Series in Proverbs - Desires and Dreams

 

Desires and Dreams

Proverbs 13:11-18

No matter the ethnicity, gender, or social status, everyone has desires and dreams. And it is this that drives many people’s lives in the past, present, and the future. And the dream and desire develops the planning and the process whether they use wisdom or not. So let’s read the first portion of the text. “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.” (NLT)

Solomon was no different than anyone else, He had dreams and desires like all of mankind, he just had the divine perspective from God’s point of view. First, wealth through whatever means should be thought out, reasoned, and be dealt with careful intentions. In Solomon’s days there were the black markets, unscrupulous people with devious and unethical plans, dreams and desires. Their plans were founded on self-satisfaction and greed.

The operation of the idolic worship in various temples involved money schemes. God’s priests and religious leaders were accused of unethical desires for wealth by God through the prophets. Then there were the business entrepreneurs who needed quick cash for a start up and may have involved others in their ventures. 

God’s clear instruction wasn’t to let money be the driving force of your actions, and when you did obtain wealth those who worked for it were more responsible in saving than spending. Whereas those who invested their time and effort in haste were more likely to see their wealth disappear.

Second, the hope of every person is based on their heart and lifestyle. Those whose hope is in the Lord need to wait for God’s appointed times, which develop patience and self-control. But when the Lord fulfills their desires and dreams it is like eating from the Tree of Life that always provides and with eternal blessings. Those whose desire is for immediate gratification and selfish-provision are usually impatient over any delay. The frustration and anxiety from any deferment overcomes their minds and lives and affects their heart and their actions in life.

Solomon was the chosen person to build the temple for God. It took him seven years to fulfill this desire and dream. Yet it probably came with many setbacks and deferments, yet God wasn’t interested in the timing as much as the process. Solomon learned patience as well as full delight when the temple was finished. God was pleased to give him the fulfillment of his desires and abilities to govern and reign as king over Israel.

Third, Solomon sought the advice of master builders, craftsmen, and artisans. It is the wisdom and talents of these gifted people whose God-given abilities Solomon relied upon in succeeding in his dreams and desires. For God had given Solomon the plans and the instructions on the dimensions. He knew that he must follow the wisdom and guidance of God; and Solomon depended on these chosen workers to follow instructions and do their jobs well. Finally, Solomon understood that God is the life-giving fountain of living water, as was demonstrated in God’s providing water in the wilderness from the rock and was celebrated at the annual feast of Tabernacle every year.

Application - There have been schemers in the church for probably since its inception. Judas Iscariot let money and his own dreams and desires override God’s plan and purpose, to his own detriment and death. God’s plan is simple, work for your living and wage, see the parable of the talents. We as the children of Christ are responsible for the stewardship of His provision. It isn’t wrong to have wealth, it is what it does to you that affects the outcome of your life. And our dreams and desires should be born of God’s desire and purpose. I am reminded of David’s psalm, “Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart's desire.” (Ps. 37:4 CEV)  Many have used this later part of the verse to fulfill their heart’s desire and the flesh as well. But the first part of the verse is omitted. We must understand that when Christ lives in us we have a major heart change, and His purpose and will supersede our will. So the desire of our heart is His heart's desire as well. 

Which leads us (His purpose and plan) to acquire His wisdom, to seek His advice, and to seek Godly wise counsel. It isn’t difficult to follow commands if we are in sync and aligned with God’s purpose and plan. As God said over and over, “For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; ” “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Ezk.12:25a; Isa.55:11 NKJV) It is when we are out of sync with God and God’s word and will that trouble ensues. 

Again, to follow the Lord’s word and commands are like drinking from the fount of life-giving water. We will not thirst after the water of the world, for we are satisfied and fully refreshed with His abundant provisions, knowledge, and wisdom through the Spirit. The waters of this world are tainted with the sins of bitterness and deceit, and they will leave us in wantonness. We will have a lack of restraint of the flesh, giving into the recklessness of disregard for God's will and the rights and feelings of others.

Next, Solomon continues to advise those who heard this proverb that God’s wisdom and Word leads to the use of insight and good sense in the making of decisions and their desires. For those who were treacherous and contemptuous took paths that led to destruction. The righteous lived by God-given wisdom and truth, whereas the perfidious (deceitful and untrustworthy) headed headlong into devastation in their own lives as well as for those who followed them. (ex. Jeroboam)

Second, Solomon understood the wisdom of inquiring and consulting God first as his father David did in times of battle or life decisions. For there were many examples of those who foolishly ventured into life without the inquiring of God’s plan and wisdom, and then exulted themselves in their folly and arrogant pride. (ex. King Saul)

Third, Solomon knew the value of a reliable and accurate messenger. For the message and communications were important, and to put the responsibility into the hands of an unreliable person would end in trouble and confusion. Whereas the true messenger brought words of healing and true tidings. (2 Samuel 18:19-33)

Last, Solomon understood the value of constructive criticism, which was meant to correct and support edification of a person, whereas the proud, arrogant, and closeminded ignored correction and fell into poverty and disgrace.

Application - It is wise to seek the insight of God, and an insightful person is led by the Holy Spirit who knows the mind of God the Father and the Son. “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 

For the respected advisor has spent time with God, His Word and in His Spirit. Whereas the treacherous, contemptuous person inquires of the wisdom of man and of the world that doesn't have an eternal perspective (Matt. 16:23), but only for the situation of the moment that usually leads to destruction or in the least further troubles and obstacles. The contemptuous person is derisive and scoffs at the wisdom and timings of God’s appointed times. (2 Pet. 3:6-10)

Whereas the wise seek God’s ways and desires for the restoration, restitution, reconciliation, as well as the healing of a person or situation. The disdainful and arrogant person brags of wisdom of the world and the foolishness of the flesh. The messenger of worldly wisdom brings words that will cause others to stumble and trouble their hearts. And the messenger of God’s wisdom brings truth and knowledge from God that leads to life, and the person of God that will receive the criticism that corrects them will not follow the unwise and disgraceful acts that dishonor them before God and bring them to poverty in their lives mentally, spiritually, and physically. The wise believer will be shrewd in their behavior and lifestyle, and all their words bring honor and praise to God who go before them for it is God’s Spirit who guides them and He corrects them as they walk in the path of God, that has been prepared and maintained by God removing impediments that cause stumbling and clearly mark with correct directions. (Matt. 7:3-5)

In closing, we must as God’s children seek him, inquire of His will and purpose through the Word of God and through wise Godly counsel. For God’s Word gives insight and instruction to all who seek it. As Paul told Timothy the Word of God, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16;17 NKJV)

So if we ignore the reading and applying of God’s Word and the guidance and correction that it gives us in doing the will of God in our lives, we will be walking in the flesh and the wisdom of the world, which leads to stumbling, self-aggrandizements, and a rebellious and harden-heart, as well as a path of destruction. Understand from the falling failures of others in the scripture that followed the advice of man rather than obeying the advice of God’s Word.

We all have desires and dreams, and they need to be aligned with the new heart and the new Spirit that God has given each believer. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezk. 36:26a NKJV) As God told the Israelites after correcting and disciplining them for their waywardness and sins, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord” (Jer. 29:11-14 NKJV)

As always, I want to conclude by presenting the gospel in the form of the basic principles of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ. For Jesus, God the Son, came into this world to save all who believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you; he is the light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and has given him all authority in heaven and on earth. He will answer you if you truly believe. If you haven't yet asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

First, A: Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a just God, and a change of heart takes place: we change our minds, and God changes our hearts and regenerates us inside and out. Romans 3:10: As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners, so we must be born spiritually to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.) Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death; in other words, our sin means we have been sentenced to death; we have the death penalty hanging over our heads; that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. Secondly,

B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised him from the dead. This is trusting with all your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is righteous, and with the mouth confession is made and is saved. Third,

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every person who sees lThose who have lived since Adam will kneel andthey confessed with hismouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, Lord of lords, and King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.” Don’t wait, do it now. Romans 10:13 - For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “O God, I am a sinner. I repent of my sin. I want to turn away from it. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son; I believe that he died on the cross for my sins, that he was buried, and that you raised him from the dead. I have decided to put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting in his shed blood alone as sufficient to save my soul and take me to heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please visithttp://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In Your Service Mike Davis

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