Why do Good People do Bad Things?

Introduction - Why do good people do bad things?

Recognize that evil is not passive…it actively seeks to destroy.

Failure to plan to withstand evil will result in moral failure.

Wisdom literature

the letters of a father to his son, laying before the son the path of wisdom and exhorting him to avoid folly

Morality play

the father here is depicting a young man and his temptation for the benefit and instruction of his own son

there is a truth here…wise people learn from the mistakes of others.

So…why do good people do bad things?

The New King James Version Chapter 7

My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.

2 Keep my commands and live,

And my law as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them on your fingers;

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

And call understanding your nearest kin,

5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,

From the seductress who flatters with her words.

1. Because they are weak in the Word (v. 1-5)

The father insists that the son:

keep his words

treasure his commands

keep and treasure his commands to live

keep the commands

affectionally treasure his law

The son is to have these words constantly before him by:

binding them on his fingers

writing them on his heart

The truth is that the word of God protects

The New King James Version Chapter 6

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

,

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

119:9-16

How can a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed according to Your word.

10 With my whole heart I have sought You;

Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

12 Blessed are You, O Lord!

Teach me Your statutes.

13 With my lips I have declared

All the judgments of Your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Your precepts,

And contemplate Your ways.

16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

So…what is your relationship to the Word?

if you are not writing it on your heart, you are opening yourself to folly.

2. Because they are foolish (v. 6-9)

This is the consequence of being weak in the word

Folly loves company

He takes a path that leads to temptation

the wise man flees from evil

“One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” - Prov. 14:16

the fool flirts with temptation

His reckless lack of discernment reveals his immaturity

Because foolish people cannot discern what is obvious to the wise-- danger! (v. 10-13

Here temptation is not disguised, she comes openly

she is dressed as a harlot

loud and rebellious

feet far from home (this is in contrast to the Godly woman in )

impudent/brazen face

The reality: foolish people allow their desire to rule them, and so they miss that which is obviously dangerous in the eyes of others. Foolish people do things that are obviously foolish to others.

Because they underestimate the aggressiveness of sin (v. 10-15)

Sin is actively seeking to overwhelm you

she has a crafty heart

she is lurking at the corner

Evil may be pursuing you even if you are not actively pursuing it

she waits to meet him (v. 10)

she has come out to find him, she has sought him out

when she finds him, she catches him

Because sin may seem appealing (16-21)

Sin may be attractive

she has prepared the bed with linens (v 16)

she has anointed the bed with perfume (v 17)

she offers a night of delight (v 18)

Sin may be flattering

she has uniquely sought him out (v 15)

she causes him to lose control with her flattery (v 21)

Because they believe they won’t be found out (19-20)

They believe darkness is covering (v. 9)

15 The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight,

Saying, ‘No eye will see me’;

And he disguises his face.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

but God sees

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,

And He ponders all his paths.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Darkness isolates

people get in trouble when they are alone

accountability is necessary

They are convinced their sin is hidden (19-20

the husband is gone on a long journey

he won’t return for a while

the deceitful security of sin

“be sure your sin will find you out”

“reap what you sew”

Ultimately, sin leads to death, to destruction, to broken and destroyed relationships.

don’t allow sin to deceive you, resolve to be righteous!