Proverbs 13: The Series

Good Morning Church! It’s great to be with the people of God as we come together to hear His voice from the pages of his Word. Please turn with me to Proverbs chapter 13 verses 20-25 as we finish out the chapter. I am reading out of the English Standard Version today. Let’s read it together.

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

20  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21  Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. 22  A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous. 23  The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. 24  Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 25  The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

This morning we are continuing our study of this guide to practical Christian living we call the Proverbs. Of all the books of the Bible, this book has the most to say on fleshing out this redeemed life we have been given. Its instruction touches on all areas of the Christian walk and it should impact how you and I walk daily in the Spirit.

The very word for Proverbs in the Hebrew means comparison. And as we journey through this book we see the comparison of lives following after Christ and His righteousness and those who’s righteousness is like filthy rags, who follow after their own sinful desires or their own depravity.

By the way, the latter is the condition of everyone who has ever been born on this planet. And it’s only through the finished work of Jesus Christ that we can be those counted as righteous before a holy God.

In a world where doing what is right is increasingly being branded as wrong, you and I saints are and always will be going against the flow.

Have you ever seen those pictures or even videos of the wild Alaskan Salmon swimming up stream? I mean, the water is just raging down the mountain streams. A tsunami of incredibly fast moving current is coming down at great neck speed and those Salmon, defying all the odds and seemingly the laws of nature, are leaping out of the water as inch by inch they are moving upstream, fighting against the water, against the raging and awesome power of that flowing water.

Why are they doing this? To survive, to thrive, to flourish. They do it to mate and spawn other Salmon to further the species. Only to have those Salmon make that same journey up the raging stream and have their offspring.

Saints, you and and I are to live like those Salmon swimming up stream. We are swimming against the tide of a world that is raging down at us at with great force and it wants us to just go with the flow of living a life of sin, selfishness, and self-centeredness. Just embrace the waves as they wash over us. When God is telling us, no. You are called to something different. You and I are called to fight. We are called to be His disciples. You are called to obey His instruction. You are called to not only swim against sins deluge, but just like those Salmon, you are called to give birth to others, by the proclamation of Gospel, so that they call others to do the same. Saints, you and I are called to the extra ordinary life of a child of the King.

And the truths we glean from our study of the book of Proverbs today, will equip us to fight upstream as we call others to do the same.

This morning, as we finish up chapter 13, I want us all to see the stark comparison between those who swim with the stream and those who swim against it. Those who follow after sin and those who follow after righteousness.

The writer of Proverbs begins chapter 13 verse 20 with this statement.

20  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

The word “walks” hear is describing a specific manner in which to walk. And this walk is described by the word wise. We know, from our study of this book, that wisdom is the proper and practical application of the Truth. So, to walk in wisdom is to rightly apply God’s instruction to our life.

And the writer of Proverbs is telling us here, to become wise you must follow after the wise. In other words, brothers and sisters, if you and I want to be wise, we should be hanging out with those that are wise. It’s that old adage that you are known by the company that you keep.

Young people, students, it is easy for you to be wise in your own eyes. I know. Those of us with a few gray hairs in this room thought we were once wise at your age too.

Many of us as children heard that old adage, and by the way, the word adage just means a proverb, or a word of wisdom, but we heard the old adage, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

As kids we might have heard that phrase when our parents wanted us to stop whining and complaining about suffering a defeat or a loss. Or that circumstance didn’t turn out the way we wanted it.

At the time, we could have looked at them like an uncaring, unsympathetic, cold hearted people when they explained to us a great wisdom with those words, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But, as we grow older, lived a little, suffered a little, learned a little, we find they were right. Not only on a human level, but from God’s perspective as well. We are most like Jesus in our sufferings and we learn the most about him in the midst of those sufferings. We also gain a great trust in His goodness in the midst of the hard stuff in life. And subsequently we grow stronger. In other words, we find out that we were once wise in our own eyes, but as we grew older, listening to the wisdom of those that have lived a little longer than us, we become genuinely wise.

I am reminded of Rehoboam after he inherits his father’s throne. His father being Solomon. And Rehoboam goes to Shechem to be confirmed as the next king. And the northern tribes of Israel, who were those who had feared Solomon and fled to Egypt, asked Rehoboam to relax or lessen the financial burden that King Solomon had put on them.

Well, what happened, we find what happened in 2 Chronicles chapter 10 starting with verse 1. Turn their with me. 2 Chronicles chapter 10 starting with verse 1.

English Standard Version (Chapter 10)

10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”

We see here that Rehoboam took counsel or advice from 2 groups of people. He listened to the counsel of the old. The ones with more life experience, more years of discernment, more years of accumulating knowledge, more years of dealing with difficult circumstances, more years of understanding the people of the kingdom. And what did Rehoboam do? He abandoned their counsel and he then turned to the young. Those with less experience, those with less life lessons, those with less real discernment and understanding. Those that said, you don’t need to burden the people less, you need to burden the people even more.

And what happened? 10 tribes revolted. They established the northern kingdom. They killed Rehoboam’s officer and forced to him to flee to Jerusalem. All because, He did not listen to those who’s advice was wise and took the counsel of those who were wise in their own eyes.

And because of that, we see the truth of the rest of verse 20 when the writer of Proverbs says:

the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Rehoboam knew this truth all too well. Listening to his young unwise companions caused him to suffer. And when you and I listen to those who are wise in their own eyes. Those who lack real godly biblical wisdom. Those who’s advice is devoid of biblical truth and the practical application of that truth, we suffer harm.

Saints, the world’s wisdom is easy to follow. It appeals to our self-centered, self-will, self-pleasing hearts. Love your self. Follow your heart. Follow YOUR truth. Love is love. Your truth isn’t my truth. Whatever feels good, do it. Or as Rick Nelson sang in Garden Party. You can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.

Church, all of that wisdom, only sends you to your ruin.

Let’s continue on with verse 21 of Proverbs chapter 13. The writer of Proverbs says:

21  Disaster pursues sinners,but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Disaster here is the idea of calamity. Something that causes great loss and misfortune. And this calamity isn’t passive. It isn’t something that is controllable. Those that sin can’t somehow get out of it or cheat it in some way. We know this by the use of the word “pursues”.

In the Hebrew we see the idea of hounding, chasing after, driving towards. Much like a hunter pursuing his prey. For those that follow after their own wills, their own self desires, their own lusts, disaster pursues them like the hounds of hell. Always nipping at their heels. Always in hot pursuit. The consequences of their sin inevitably ends in ruin. That is not only true in this life, but the life to come.

Psalms 32:10 says, many are the sorrows of the wicked.

Isaiah 47:11 says, But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.

These aren’t things that you can just wish away or that you can somehow in your craftiness escape from. They are inevitable for those without a relationship with Jesus. The wages of sin IS DEATH. It’s ruin. Young people, when you sin, you cannot escape the consequences. God won’t allow it. Oh, you may think you escape it for a moment or a time, but it will find you out.

I’m reminded of the SS the Nazis and all those that perpetrated the evils done to minorities in World War 11. Those men were hunted down over many years. Whole entire governments and organizations dedicated to hunting them down and executing them for their crimes. There are still organizations and governments today who are ferreting out those who planned and performed those atrocities. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. God will make sure you face the consequences of your sin.

What about for those who know Jesus and follow Him? We see that in the rest of verse 21. Solomon writes.

the righteous are rewarded with good.

Their is reward for those of us who follow after Christ. And our reward is goodness shown towards us. And as we know from God’s word, good only comes from that which is good. And the only one good is who? Jesus our Lord.

And in the Hebrew there is the understanding that this goodness is complete. You see, for those of us who know Jesus as our Savior, the only good He can give is perfect goodness or complete goodness. None of God’s attributes are incomplete. They cannot be perfect unless they are complete.

Saints, your God couldn’t be more good to you. Everything that he has filtered through his sovereign fingers in your life is only completely good.

When you are suffering with sickness and disease, God is not far away. God is not aloof. God is not unloving. God isn’t withholding some part of his goodness. His goodness to you in the midst of your trial is whole. It’s complete. It’s perfect in every way.

In fact, it’s in our suffering that God makes us the most like Jesus. And there is nothing more good than that. He and He alone is good.

Joshua 1 :8 tells us that God prospers those who follow after Him. Those who heed His instruction and follow His commandments. He is good all the time.

Let’s continue on with verse 22 of Proverbs 13. Solomon writes.

22  A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Verse 22 is a picture of contrast for those who care for only themselves and those who care for others.

A good man here in verse 22, a person who is good to other people in the Hebrew, is one who leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. In other words, a good grandparent leaves not only an inheritance to his children, but to His grandchildren.

What is an inheritance, if not wealth designated to prosper others. The Word of God clearly says we are, if at all possible, to leave an inheritance for future generation. It’s important to remember, that the Proverbs are general statements of truth and not promises.

But if we can, it is a good thing to leave an inheritance to those we love. Those that are the future of our family. Those that will carry on our family’s legacy. To leave wealth to help prosper those we love. Not just for ourselves.

And if you can’t leave a great physical inheritance of wealth, leave a spiritual one. That’s the most important one TO leave. Leave an inheritance of pointing your children and your children’s children to the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Leave your children and grandchildren the inheritance of a family legacy of Christ followers. Share with them the inheritance we find as those who are joint heirs with Jesus. The Gospel inheritance that will set them free. And in that regard, what kind of inheritance are you leaving behind?

Solomon finishes verse 22 with:

the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

How is the sinners wealth laid up or given to the righteous? It’s a curious phrase and its exact meaning has been debated by biblical scholars over the years. But, for those who are sinners, and only looking out for themselves, the inheritance they leave behind will not go to their heirs, but to someone else’s heirs. Those that are righteous. God in his sovereign will and plan, orchestrates the wealth of the sinner to find its way into the hands of the righteous.

This verse should give us great comfort when it concerns the despotic governments of the world. It should give us great comfort when it comes to man’s greed and the plight of the persecuted and our poor brothers and sisters who live under tyrants and dictators.

The wealth accumulated by the leaders of those oppressive regimes can sometimes, in God’s sovereignty, find it’s way back to those suffering for Jesus. The wealth of the sinners finds its way, is laid up, for the righteous. For those love Jesus.

Let’s continue on with verse 23 of Proverbs 13. Solomon writes:

23  The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,but it is swept away through injustice.

The word “fallow” here is describing ground that is without complete preparation, it’s cultivated, but it hasn’t been seeded. It’s prepared to receive a crop, but the work of sowing that seed hasn’t been initiated. In other words, this ground has the potential for containing a good crop that would yield a lot of produce or food, but as the rest of verse 23 tells us, that potential is swept away through injustice.

The sweeping away here in the original language is destruction. In other words, through injustices the poor is destroyed. And those injustices here are talking about unjust laws concerning those who are lacking wealth. These are laws that promote poverty and not prosperity for the poor.

We see these kinds of unjust laws to a greater degree in undeveloped or under developed countries. For example, Africa has many unjust laws across the whole continent that oppress its people economically. Laws that don’t allow them to rise above the poverty. Laws, many times, influenced by world leaders, their own corrupt government, and quite frankly the United Nations that keep them from being a more prosperous country. And we also have some of those systems to a lesser degree in this country. As verse 23 says, the poor’s potential to yield abundance is destroyed by injustice.

This is why it is so important that as Christians we promote good governance. That we affirm those that create laws and opportunities that lift the people out of poverty and despair and not oppress them.

Proverbs 16:8 says better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. Don’t let the ends justify the means when it comes to good governance and good laws. You and I should not be promoters of politicians, polices that oppress those that are poor.

Let’s continue on with verse 24 of Proverbs 13.

24  Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

We find here a very controversial text in the world’s eyes, because we find here in verse 24 the idea of corporal punishment. Some folks try to explain this verse away by stating the rod here is symbolic somehow and it isn’t talking about a literal implement. And to that I would say no. They are wrong.

The Hebrew word here is the word “Chev et” and it means a stick or rod. God does advocate corporal punishment when it concerns our children. This isn’t a beating. This isn’t spanking them out of anger or rage. This isn’t being abusive or excessive. This isn’t harming them to the point of leaving marks or damaging their bodies. This isn’t any of that.

This is using an implement, not a hand, to inflict measured pain as to deter someone from continuing on in their disobedience. This scripture clearly says that if we do not inflict discipline on our children, we do not love them. And the reason we don’t love them, is that we are not deterring them from their sin. Their sin against you, their sin against others, and most importantly, their sin against a holy God. Physical discipline shows them the seriousness of their disobedience.

Discipline is used to keep us on the path of righteousness. It’s used to keep us as a blessing on our society and not a curse. Those that God loves, He disciplines. And this should be the desire of parents concerning their children, to discipline them out of love for them. And because we are called to discipline them out of love, to speak the truth in love, we can never do in a place of anger.

For those of you who are using the rod. I want to give you some biblical principles, some biblical guidelines to help you properly discipline your children physically.

1—Discipline should a spiritual encounter with God and not a physical encounter with you. Proverbs 3 verses 11 and 12 states.

11  My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

12  for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.

Your children need to know that you are chastising them in obedience to the Lord and that this chastisement is commanded by Him. Not by you. Not for their physical harm, but for their spiritual good. And that God disciplines those that He loves.

2—Be sure that your child knows and understands what he did wrong. Make sure that he knows the discipline is because he has sinned against God and that you are not angry at him. IN fact, if you are angry, you shouldn’t be disciplining. Wait until you have the right heart attitude and desire to discipline out of love.

3—Your discipline should be measured. You should have a set amount of swats before you every physically discipline a child. 1 or 2 swats and no more. it shouldn’t be a beating. It shouldn’t be based on how much you are frustrated with your child at the moment. It should be measured. As not to permanently harm them physically or to leave lasting marks. If you have done that, you have gone too far.

4—Make sure that after the discipline you tell him and show him love. Let him know that even though it was necessary to discipline him, you never stopped loving him.

Those are just a few things to consider and follow when physically discipling a child. And also, doing this is not always in order every time. I can count on one or 2 hands how many times we had to punish Hannah physically in her entire childhood. God shows us grace. He doesn’t always immediately punish us for an offense. He may warn us and give us time to correct that offense, before he inflicts discipline. The level of punishment should reflect the measure of offense.

Church, may God be true and every man a liar. God does advocate that we physically discipline our children. And despite the world saying this is archaic and antiquated, the majority of parents still use it as a form of discipline concerning their children.

The stats of just few years ago say that 94 percent of 3 and 4 year olds have been physically diciplined each year. 74 percent of mothers still think it’s acceptable to physically discipline. 61 percent of parents still use physical discipline as a form of punishment.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it has gone the way of the Dodo bird. It’s still being used and for good reason. It is effectve when done properly and with reasonableness and when it is measured and done in love.

At some point it will probably not be effective in your parenting due to your children getting older and at that point I think their are other forms of discipline that are more effective. Please don’t take that advice as Gospel. That’s just been my experience as a parent who has been there, done that, and bought the T-Shirt. There will be a transition at some point. However, corporal punishment does deter continuing in sin.

The rest of Proverbs chapter 13 verse 24 says.

but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Again, if we love our children, we will loving physically punish them. If we love our children, we will show them the consequences of a life that is in disobedience to Christ.

Moms and dads it is not love to let our children live life on their terms and by their own selfish and self-centered desires. It is not love to let them go on sinning against you, against others, and against God and they not experience discipline to deter them from ultimate ruin. Love chastises. Love warns. Love disciplines. A child must be made and encouraged to do that which is right in the sight of God.

Let’s look at the last verse of chapter 13, verse 25. Solomon writes.

25  The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

The word “appetite” here in the Hebrew is talking about the soul. Those that know Jesus as Lord and Savior are satisfied in this life to their very soul. It speaks to our contentment in the life Christ has given us. Jesus has enough, He is sufficient to satisfy our souls.

So many Christians live discontented lives and yet verse 25 says we have everything we need to satisfy that soul. So, why aren’t many of us? Jesus hasn’t changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Why are so many Christians discontent?

Could it be that we are looking for contentment in so many other places rather than Jesus? Could it be we are trying to find contentment in those things that will never give us the lasting contentment we need? Saints, when the object of our satisfaction is the Lord, we will find contentment in whatever lot we have been given in life.

If we find contentment in Jesus first, we WILL BE content in our job. Knowing that no matter how difficult it might be, it is God’s best for us in the moment.

If we find satisfaction in the Lord first, we WILL find contentment in our spouse. Knowing that no matter the struggles you may be having with them, they are their for your good and His glory.

If we find fulfillment in our Savior, we WILL find contentment in whether we have little or much. Knowing that Jesus is giving you exactly what you need in the season you are living in.

Church, our contentment in who and what we have, depends on us first being satisfied with Jesus. He is the object of our satisfaction. In fact, we will ALWAYS be discontent in the circumstances of our life, unless Jesus is the source of our contentment. That is by design. God will have no other gods before him. He must be number 1 in our lives.

And what happens to those who are living in their trespasses and sins. For those who are following after their own lusts and desires? We see it in the rest of verse 25. Solomon writes.

the belly of the wicked suffers want.

They will always live in perpetual discontentment, because they aren’t following after the right object of true satisfaction, Jesus Christ. If you are an unbeliever here this morning. If you are a person following after your own will and your own way. I am here to tell you that you will NEVER be satisfied in this life. You will forever be chasing after the wind. You will never possess real, true, everlasting content apart from Jesus.

Why? Because God won’t allow it. He is a jealous God. He demands that everyone, as a act of worship, find satisfaction in Him. That is why, every one, without exception, will one day bow their knee to Him and confess Him as Lord.

And for some of those people, even after they confess Him as Lord, they will still face an eternity of everlasting punishment. Why? Because they confessed to late. We must confess and acknowledge that He is Lord on this side of eternity if we want to live in heaven with Him.

Saints, do you know why I preach and teach this every Sunday Morning? Because it’s true. I believe it.

You may be with us this morning and you know that if you were to evaluate your life now, you would be one of those folks bowing a knee and confessing Jesus as Lord when it was too late. You know that you have no saving relationship with Him. To you this morning I would say, now is the time. Now is the time to bow your knee and confess Him as Lord. Tomorrow may never come. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Now is the appointed time.

And it all begins with the Gospel. And the Gospel is this.

Jesus was the only begotten Son of God. Sent to this world through the virgin Mary so that he might show us how to live under the law while being sinless. The law that we break every single day and the same law that shows us we can never be good enough to fulfill it.

However, Jesus the sinless Son of the living God met all the requirements of this law, obeying it perfectly and stands ready to give us that kind of righteousness under the law, so that we can be in perfect standing before a holy God.

Jesus lived on the earth for 33 years and eventually he went to a cruel cross and was raised up on that cross to die. To die for the sins of many. And upon that cross all the sins of everyone who would believe in him were transferred to him. And He who knew no sin was made to be sin so that we might become his righteousness.

A divine exchange was made there and everything that was totally wicked and depraved about us was placed on him and everything that was perfectly holy in him was placed on us. And it was through this exchange that He reconciled us to a holy God.

There is no other way in which we can have a relationship with God the Father, apart from the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

You must call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and not look for salvation in yourself, or denominations, or baptisms, or good works, or church membership, but look exclusively to Jesus Christ and him alone. Nothing you could ever do can save you from your sin and the wrath to come. Only Jesus and Jesus alone can accomplish that insurmountable task.

He tells us that all who come to him will in no wise be cast out. He loves and is a friend to sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came for the unrighteous. He came not for the well, but those who are sick, sick in their trespasses and sins.

Will you step out in faith today and tell Jesus you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Will you call upon Him today? Will you confess Him as Lord? Will you ask him to forgive you of your sins that offend a holy God?

If you do, the very fact you are able to do that is even a gift from Him. He gives us the faith and repentance to believe in Him.

If the Lord is calling you this morning and drawing you to himself, please heed that drawing, that calling. If you do, your scarlet sins will be made white as snow.

And you will be able to stand in perfect righteousness before a righteous and holy God. And may those of us who are being saved never stray so far that we can’t remember, that such were some of us. Sinners in need of a Savior every moment of the day. May Jesus always keep us near the cross. Let’s pray.