Fear God and be Blessed.
Notes
Transcript
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 1–9: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary 3:5–12. Lesson: Have Faith in God
Even when you acquire wisdom, you must hold to humility and not allow confidence in your own intellect and learning to displace the demands of religious conscience and faith. It is best to be wise but not to think you are.
Confidence in self must be properly focused.
Confidence in self must be properly focused.
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Excessive self-confidence inflates the ego.
Excessive self-confidence inflates the ego.
It looks to one’s own abilities
It looks to one’s own abilities
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Is 28:15; Mt 26:33–35
See also Lk 22:33–34; Jdg 16:20; 1 Ki 20:11; 2 Ki 19:23–24; Job 8:13–14; Ps 49:5–6; Je 17:5; Ho 12:8
Excessive self-confidence leads to pride
Excessive self-confidence leads to pride
3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, Thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; That saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Is 9:9–10; Ob 3
See also Ge 11:4; Ge 37:5; Ex 15:9; 2 Ch 26:16; Pr 16:18; Is 16:6; Eze 28:2; Ac 8:9; Ro 11:17–18; 1 Co 5:2; 1 Jn 2:16
Challenges to excessive self-confidence
Challenges to excessive self-confidence
When we receive from God its a challenge to stay humble.
When we receive from God its a challenge to stay humble.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Ne 6:16; 1 Co 4:7
See also Ps 49:12–13; Ps 52:7; Pr 3:5–7; Pr 11:28; Pr 28:26; Is 5:21; Is 14:13–15; Je 49:7; Je 49:4–5; Jas 4:13–16
Excessive self-confidence is a barrier to justification
Excessive self-confidence is a barrier to justification
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The correct balance of self-confidence
The correct balance of self-confidence
Of one’s natural advantages
Of one’s natural advantages
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
See also Ac 22:3; Ac 22:28
Of one’s experience of God
Of one’s experience of God
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
See also Ac 22:4–21; 2 Co 12:1; 2 Co 13:5–6; Ga 1:13–17; Ga 6:4
Accurate self-estimates lead to justification
Accurate self-estimates lead to justification
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Jesus Christ’s accurate assessment of himself
Jesus Christ’s accurate assessment of himself
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
See also Mt 26:62–64; Jn 13:13
Jeremiah establishes the proper source of all confidence.
Jeremiah establishes the proper source of all confidence.
23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
See also Ps 34:2; Ps 44:6–7; Is 10:15; 1 Co 1:27–31
To Be Blessed Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes and It Will Give You Health and Prosperity.
To Be Blessed Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes and It Will Give You Health and Prosperity.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.