Sunday Service 2-14-21 - Proverbs 14:15-24 - The Results of Being Led by God

Proverbs 14 Sermon C (15-24) - The Result of Being Led By God - Guide Lead up: Faulty perceptions/emotions lead us to death. Trust in God leads to life. Next: The result of being led by God. 15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. The "link" between the two units. (closes and opens) 16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. "is cautious" - lit. fears "careless" - feels secure, self-confident, credulous "reckless" - means "to get angry" Phil 2:12-13 - ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. "Quick temper" - undisciplined/out of control; unpredictable/passionate hothead; unbridled passions cloud judgment; no sense of proportion producing overraction; brings destruction on himself and those around him. The ideal of wisdom: Contrast - The Schemer: 18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. "inherit" used sarcastically Simple believe everything, so why inherit folly, why not goodness? "crowned with knowledge" Connection with V19 - Simple = evil/wicked. Prudent = good/righteous. 19 The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. "The last shall be first and the first shall be last ... Whoever would be first among you must be servant of all." "at the gates" - Example: Joseph and his brothers. Example: Rich man and Lazarus. Ultimate: Philippians 2:1-11 (esp 9-11) 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. 21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Why do we dislike our poor neighbor in our natural sinful state? Luke 20:46-47 46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Luke 14:12-14 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." James 2:1-6 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Prov 3:27-28 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due (its owners), when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"-when you have it with you." V21 - it is possible to rise above the natural sinful way of humanity. "Blessed is he" This is the result of being led by God - not being led by our deficient perceptions of reality. Also, we become like God in this. 22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. Q&A form: "Go astray" - "meet steadfast love and faithfulness" - 23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Matt 21:28-31 - 28 "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. Link between knowledge and wealth (both are the crown of the wise). "The Crown" - a visible sign of God's favor/blessing. "The folly of fools brings folly" - boomerang effect. "Hesed": The wise are the two-fold channel of blessing.