Posts Tagged ‘Proverbs’

Proverbs 17:3 and 27:21 reveal an interesting truth about God’s methods of testing our character. Paul refers to the same testing concept in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13.

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (NIV)

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” (NIV)

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it its, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (NIV)

Luke provides a couple examples of men being tested by praise in the book of Acts.

In chapter 12, Herod is giving an oration and the crowd begins to shout, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”  “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” Herod failed the test of the praise he received.

Then in chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas were ministering at Lystra and through the process, a man that had been crippled from birth was healed. The crowds lifted up their voices saying, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They called Barnabas, Zeus, and they called Paul, Hermes. When Paul and Barnabas determined what was being said, “they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them…” Paul and Barnabas restrained them from offering sacrifice to them; Paul and Barnabas passed the test of the praise they received.

We may not have people proclaiming that we are gods, but when we receive praise, who gets the glory?

In the introduction to Proverbs (chapter 1, verses 2-7), Solomon shares the purpose for his wisdom text, the audience he believes would benefit from his wisdom text, and the source of any knowledge he may possess.

As for purpose, Proverbs is written so that the reader may “know wisdom and instruction” and “understand words of insight.” The stated categories of instruction are “wise dealings, righteousness, justice, and equity.” This collection of wisdom sayings becomes very practical in the transformational process of “renewing your mind.”

The target audience for Proverbs would be the simple, the youth, the wise, and the one who understands. Solomon realized the multiple layers of insight available in these inspired words. A person may gain benefit in every developmental stage of their life. No one is too immature or too mature to profit from exposure to this wisdom text.

Solomon also realized the source of his own wisdom. Verse seven states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”  Those that don’t fear the LORD won’t benefit from these sayings because they are fools and despise wisdom and instruction.

I believe these same principles apply to all of God’s written Word; Paul describes it as the “All Scripture is profitable” concept when he writes to Timothy. Let’s all be “God-fearers” and allow the Word to transform us.

When I am not careful, I have a tendency to compare myself with other sinners and think that somehow, my sins aren’t as bad as theirs. But God does not compare me to others and grade on a curve; God sees our ‘righteous acts’ as filthy rags, and loves us anyway. I hope the following collection of verses will provide a little meat for meditation.

 “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding”.  2 Corinthians 10:12

 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him”. Proverbs 26:12

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

 “Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

 Scriptures selected by Tony from the English Standard Version (ESV)

During yesterday’s message, Pastor Steve reminded us of God’s heart regarding fear. From Isaiah 41:10 and following, and Isaiah 43, we are reminded that fear is not necessary because God is with us; we don’t have to hold on to anxiety because He is our God, He will strengthen us, He will help us, He will uphold us with His righteous right hand, He has redeemed us, He has called us by name, and we are God’s. Numerous other texts in Scripture confirm that we are not to be people of fear; we are to be people of trust in our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, our LORD.

But there is a legitimate reason to possess fear. John 3:20 states, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (ESV)  That same verse in the NASB says, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” Fear is not wrong in this instance, it is just misplaced. Job 28:28 tells us that the fear of the Lord is wisdom and to turn away from evil is understanding. Psalm 111:10 proclaims that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 says it again, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

It all seems to come down to relationship. If I am right with my Creator, I have no reason to fear because of Him; He becomes my Protector, Sustainer, Savior, and Redeemer. When I am not in relationship with God, the only way to get back in relationship is to fear Him more than any other. Just like a healthy fear of heights may help us to not wander too close to the edge, and a fear of water may prevent us from drowning, fearing God will draw us into a safer place – into the protection of His righteous right hand.

So, church, let us fear God so we don’t have to fear.

Proverbs 14:4 – Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. (ESV)

As a teacher, I have heard other teachers joke that their classrooms would work so much better if there were no students. While they may have fewer issues of discipline and greater order, clearly a class without students doesn’t function as it should. Work, whether on a farm or in a factory or with people, isn’t always neat and clean. Productivity can be messy; but messy abundance is much better than clean mangers.

Are we (at AICF) more concerned about how things look or are we pursuing abundant crops of blessing as we minister together?

We can learn a lot about a person by how they receive rebuke, correction, and instruction.  People are more likely to continue working with others that receive in a wise manner and both the giver and receiver will gain from that continued interaction. Proverbs 9:7-9 says:

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. (NIV)

Maybe learning and wisdom are more self-selective than we may first think.

Even with our best intentions we fall short of God’s righteousness. Numerous places in Scripture^* indicate that man, without the LORD’s leading, will do what is right in his own eyes. That sounds good, makes sense, and is logical and understandable. What more could God expect than for us to do what we believe is right?

The problem is that even our best efforts only amount to filthy rags^** in God’s eyes. Our righteousness is no righteousness at all because anything we do that is not done in faith is sin. ^*** The only way we can put on a robe of righteousness is to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD. ⁺

 ^* Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 21:2, Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, etc.; ^** Isaiah 64:6; ^*** Romans 14:23; ⁺ Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 6:18, Deuteronomy 12: 8,25,28, Deuteronomy 13:18, Proverbs 17:24, Isaiah 33:15, etc.

”The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”           Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)

How do we know who or what to believe? Here is one example of differing advice from different sources, in 2 Chronicles 32 (NIV)

• Hezekiah told the children of Israel, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”  (verses 7 and 8a)
• The people gained confidence from what Hezekiah told them. (verse 8b)
• A messenger from Sennacherib came and questioned the wisdom of what Hezekiah had told the people. He suggested that Assyria was much stronger than all nations and that no god could protect people from the power of Assyria. (verses 10-19)
• Hezekiah went to God in prayer. (verse 20)
• “The LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.” (verse 21)

Hezekiah and his people were wise to not heed the advice of the questioning messenger from Sennacherib, even though on the face of it the messenger had a good argument. Assyria had conquered many nations and peoples far greater than the Israelites. They just hadn’t come up against the God of Israel. The LORD gives wisdom liberally to those that ask. Hezekiah sought the LORD and wasn’t swayed by the worldly argument that questioned his wisdom.

 In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of soils and then explains what it means. In the explanation of that parable, some individuals had received the Word when presented, but then fell away later. They didn’t stand their convictions because they had no roots. They lacked wisdom. James 1:5-8 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

 “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”          Proverbs 14:15 (NIV)