Greetings everyone. I hope this study finds you doing well after a holiday weekend of thanksgiving, love and time with family, and most of all, giving honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Well as usual, just when I think I have the perfect message that I wanted to provide, God always taps me on the shoulder and puts into my head what he wants me to write. As I stated before, I am going through a study on Proverbs and it is amazing. Please take a moment to review and I will provide my two cents at the bottom.
Book: Proverbs
Authors: King Solomon, other wise men, such as Agur son of Jakeh, and King Lemuel.
Time: The tenth century b.c., some comparables to writings of the second millennium b.c.; and it is believed that some important sections of Proverbs were compiled and edited from 715 to 686 b.c.
Purpose: "According to the prologue (1:1-7), Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the simple,knowledge and discretion to the young" (1:4), and to make the wise even wiser (1:5). The frequent references to "my son(s)" (1:8,10; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1;5:1) emphasize instructing the young and guiding them in a way of life that yields rewarding ends. Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly lead to personal well-being, happy family relationships, fruitful labors and good standing in the community (see outline, p. 1279). Although Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living, it bases its practical wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord (1:7; see Ps 34:8-14 and note)." (The information regarding this book was taken from BibleStudyTools.com. Please feel free to connect to the following link for further information. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/)
The First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs
1 The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.
2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.
3 The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.
5 The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a son who brings shame to himself.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.
9 The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.
10 The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.
11 The teaching of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
13 Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.
15 The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.
16 The reward which the righteous receive is life; the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment.
17 The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life, but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray.
18 The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.
19 When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.
20 What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value.
21 The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.
23 Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.
24 What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 Fearing the Lord prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled.
29 The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright, but it is destruction to evildoers.
30 The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.
31 The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.
Matthew Henry Commentary :
Chapter 10: Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.
Proverbs 10:1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties.
Proverbs 10:2, 3 Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life.
Proverbs 10:4 Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.
Proverbs 10:5 Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter.
Proverbs 10:6 Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings.
Proverbs 10:7 Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference.
Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice.
Proverbs 10:9 Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed.
Proverbs 10:10 Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity.
Proverbs 10:11 The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others.
Proverbs 10:12 Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved.
Proverbs 10:13 Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves.
Proverbs 10:14 Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom.
Proverbs 10:15 This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith.
Proverbs 10:16 Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labor tends to life.
Proverbs 10:17 The traveler that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still.
Proverbs 10:18 He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better.
Proverbs 10:19 Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace.
Proverbs 10:20- 21 The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.
Proverbs 10:22 That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion.
Proverbs 10:23 Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin.
Proverbs 10:24 The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted.
Proverbs 10:25 The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone.
Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes to smart, so the sluggard vexes his employer.
Proverbs 10:27- 28 What man is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other.
Proverbs 10:29 The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight.
Proverbs 10:30 The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die and leave all their idols behind.
Proverbs 10:31- 32 A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by rhe power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
I am currently reading a book titled "The Gospel of Wealth and Other Timely Essays," by Andrew Carnegie in 1901. The story basically seems to be about the life of Carnegie and his thoughts on wealthy people use or misuse the wealth they made in their lifetime. Ultimately he became a billionaire after an initial life of poverty and with little or no education, during the 1800 -1990s. Carnegie began his book using the following introduction. "It is a great pleasure to tell how I served my apprenticeship as a business man. But there seems to be a question preceding this: "Why did I become a business man? I am sure that I should never have selected a business career if I had been permitted to choose. The eldest son of parents who were themselves poor, I had, fortunately, to begin to perform some useful work in the world while still very young in order to earn an honest livelihood, and was thus shown even in early boyhood that my duty was to assist my parents and, like them, become, as soon as possible, a bread winner in the family. What I could get to do, not what I desired, was the question."
As I read this story, I began to look at the choices I made in my life. What really hit me was how those choices had an effect on my family, especially, my two sons. Let's consider the opening statement of this book how many of us know young people who are willing to take on such a burden. How many people know someone close to them that is willing to take on such a burden. How about you yourself, are you willing to make a similar choice for your family or sacrifice your possibilities, your dreams to ensure the safety and progression of your home?
The first verse in chapter 10 begins with a message to a son, consider that whether it's a daughter or son, the question is how good it would be for a parent to have a wise child. The scripture doesn't stop there and focuses just on the life of a child, as it progresses throughout the chapter it speaks upon the behavior of one and their relationship with Christ. How do you consider your behavior against the actions of one who is not wise, or for the one who doesn't know Christ. As I stated before, we are currently living in a society of those who desire to be able to do what they want, when they want, and how they want, without any ramifications or without any care. Take for example those who want to change drug laws, such as smoking marijuana in public; or those who want to have open sex relationships while married; or those who want to drink beyond excess, those who want to pierce their bodies in the weirdest way and place and all of these things we desire fleshly. Where is the balance, where does it end, at what point do we come home and ask the Lord for forgiveness, and/or wisdom and discernment? I am not pointing these issues out to judge; but once as a witness to or partaker in some of the above mentioned actions; I failed to take time to consider the effect it would have on my future or those around me. Take a look around you and take a moment to see what's going on, if you're not familiar with the scriptures or if you're not familiar with a common set of morals or understanding of wrong and right, then this may not be something that you'd understand. But those who have a sense of morality or a sense of wrong and right can see that our society is spiraling. Whether you want to believe it or not, or whether you want to say or not, because you're concerned about what others may think of you, it doesn't mean it is not happening. Christ has a greater plan, are you willing to accept His plan and forgo your own?
On Saturday morning my wife asked me why is this form of study is so important to me; why is the Lord pushing me into this direction? I told her that I believe that small groups or this format, may be one of the best ways that the Lord can get this message to those who don't know him. Additionally, what I see is the biggest fear everyone has; they believe they have to give up thier freedom if they take the opportunity to know Christ. Christ died on the cross specifically so that you could be free, but he put boundaries within that freedom. The boundaries are set so that you recognize his sacrifice for you and your commitment to the Father. Additionally, when you accept Christ you are a new creature. As it is written in John 3:3 "Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (ESV)". Because he wanted you to ensure that under a relationship with Him, you have to be in retrospect of your past and you also have to be a changed person. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (ESV)
Finally, you will have to recognize that you're responsible for the actions that you make. If you desire to be a child of God, recongize that a father challenges his children to do great things. He also chastises his children for doing wrong. This doesn't mean he wants to prohibit you from enjoying or experiencing life. You have the free will to do as you please, but remember the commandments of God, and how the new covenant is part of your life. Also remember, that in the midst of your freedom, you are not to cause your brother to stumble.
Question: "What does it mean that we are not to cause others to stumble?"
Answer: The concept of not causing others to stumble is found inRomans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. In these chapters, Paul talks about personal convictions and our responsibility to our fellow believers in Christ. He highlights several topics over which believers have disagreements—food, drink, and sacred days. In Paul’s time, the disagreements were mostly concerning Jewish law versus the new freedom found in Christ. We experience much the same type of disagreements today, even over the same topics, to which we could add things like body piercings, tattoos, clothing style, movies, video games, books, and alcohol/tobacco. These are all areas for which the Bible does not provide specific instruction and yet are areas in which many feel conviction. Some of these things can lead to worldliness, sin, impurity or even just become an obsession/idol. But, on the flip side, legalism and avoidance of anything the world has to offer can also become an idol. (http://www.gotquestions.org/causing-to-stumble.html)
As usual, I know this message as well as the others is long. However, I ask that you continine to indulge me with the ability to provide God's word the best way I know how. I pray that this message finds you and your family well.
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