Proverbs 15- An invetory of our ways
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There is a biblical truth and principal about how we can lead our lives and it’s pretty simple. We have the option to go our own way or we have the option to go God’s way. - Proverbs 15 is full of contrasts. It compares:
wisdom to folly
Righteousness to wickedness
merriness to brokenness
peace-ability to wrath
ect.
These contrasts and attitudes are wonderful but they’re really only signs and symptoms of our heart
Matthew 15:18-19 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
What we do is based in our heart
Thats why: Daniel purposed in his heart
The betrayal entered the heart of Judas
We are even told to guard our heart Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.”
Keep thy heart with all diligence;
For out of it are the issues of life.
David prayed for a renewed heart Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.”
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit within me.
This Proverb is full of symptoms and outcomes meant to help us diagnose our way, our walk, our heart. A spiritual diagnostic test.
We’re told to examine ourselves
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Proverbs 15:9 “The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord:
But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
A culmination of how God feels about the ways we can go.
God’s way: Psalm 18:32 “It is God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect.
It is God that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way perfect.
Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Commit thy way unto the Lord;
Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 128:1 “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; That walketh in his ways.”
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord;
That walketh in his ways.
Psalm 25:4 “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.”
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Vs. our way
Psalm 146:9 “The Lord preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”
The Lord preserveth the strangers;
He relieveth the fatherless and widow:
But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Proverbs 3:31 “Envy thou not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.”
Envy thou not the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways.
Ezekiel 3:19 “Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
As we go through this proverb we should examine our selves. God provides an excellent check list for us
Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Take inventory, Examine, Check up
The indicators
The indicators
- In this Proverb we have several things in which God contrasts.
Speech:
Speech:
Grievous words Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.”
A soft answer turneth away wrath:
But grievous words stir up anger.
Soft answer -A patient or gentle answer
Soft answer -A patient or gentle answer
Proverbs 14:3 “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.”
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:
But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Patience is a product of the Holy Ghost working in us
Knowledge and foolishness
Knowledge and foolishness
Life and death
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Our speech as people of God is to edify
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
So much of what we say is indicative of our hearts
Ephesians 5:4 “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Solitude: Who we are in private is also brought to in to be inspected. Our private behaviors will reveal much about how we feel about God.
Solitude: Who we are in private is also brought to in to be inspected. Our private behaviors will reveal much about how we feel about God.
Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.”
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Beholding the evil and the good.
Our Heart
Our Heart
Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
A walk with God will produce joy
Joy- A fruit of the Spirit
Theres a joy of Salvation
Psalms 51:12 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.”
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
And uphold me with thy free spirit.
Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer:
But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Proverbs 15:14 “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.”
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge:
But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
There is even a wise and foolish heart. God even reveals the attitude of a foolish heart
Psalm 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.”
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
There is none that doeth good.
Thoughts Proverbs 15:26 “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: But the words of the pure are pleasant words.”
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord:
But the words of the pure are pleasant words.
There is even a right and wrong way to think
Thought process Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 4:23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Wrong thought process
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Worship- Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord:
But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Describes a sacrifice made insincerely or for the purpose of appearing righteous
Is your worship real?
Theres even a foolish kind of worship
Eccl 5:1 “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.”
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
They have no regard for a life of complete obedience and surrender to God
Self-Pride
Self-Pride
Another point of contrast given is pride and humility
Proud- Proverbs 15:25 “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: But he will establish the border of the widow.”
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud:
But he will establish the border of the widow.
Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God:
God is not in all his thoughts.
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.”
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil:
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the froward mouth, do I hate.
It’s an anti-God attitude
Unable to accept instruction
Proverbs 15:5,10,12 “A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: Neither will he go unto the wise.”
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction:
But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way:
And he that hateth reproof shall die.
A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him:
Neither will he go unto the wise.
Importance- The Effects ones walk can have on life
Importance- The Effects ones walk can have on life
A lack of peace is a result of a foolish way
Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:6 “In the house of the righteous is much treasure: But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.”
In the house of the righteous is much treasure:
But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
A walk with God will produce peace
Death is a consequence of going our own way.
Spiritually and in relationships ,blessings, life
Proverbs 15:10 “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: And he that hateth reproof shall die.”
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way:
And he that hateth reproof shall die.
A correlation between wisdom in receiving reproof and life
We receive reproof from the scriptures
2 Tim 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Happiness is a blessing of going God’s way
Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Destruction
Proverbs 15:25 “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: But he will establish the border of the widow.”
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud:
But he will establish the border of the widow.
The ultimate end of going ones own way is destruction.
Destruction in life from sins consequences and spiritually
Romans 3:16 “Destruction and misery are in their ways:”
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Theres life in God’s way
Proverbs 15:24 “The way of life is above to the wise, That he may depart from hell beneath.”
The way of life is above to the wise,
That he may depart from hell beneath.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is that way to life !
Implications- Not only does our way we live but it has cascading consequences
Implications- Not only does our way we live but it has cascading consequences
-We must choose the way we’ll go
Life in the righteous way of God
Death in the foolish way of the wicked
If you’re here and you have not accepted God’s way to be saved and live a life pleasing to him you’re going to way of the fool. You can go God’s way, turn to Jesus!
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You’re here and you are seeing ways in which wandering has occurred?
Turn to God’s way
Humble yourself
Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Pride goeth before destruction,
And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
be meek and submit
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
James 1:21 “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Obey the scriptures and turn to God
Isaiah 55:7-8 “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts:
And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;
And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Hosea 14:9 “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, And the just shall walk in them: But the transgressors shall fall therein.”
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
Prudent, and he shall know them?
For the ways of the Lord are right,
And the just shall walk in them:
But the transgressors shall fall therein.
God’s way is better. Turn to it!