Sermon Tone Analysis

Proverbs 1:7 – October 28, 2007

 

! Introduction

* For the last 6 weeks we have been in a series entitled; “Lessons from the Richest Man Whoever Lived.”

* We have been focusing our attention on the book of Proverbs.

* Proverbs is in your face.

If you don’t want to know about reality, don’t study Proverbs.

* It tells is like it is.*

* We began our study with this key verse.

It is the key verse for the entire book of proverbs.

*Proverbs 1:7* The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

* As we have found out.

Proverbs are often contrasts of two different people.

In this verse there is the person that is wise because He fears the Lord, and the fool who despises wisdom and instruction.

·        The word “Fool’ or “Foolish person” is not a person who is mentally incapable, or simple minded.

It has nothing to do with IQ or mental abilities.

·        There are 3 words used for the word “fool” in the book of Proverbs

1.     Someone with a dull or closed mind.

He is thickheaded and stubborn.

It is the most common usage.

49 times.

He is shortsighted and lazy.

Therefore he rejects instruction or information from others.

2.     One who lacks spiritual perception.

3.     Arrogant and flippant as well as mentally dull.

It is used 19 times.

He rejects God and wisdom.

This is the fool who has rejected God, who has an arrogance and flippancy about Him.

This is the person who refuses to listen to instruction from anyone.

·        Do you know anyone like that?

·        You can’t tell me nothin’  I don’t want to hear it!

*As we conclude our series, I want to just talk with you about choices.*

*When it all comes down to it.**

The book of Proverbs, and is learning how to make wise choices.*

·        Anyone ever made a foolish choice!

(Don’t point to your husband ladies!)

·        God wants us to learn to make wise choices.

And then to follow through with those choices.

Life is about choices.

When we make right choices, things go well for us.

When we make foolish choices, things go poorly for us.

*We are the results of our choices*

·        For the most part, everything about us is a result of our choice.

·        We are here today because you choose to come to church.

No one made you come today.

(Unless you are one of my kids)

·        What you have on today is a result of your choice.

a.      What you look like for the most part is a result of your choices.

b.

Your clothes, what you drive, where you live, even how much you weigh is a matter of choice.

Some of us have chosen wisely and others of us have chosen poorly.

c.     Wisdom is learning to choose wisely.

One of the greatest challenges we have in our society today is accepting the fact that I am who I am, and where I am because of my choices.

For the most part; I am responsible for where I am today

·        Do you understand how contrary that is to our world today?

·        We live in a world with a victim mentality.

·        It is always someone else’s fault.

We want to blame someone else.

·        It’s McDonald’s fault that I am fat.

I didn’t know that the double cheeseburger with extra large fries and large chocolate milkshake and fried apple pie I had today for lunch would make me fat.

– It’s not my fault.

Wisdom understands that for the most part I am where I am today because of MY choices.

Not someone else’s, but mine.

But Billy, you don’t understand where I came from.

You don’t understand my past:

·        Listen, you cannot control your past.

You may have been abuse, you may have suffered as a child, you may have had the worse possible upbringing anyone can imagine, but

·        *YOU CONTROL HOW YOU RESPOND TO IT.*

My brother says, you are exactly where you want to in your relationship with God.

·        You don’t understand, I really want to know the Bible.

No you don’t because if you really wanted to know the Bible, you would read it – and then you would know more.

·        Most Christians know more about their favorite TV show than they do about the Bible.

·        Why because we choose to!

We came home from work, we plopped down on the couch and watched 3 hours of TV.. Then when we can’t hardly keep our eyes open, we stumble into the bedroom, brush our teeth, get in bed and then decide to read the word.  5 minutes later we are out like a rock.

– Now am I lying?

·        Why don’t we pray more?

Because we choose not to!

That’s why Joshua told the people:

*Joshua 24:15** - **choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

*

The wise understand that yesterday’s choices created today’s reality and today’s choices create the future.

*Why Do We Make Foolish Choices*

 

*1.

We Want it Now!*

·        Remember the fool is shortsighted.

·        We live in a shortsighted world.

Only think about today, not tomorrow.

§        Most Americans live from paycheck to paycheck.

§        Last year Americans save -.5%..

In another words we spent more than we made.

This is the first time this has happened since the depression.

§        1981 Americans saved 11% of their income and owed 4%

§        In 2000 we saved Zero!

And we owe 12% of our income.

§        Why?

Because we are making poor choices.

§        Why wait til tomorrow, when I can afford it?

Let’s buy it today and put it on credit!

·        The wise person sees past today.

He looks to tomorrow.

*2.

We Deceive Ourselves*

The worst deception isn’t some con artist on the street.

The worst deception is self-deception