Series in Proverbs - Is Your Life in Order?

       

Is Your Life in Order?

Proverbs 14:1-9

When I think of the proverbs, it is instruction to the wise and the foolish. Then I can’t help but apply it to my life and to the examples from the Scripture. For example, the different kings in the Bible. There is a treasure trove of examples of wisdom and foolishness in the kings of Israel. Solomon was only the second king in the lineage of David, but even among the previous two kings, Saul and David, in Israel. There is an ample amount of wisdom and foolishness. So let's read the first portion of the text. “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways. A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.” (NIV)

The women behind the throne of the ruling men in the kingdom of Israel each had their immense task of building a godly and wise home in a man’s world. Yet there were those who stood out, Saul’s wife, Ahinoam, was the daughter of Ahimaaz, and nothing is known of her upbringing or her dad. But in the struggle to keep the House of Saul in a godly and wise state, she had to watch as her sons went to war and were hounded by the Philistines, the arch rivals of Israel. “The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.” and grieved the death of all three sons.”  (1 Samuel. 31:2 NLT) When they met their death she would have grieved greatly as well for the life of her husband, Saul. Who made horrific spiritual decisions that lead to his demise and fit of anger, demonic outrage, and personal regrets over his lack of wisdom and prudence. In all this, Aninoam would have wrestled with being faithful to her husband or God, running a household of sons and daughters, and managing the activities of the servants as well. 

Then David became king and had eight wives, Michal, daughter of Saul, betrothed to David by Saul for killing Goliath. While being King in Hebron, David married: Ahinoam of Jezreel, Abigail wife of Nabil the Carmelite, Maacah daughter of Talmai, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah, and Bathsheba in Jerusalem (1 Sam, 3:2-5). Each of these women had their day in the life of building a wise or foolish house for David. For whether each had sons or daughters, they still dwelt and dealt with the running and building of a godly home and the daily discord or privileges that came with royalty, for there were wise and foolish decisions made by the kings. 

That brings us to Solomon and his 400 wives who lead him astray to idolatry. These each had their own home or palace to manage and build in wisdom or foolishness. 

In a nutshell, the woman of the home had a daunting task, and only those who were faithful to God built a godly home under the tutelage of the scriptures of the Torah and the Psalms and the obedience to God and the Scripture’s commands and laws. And as the proverb states the foolish tore their homes apart with strife, lies, and idyllic worship and its hellish and devious demands.

But for those who walked in the fear of the Lord, they walked securely and in wisdom, with discernment, and insight. For the wise king, his wives and children were like a crown upon the husband and home; and the family prospered in the ways of God and materially (Prov. 31). 

Now the kingdom wasn’t without the fool who gushes out folly and swells with pride and supercilious words of their superiority, but the godly wife who chooses wisdom, also chooses discrepancy to protect those she loves and the godly home she has built.

Application -  I know that I have been unwise in many of my acts and decisions and having a godly wife has proven to be a godsent and blessing. For she had to manage a home and the children as I was about the Father’s business. But the times that I had at home teaching them the Word of God and raising them in the truth of His Word, statues, and precepts, come back to me today as I see them raising their children in the ways of God and His Word, in wisdom, discretion, and discernment. Just celebrating our 50th anniversary, we both understood the goodness and hand of the Lord was with us as we strived to build a home that placed God as the most important part of life. 

As for the seeking and speaking the wisdom and insight of God’s Word, we understood the fear of the Lord lead us in wisdom and on the path of God’s ways. We understand that walking in humbleness protects us from the works and words of pridefulness and in the times when we struggle, we know that God desires us to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. For in order to please the Lord our God, it is to walk humbly, speak and live uprightly in His grace and mercy.

Next, Solomon exhorts the listeners and readers of this proverb to be prudent in their lives and occupations, for there will not be God’s fulfillment in the home, life, nor in prosperity for those who don't manage their words with integrity and finish well in the tasks for God. So let’s read the final portion of the text. “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” (NIV)

The prudent will harvest blessings from God and a rich life of security and respect when they continue in trusting in God. Like the analogy of the oxen, it takes strength to do the work and to harvest. For there will be many trials and mockers to discourage them from living and walking in God’s way.

 Solomon also knew that mockers were everywhere, giving their opinions and displeasure to the outcomes of life. For many sought wisdom but not Godly wisdom and they came up empty in the knowledge and understanding of God’s purpose when they faced trials or troubles, and blamed God for their misfortunes, which enhanced their adversities.

Solomon’s advice to the righteous was to stay away from the deceptive and unprudent, for their lives flourished with lies and lack of discernment. Sin was plentiful and ran rampant in their lives and homes. Whereas the wisdom of God flourished in the home of the righteous, for the godly wise gave thought to their ways and the pathway they choose to walk and live in their lives and homes. Their home was a bastion of integrity, prudence and goodwill for they were those who sought assistance from God and the words of uprightness and they sought godly wisdom and discernment. They feared God and were rewarded with godliness, wisdom, and knowledge. For they honored their covenant with God and lived in righteousness. Solomon may have been reminded of Joshua’s proclamation to the people of Israel. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

Application - Hard work is the only way I know to appreciate what you have earned and have in life. If I received things without any effort on my part, the value or the loss of it never impacted me as much as if I labored to purchase it. As well it goes for adults  laboring for a living, they have learned and have been taught work ethics. Whereas those who have been enabled for various reasons, they don’t see the need or effort for work ethics. And when it comes to dealing with finances, the people who have moral and work ethics are persons who value their homes and prudent lives and they are evident of God’s purposes at work, for those who build on the foundation of God’s Word desire honesty in all areas of life, and those with false acquaintances understand that they will take advantage of you for their best interest and profit, and this includes deceiving you. 

The proverb states many will seek wisdom but come to empty. James stated it this way, they asked with wrong motives (James 1:5, 4:3). God desires to give us wisdom, discernment and knowledge but he also asks that we believe and trust in Him. For it is in a prudent life that His wisdom, understanding, and knowledge is applied for righteousness and uprightness in life. 

The deceivers and mockers desire only their benefits and their own ends. Their lives reflect the sin that has captivated all aspects of their lives and their desires, and they don’t feel any need to apologize for sins committed, or make amends for their acts. Their focus is only for self-preservation and aggrandizement. 

Whereas the upright desire the good will for all those around them (love your neighbor as yourself). It is evidenced by those who have been impacted by their acts and desires; and especially their relationship with God. 

In conclusion, how we live and work reflects our ethical upbringings. For what we have built our home and lives on is evidenced by our relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. And it is in this godly lifestyle that we are always vigilant for sin that is harboring in our lives. For it is this sin that will shipwreck our homes, lives, and relationships. We must, as the Word of God states, confess our sins and eradicate them by repentance and asking Jesus to purify and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 Jn. 1:8-10)

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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