take, who you should marry, what local church you should commit to, whether or not to purchase a car, whether you should rent or by a home. Where should you invest your money.
Some decisions will make us sadder and some decisions will make us happier. Some decisions will make us poorer and some decisions will make us wealthier. Some decisions will make us more foolish, some decisions will make us more wise. Some decisions will make us engage in more sinful behavior, some decisions will make us more godlier and Christ-like.
And
Some decisions will make you poor and some decisions will make you
Everyday we make decisions. And the decisions we make over a lifetime will show what type of person and what type of life we will have. And that is why I love the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs gives us wisdom to make right decisions when sometimes the answer is not so clear. Wisdom helps us make decisions to live rightly and in a way that honors God in the world God has made.
Wisdom helps us to make right decisions when sometimes the answer is not so clear. Wisdom helps us make decisions to live rightly and in a way that honors God in the world God has made.
And in this next passage of Scripture, Solomon wants his son to have wisdom in making decisions in the nitty gritty of everyday life. Solomon gets very practical here:
He wants his sons to be wise concerning the decisions they make with regards to:
Loans
Work
Relationships
One Egyptian proverb says, “He who is slack amounts to nothing. Honored is the man who is active.”
Laziness
Life
He gives fatherly advice regarding foolishly co-signing a loan with a someone he shouldn’t, being lazy in life, and the dangers of living a wicked life.
So today’s passage will give us wisdom for finances, for how to spend our time, and lifestyle we must avoid. So let’s read God’s word together...
Scripture Reading:
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
points with his finger,
with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
The first lesson for life that Solomon gives his son is wisdom for loans. If he is going to make wise decisions in life, he needs to be wise about loans...
I. Wisdom for Loans (vv. 1-5)
I. Wisdom for Loans (vv. 1-5)
Be careful taking on someone’s debt by agreeing to do something you or the other person cannot pay.
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (1) Introduction: The Foolish Situation (6:1–2)
You have become surety (ʿārabta) in Proverbs means “to pledge oneself as a guarantee for another’s debts” (also 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13).
The phrase ‘Have given a pledge’ is literally ‘struck your hands.’ It is equivalent to our modern-day handshake to seal a transaction, though probably more binding than a handshake might be considered in our culture, where one’s personal word has come to mean little
Neighbor may be translated lender. Stranger may be a friend that is not well-known. The Father is addressing this son to not co-sign a loan with someone who is not familiar with that he cannot pay back.
Surety involved becoming responsible for the debt of another person, should they become unable to pay (Prov. 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26–27; 27:13)
The broader application is this: We shouldn’t do anything that will financially ruin or enslave us. Or we shouldn’t do anything to risk our financial future by the hands of another.
The New American Commentary: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (7) Four Teachings (6:1–19)
While the text does say at least this much, it also implies that no one should get into legal entanglements and indebtedness in which circumstances are out of one’s control.
The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Is it wrong to loan? Or take out a loan? Or lend to a family member in need?
The Old Testament encouraged generosity (Deut. 15:1–15) and lending without interest. It was against the Mosaic Law to charge interest to a fellow Israelite (Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:35–38), though it was permissible to charge reasonable interest to a non-Israelite. Even then, the charging of exorbitant interest was considered immoral (Neh. 5:7, 10; Prov. 28:8).
Israel could loan money to poorer Israelites, but they were not to take interest on their own people. We read about this in Exodus 22.
The warning in Proverbs 6:1 is not against borrowing or lending but against being held accountable for another person’s high-interest loan.
The Old Testament encouraged generosity (Deut. 15:1–15) and lending without interest. It was against the Mosaic Law to charge interest to a fellow Israelite (Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:35–38), though it was permissible to charge reasonable interest to a non-Israelite. Even then, the charging of exorbitant interest was considered immoral (Neh. 5:7, 10; Prov. 28:8).
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 a. Warning against Becoming Surety (6:1–5)
The book of Proverbs, however, consistently and unconditionally warns against becoming surety or the debtor for a stranger’s debt (6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16 [= 27:13]; 22:26).
Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary 6:1–35 Debt and Adultery
To “co-sign” (6:1) means to take responsibity for another person’s loan; so if the borrower defaults, the cosigner has to pay the obligation.
Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
He who hates signing using his credit for someone else, the loan application, the bad deal will be secure.
Be not one of those who give pledges,
who put up security for debts.
If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
You do not want to become enslaved to someone’s folly or someone who defaults on their loan.
Ever since I got married, I have been into musicals. One of those musicals is
Jersey Boys
Story of Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons. Tommy Devito, who claimed he started the band, was a thug on the streets who was in and out of jail. As they get famous, he makes foolish financial decisions for himself and the band. Tommy Devito takes out more money for his luxurious living. He evades taxes. He buys condos for his girlfriends. And he digs himself into a bigger and bigger hole.
Tommy Devito and the band is in danger for some bad people. And Frankie Vallie decides he will take on Tommy’s debt.
And the rest of the musical (also a movie) he ends up working long days and nights trying to pay off Tommy’s foolish debt where he is away from his family and his daughters.
Because he is always traveling trying to pay off Tommy’s debt, he has a bad and strained relationship with his wife and daughter.
His daughter eventually grows up without a father before he even realizes it and she is addicted to drugs. And her daughter eventually dies throw overdose.
It was because Frankie decided to take on the debt and it would cost him his life and family.
Proverbs would say to Frankie, you shouldn’t have done that. You should have got out of that deal and find a better way. Because your life has now come under someone who couldn’t pay that debt.
Why do we ourselves into bad deals?
if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
1. People pleasing.—We want to please others and look generous by being “yes” people. We say yes to things we shouldn’t to.
2. Foolishness—We are simply not giving thought to what we say we are going to do. We have rash words that will end up biting us back in the future.
3. Inexperience—Young people tend to be naive or foolish with money because they don’t have experience.
This is why the Credit Card companies prey on young people getting credit cards so that they can enslave them when they don’t have money to pay the credit card company back. They end up paying high interest.
As long as they can get you to sign up for a free t-shirt, a free one night stay at a hotel, a free concert, they will hook you if you are not wise with your finances.
What is Solomon’s advice to his son?
A. Get out of that loan/that bad deal!
Your financial standing, security and future are no longer under your own control. You have become the slave of another and are at their mercy.
Get out of debt
then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
Save yourself!
Your financial standing, security and future are no longer under your own control. You have become the slave of another and are at their mercy.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Body: Urgent Admonitions to Resolve the Situation (6:3–4)
Becoming surety is folly because the surety makes promises for the future that he cannot control (cf. 27:1).
Proverbs 6:3
Go—Do it now.
Hasten yourself—exert yourself to the point of exhaustion.
Plead—Keep on persistently pleading where you become annoying and can’t take no for an answer. Swallow your pride and say you made a mistake and need to get out of that deal.
Prioritize—Do not give yourself sleep until you back up of the deal.
B. Get out of that loan/deal now
Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Prioritize—Do not give yourself sleep until you back up of the deal. And here in verse five, he gives two pictures to illustrate the point.
If you watch animal planet, you can see a gazelle doing everything to fight and flee from the hunter.
If fact, if you just youtube gazelle and dave ramsey, you see a gazelle outrunning a cheetah.
Get out of the trap. Don’t take the bait. Get out of that debt. Because it will prevent you from doing ministry and useful to the Lord in the future.
Christian—God wants us to to be wise with our money not only so that we would not be enslaved by another, but so that we can be generous to others. When you are enslaved financially, when you got yourself into a bad deal, you are up at night worrying about that debt and you can’t focus on seeking the kingdom.
And your debt and financial worries may choke the word of God within your heart and prevent you from being a fruitful Christian and one used to spread the gospel of the kingdom.
Christ—In a spiritual way. we have freedom in Christ because Jesus came to take our debt. He took on our spiritual debt by dying on the cross for our sins to pay a debt we could never repay God. Isn’t that foolish though?
But the difference between us and him was that he could actually pay for it because he was God and He was gracious. He died so that we would be free to serve Him. And by paying our debt because He had the ability to do so, he would receive the inheritance of the nations.
Parents—It is not wrong to co-sign a loan with for your child, whether it is a car loan, or a student loan, or house.
But I have seen parents enable sinful behavior in their children by just thinking that signing a loan or giving their child everything will fix their child’s problem.
If your son or daughter is lazy and ungrateful and foolish with money, giving them a new car or a new house will not fix their heart or spiritual problem. Throwing more money and taking out a loan will not fix their laziness, indifference, or apathy.
Student—Do not use your name or your credit to sign for someone you shouldn’t. Ask for wisdom with some of these financial decisions. Ask an elder or someone in the church who is wise in financial matters.
Church—We must be wise on meeting needs versus enabling sinful behavior. God wants us to be generous, but wise in our generosity.
We can be poor for some foolish decision and something we do, but secondly we can be poor by something we don’t do.
Transition: Wisdom for loans, now Solomon wants his son to be wise in deciding how to use his time and this deals with laziness...
II. Wisdom for Laziness (vv. 6-11)
II. Wisdom for Laziness (vv. 6-11)
One Egyptian proverb says, “He who is slack amounts to nothing. Honored is the man who is active.”
Solomon was a wise man not only because of his knowledge on how to rule a kingdom and people, but also because of his observations concerning nature. We can learn wisdom through the natural sciences and created order as well.
He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.
And he exhorts the sluggard or slacker. Sloth is the sin of laziness. He views life kinda like a lazy river, he just floats and drifts through life with any purpose, without any passion, or without any direction. Dorothy Sayers defined Sloth as
“The sin which believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, loves nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and only remains alive because there is nothing it would die for.”
“Sloth at is core is lack of appetite for God’s gifts. Sloth is a blindness and deadness to God’s beauty. Sloth is the incapacity to true leisure.”
The sluggard doesn’t finish things, face things, notice things. He tries to escape life through entertainment and sleep.
“Sloth at is core is lack of appetite for God’s gifts. Sloth is a blindness and deadness to God’s beauty. Sloth is the incapacity to true leisure.”
“Sloth at is core is lack of appetite for God’s gifts. Sloth is a blindness and deadness to God’s beauty. Sloth is the incapacity to true leisure.”
The Sluggard is apathetic. That is why an ant is wiser than a sluggard.
Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
An ant you can squash becomes wiser than a human being who is a sluggard. The ant is an example of diligence, discipline, and hard work.
A. Ant takes initiative (v. 7)
Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
One Egyptian proverb says, “He who is slack amounts to nothing. Honored is the man who is active.”
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (1) Admonition to Learn Wisdom from the Ant (6:6–8)
Aristotle also asserted that ants labor without rulers to direct them.
Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
Now that it is summer time, you probably experience what Solomon is talking about. When we used to live at Woodside, if we did not clean the food that fell from the table from our three messy kids, ants would greet us first thing in the morning hauling away that watermelon or rice. And they would call all their friends.
And it would take me 20-30 minutes to wipe the floors. I didn’t tell the ants there was going to be food there. They just knew. They were up before the sun rose taking all the pieces of food back to wherever they lived.
The ant, by all appearances, is a self-starter. Even more than being a self-starter, the ant is a team player.
Ant wakes up without no one telling it to work. Ant takes initiative.
No one has the call the ant to tell it to wake up. No one has to remind the ant to work. No one has to keep reminding the ant of its basic responsibility.
Young people—I fear that one of the respectable sins we overlook in the church is laziness and sloth. How many people do not show up to church not because they don’t want to, but because they are just simply too lazy to get up in the morning? How many people cannot get a job because they are lazy or expecting something easy? Or how many people cannot keep a job because they are lazy?
Work is a fundamental part of our identity. Adam was put in the garden before sin entered the world to work and keep the garden. Though work is affected by the fall, work is still a means of blessing by which we use our time to love God and love others, also a means of providing for our families and be generous to the needy.
Church Member—Pastor, I don’t serve or do anything because no one told me too. I have never been to a business meeting or member’s meeting where the pastor tells the congregation that we have enough servants and volunteers. There is no room for you too serve.
There are needs everywhere. Just find a need and meet that need!
B. Ant plans wisely (v. 8)
Article “How Much Television Do You Watch? Way Too Much!”
One study shows that the average adult spend 10 hours and 39 each minutes consuming media each day. Television consumes the biggest portion of the day with 4 hours and 31 minutes, radio behind with 2 hours, and third is the smartphone 1 hour and 39 minutes.
94 % of households have a high definition TV, while 81 % have a smartphone.
Half of us pay for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and similar services so that we can have access to massive digital video library.
The conclusion of the study shows that we spend half of our working time consuming media.
If we are not watching a television, or a computer screen we are on a smartphone or tablet.
This means that there should be no excuse when it comes to reading our Bibles, or prayer, or engaging in meaningful work!
On the day of judgment, we cannot tell God I didn’t have enough time for you.
The ant works at the proper and opportune time. They know when is the right season.
she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
Proverbs
The ant works at the proper and opportune time. They know when is the right season.
He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
C. Ant works (vv. 9-10)
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
The New American Commentary: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs Laziness (6:1–11)
The “scoundrel” is someone who works to undermine social and personal relationships for his own benefit.
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
Don’t waste your life!
Young people—Don’t waste your summer! Instead of playing video games or binge watching netflix, read a book or spend some time with members in the church.
College people—Don’t waste your education! Don’t just try to do the bare minimum in school to get by, but actually take those opportunity to grow in your knowledge so that you can be a useful person in society.
Work people-Don’t waste your work! No work, if done for God’s glory, in meaningless. Work as unto the Lord.
The Rebuke
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
These are rebukes. When will you wake up and work? When will stop hitting the snooze button? When will you get up from your bed?
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Condemnation of the Sluggard (6:9–11)
Sleep is the defining characteristic of the sluggard (cf. 20:13); for him the love of sleep is pure escapism—a refusal to face the world (26:14).
Is it wrong to sleep? Is it wrong to take a nap?
It is not wrong to sleep or take a nap. We need sleep. It is an act of worship when we sleep and trust that God rules the universe. Some of you need to get more sleep. If you are sleeping less than six hours, you may be sleep deprived. Sleep is an act of worship entrusting everything to God. Sleep has health and spiritual benefits I will not get into.
What is wrong is to have an inordinate love of sleep.
What is wrong is to have an inordinate love of sleep.
It is not wrong to sleep 8 hours a day. It is wrong to sleep 18 hours a day. It is not wrong to nap to get back to work. It is wrong to nap so that you can escape work
Derek Kidner says,
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Condemnation of the Sluggard (6:9–11)
, “He does not commit himself to a refusal, but deceives himself by the smallness of his surrenders. So, by inches and minutes, his opportunity slips away.”
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
The point of both similes is that poverty breaks suddenly upon the lazy man with overwhelming power, leaving him defenseless. Poverty does not happen overnight. The man has been lazy for some time. But, the realization of it is sudden.
Poverty will come like a thief or poverty will overpower you like an armed man. This person is poor because he wasted his opportunities through his own laziness. Some people are poor because of legitimate reasons, like being orphaned, or experiencing a natural disaster, or losing a job. The sluggard is poor because of his sloth or laziness.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Condemnation of the Sluggard (6:9–11)
Moreover, the image connotes that the plunderer defends the life and substance he carried off by theft and force so that the victim can never retrieve it.
Christian—A little nap, a little netflix, a little twitter, a little facebook, a little video game, a little snapchat, a little instagram, a little hulu, and poverty will come upon you like a robber.
It is not wrong to enjoy these pleasures or entertainment, it is wrong to be consumed and waste all your time when you should be doing work through these things.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Work is part of what it means to be a human. Work is affected by the curse, but it is not a curse itself.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” John Wesley
Perman, Matthew Aaron. What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (p. 75). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. — Jonathan Edwards, Resolution #5
Perman, Matthew Aaron. What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (p. 241). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Jesus—Jesus worked. Jesus’ 9-5 was a carpenter before he began his ministry. When he began his ministry he would say:
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Christian—You glorify God when you are diligent and are useful to others.
Young Person—If you have free time, get an application and get a job if you are of legal age and are able to work. Get experience now.
Church-The Bible tells us we are not to support idle people. If fact, we are to discipline people if they continue to be idle.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Two ways to become poor. Take on someone’s foolish debt and being foolish by wasting opportunities through laziness and sloth. Solomon wants his son to have wisdom in dealing with loans, dealing with laziness, and finally dealing with life itself...
III.Wisdom for Life (vv. 12-19)
III.Wisdom for Life (vv. 12-19)
Here Solomon gives his son wisdom not to follow the wicked and worthless man.
A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
points with his finger,
with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
Scoundrel. Worthless man.
Proverbs 6:12
A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (1) Seven Marks of an Insurrectionist (6:12–15)
A belîyaʿal denotes one who is implacably wicked and who agitates against all that is good.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (1) Seven Marks of an Insurrectionist (6:12–15)
His gestures imply that he has followers who agree and conspire with him and understand his nonverbal speech (cf. 1:10–14; 30:11–14).
The New American Commentary: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs Laziness (6:1–11)
The “scoundrel” is someone who works to undermine social and personal relationships for his own benefit.
Such a man is called ‘worthless’ and ‘wicked.’ Our word ‘worthless’ is a translation of the Hebrew word belial.
His whole body is bent to do evil.
winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
points with his finger,
with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (1) Seven Marks of an Insurrectionist (6:12–15)
His gestures imply that he has followers who agree and conspire with him and understand his nonverbal speech (cf. 1:10–14; 30:11–14).
God will judge him and he will broken beyond healing. Six, seven. It is not an exhaustive list, but a description. The seventh sin may be a summary sin. Abomination is something God hates or is detestable in his sight.
I thought God was a God of love?
He is a God of love. Because he loves righteousness, he hates wickedness. Because he loves truth, he must hate lying. It is the character of God to hate what opposes him and misrepresent his holy character.
This would be Satan’s sermon on how to be a wicked person. This is Satan’s sermon on how to be wicked and be certainly be destroyed by God. This is a list of what to avoid and hate.
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
Six, seven. It is not an exhaustive list, but a description. The seventh sin may be a summary sin.
This would be Satan’s sermon on how to be a wicked person.
A. God hates pride
“Haughty eyes”
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis said prideful people always look down on others and never look up.
Adam and Eve brought the curse of sin because of their pride. Satan fell because of pride. Pride is the first of all sins because it believes it knows better than god. And when you think you place yourself on the throne, you are too arrogant to receive instruction or correction because you think you don’t need it.
B. God hates lying
“a lying tongue”
A tongue that that does not tell the truth. Satan is called a deceiver and liar. When we lie, distort the truth, manipulate the truth, cover the truth, or hide the truth, God hates this.
There can be nice lies, “I’ll be there” but never show up. There can a manipulation of the truth, “I’m struggling” but not actually saying your sinning. There can be exxageration of the truth. Or when you tell your spouse “you never clean up the house” or “you are never home”. There can be just plain out lying, “did you watch porn this week?”
C. God hates murder
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
“Hands that shed innocent blood”
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
Another shooting happened this week.
Another shooting happens this week in Maryland. A man killed five people and wounding several others at Annapolis Newspaper. There are wicked people in the world who are bent on doing evil.
Wicked people kill with their hands and what a start contrast because Jesus heals with his hands.
D. God hates a wicked heart
“A heart that devises wicked plans” Every single wicked act and thought flows from a wicked heart. It is the center of these sins.
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Jesus taught that all murder, slander, immorality, and every other conceivable sin begins with in the heart. And if we are going to be in God’s favor, we need new hearts that only God can give.
E. God hates eagerness to do evil
“Feet that make hastes to run to evil”.
F. God hates a malicious tongue
“A false witness who breathes out lies” Jesus was condemned by false witnesses who made false accusations about him.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
We must be careful about the sins of the tongue: malicious speech, gossip, slander, hate-speech, abusive speech and any other sins of the tongue that can cause great damage.
E. God hates a divisive person
“One who sows discord among brothers”
God hates those who divide people rather than unite people. Paul said to discipline individuals who are divisive:
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Thessalonians 3:
2 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians 3
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
Titus 3:
Jesus-what a contrast to what Jesus taught right? Instead of pride and arrogance, Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the humble.
Instead of telling lies, Jesus taught us to let our yes be yes and or no be no.
Jesus
Instead of murder within our hearts, Jesus taught us to even love our enemies.
Instead of a wicked heart, Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart.
Instead of a being eager to do evil, Jesus taught us to be eager to do good.
Instead of doing speaking falsely, Jesus taught us to speak the truth.
And instead of dividing us, Jesus died to make his people one, abolishing the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile.
Christian—If you want to have a good life, you need to follow Jesus. You need to follow his teaching. This will help you avoid the path of the wicked and being a worthless man. Jesus will give you a new heart and will be with you forever through His Spirit.
Non-Christian—Jesus offers you a new way of living and a new heart if you would only see your need for him and repent of your sins. We are all born wicked because of our sinful nature, it is only a matter of degree.
But God, in his great mercy, sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. And he took the punishment we deserved upon Himself so that if we repent and believe in Him, we can give a forgiveness, a new life, and a new heart.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
If you want to make your life worthwile and not wasted, follow Jesus. It will be the best decide you make in this life and the life to come. Ask God’s Spirit to open your eyes to see the the beauty of Jesus.
Conclusion:
We need wisdom for everyday life. Solomon, a good father, gives his son some very practical instructions concerning the decisions he needs to make.
Decide you will not be foolish with money by taking a loan or debt you cannot pay back.
Decide you will not be lazy and waste time and God’s opportunity because the days are evil and time is short.
Decide you will not life a wicked lifestyle, but follow Jesus all the days of your life and be blessed now and forever.
May the Lord grant you wisdom in these important decisions.
“Sloth at is core is lack of appetite for God’s gifts. Sloth is a blindness and deadness to God’s beauty. Sloth is the incapacity to true leisure.”
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” John Wesley
Perman, Matthew Aaron. What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (p. 75). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. — Jonathan Edwards, Resolution #5
Perman, Matthew Aaron. What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (p. 241). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Perman, Matthew Aaron. What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (p. 241). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
One study shows that the average adult spend 10 hours and 39 each minutes consuming media each day. Television consumes the biggest portion of the day with 4 hours and 31 minutes, radio behind with 2 hours, and third is the smartphone 1 hour and 39 minutes.
94 % of households have a high definition TV, while 81 % have a smartphone.
Half of us pay for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and similar services so that we can have access to massive digital video library.
The conclusion of the study shows that we spend half of our working time consuming media.
If we are not watching a television, or a computer screen we are on a smartphone or tablet.
This means that there should be no excuse when it comes to reading our Bibles, or prayer, or engaging in meaningful work!
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 a. Warning against Becoming Surety (6:1–5)
The Bible prescribes liberality toward the needy by the able (3:27–28; Deut. 15:7–11) and proscribes taking interest from the poor (Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:35–36). Moreover, within limits the law allowed a creditor to take a pledge in order to secure himself for the repayment of a debt (Exod. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:10–13, 17; cf. 2 K. 4:1; Neh. 5:3).