Don’t Envy Sinners
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18
The wise man is warning us to not let our hearts want what sinners have. Instead we are to be enthusiastic for the fear of the Lord all day long. The reason for this is that there is an afterlife and if we have been enthusiastic for the fear of the Lord we will not be cut off like the sinner who did not fear the Lord.
Envying or wanting what sinners have in this life is a great temptation for God’s people. Just like the children of Israel we too want to be like the“nations around us.” (1 Samuel 8) The great temptation is to envy the way the sinner lives in the here and now. The sinner gets to go wherever he wants; fishing on Sunday, nightclubs on Saturday, and immoral movies on Friday night. The sinner gets to dress anyway she wants to; with immodest dress, and expensive and costly clothing. The sinner doesn’t have to show self-control in their eating and drinking, emotions, or sexual relationships. The sinner gets to take their ease and “eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19) because they live only for today and not for the hereafter.
But God has called for us as His children to be zealous for Him all the day (or all our days). Our lives are to be filled with pleasing God and seeking to follow His commandments. The reason for this is because there is an afterlife. There is coming a time when men, the sinner and the saved alike, will be judged according to their works (1 Peter 1:17). Surely if we follow God and His son Jesus Christ then our hope of being judged faithful will not be cut off (Romans 8:23-24).
Let’s not envy what sinners have in this life because if we do we will have their reward in the next life.
Related proverbs: Proverbs 24:1-2, 19-20; 28:14
As Iron Sharpens Iron
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
Solomon wants us to see that just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen each other. Let’s make sure that we understand that for iron to sharpen iron it has to be applied at the right angle and with just the right amount of force. Otherwise, it’s just two pieces of metal rubbing against each other causing damage. It’s the same with friends. If one is going to sharpen the other he has to do so in the right manner.
The Hebrew writer said “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24) This means that if I want to sharpen my friend to love and good works then I need to consider what’s the best angle and amount of pressure to use so that he will be willing to receive that sharpening. Note that our focus is to be on the person receiving the sharpening, not on the one doing the sharpening. Jude said “to make a distinction” between people. On some he said “have compassion” while on others “save with fear.” (Jude 22-23) But again the focus is on what is the best way to approach our friend in order for him to receive the sharpening.
Here are three things to remember when sharpening a friend: 1) Season your words with grace and salt (Colossians 4:6). Give your friend unmerited favor and make your words palatable. 2) Say the right words, at the right time, in the right way (Proverbs 15:23; Ecclesiastes 3:7b). It’s been said that “the wrong words at the wrong time will discourage someone, while the right words at the wrong time will confuse someone, but the right words at the right time will encourage everyone.”* 3) Remember the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). Nobody likes, nor receives well, unsolicited criticism so don’t dish it out. Remember to sharpen your friends in the same manner you would want to be sharpened by them.
When two friends come together in just the right manner great things can and will happen. Let be sure that the way we approach our friends will sharpen them, not cause damage to our relationship.
*Adapted from John Maxwell’s book 25 Ways To Win With People
Do the Honorable Thing
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 NASB
In today’s proverb, Solomon reminds us that the honorable thing for a man to do is avoid strife and quarreling, not engage in it. Because any ordinary fool can start an argument. We would do well to learn this lesson because too often we think the honorable thing to do is start and argument with someone and in the process crush them with our overwhelming knowledge of the facts. When in reality we only crush them with our over-inflated egos. Whether it’s with your spouse, a family member, a co-worker, a church member, or a friend; remember it more honorable to not start an argument than it is to win an argument.
Using this proverb as a mirror do you see yourself as an honorable man or a fool? If you avoid strife and quarreling then you are an honorable man. But if you like to quarrel about anything and everything then Solomon says that you are a fool.
Today’s take away thought: Learn to do the honorable thing… pick your battles carefully (yes there are somethings worth fighting for), learn patience in dealing with others, and be a peacemaker.
Related proverbs: Proverbs 14:29, 16:32, 17:14, 18:6, 19:11
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
The lazy man says ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’ (Proverbs 22:13)
The beauty of today’s proverb is the satire that the Wise Man uses to show us how absurd a lazy man’s excuses can be. A lazy man will go to great lengths to excuse him/herself from work of any sort, even making up imaginary lions in the streets. The tragedy of this proverb is that it will not be his imaginary lion that will devour him but his excuses and his poverty (Proverbs 6:10-11).
We all have work to do. It maybe work that we do with our hands, or work that we do with our hearts but it’s still work nonetheless. What sort of imaginary excuses are you making up to keep from doing the work you know you need to do? How about you and I stop making these sort of excuses and start doing the work we have all been called to do.
Today’s take away thought: It’s not the imaginary lion in the street that keeps us from going to work; it’s the real mountain of excuses that we have built that keeps us from going to work.
Related proverbs: Proverbs 15:19, 20:13-16
A Better Life Now
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred. Proverbs 15:16-17
As the country’s economic troubles continue we would do well to remember Solomon’s ingredients for having A Better Life Now… fear of the Lord and love. Too many people in the world think that fancy cars, expensive cloths, bigger houses, and chic resturants will make them happy; but without the fear of the Lord and love, all these things just bring trouble and hatred into their lives.
How are you trying to make your life better? Are you trying to make your life better by accumalting more stuff or by filling your life with the fear of the Lord and love? My friends it is only through the fear of the Lord and love that we can have A Better Life Now.
Related proverbs: Proverbs 16:8; 17:1; 21:19; 28:6
Got time?
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Solomon begins this well known passage with the statement “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” He then goes on to explain that in certain seasons of life we fulfill one purpose while in another we fulfill the opposite purpose. There are two things that I want us to take away from this proverb.
1) Are your fulfilling the purposes of your season? As a twenty to fifty something Christian are you fulfilling your purposes toward your spouse and children (Ephesians 5:22-6:4) and are you fulfilling your purpose by being an example to all the believers (1 Timothy 4:12)? Or as an older/wiser Christian who is living in the later season of life are fulfilling your purposes to shepherd the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7) or to train up the young women of your congregation (Titus 2:3-5).
2) Don’t despise someone who is not fulfilling your purpose. While the Lord has given me a purpose to fulfill in my season, He has given someone else an opposite purpose in their season. While it might be one persons season to weep they are not to despise the one who’s season it is to laugh. Solomon teaches us to live in harmony with our brethren because to each person God has given a purpose and a season for which to fulfill His will.
We have learned that the Lord has given us all a purpose to fulfill in our season of life… Are you fulfilling yours?
Laziness
Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. Proverbs 18:9 (ESV)
How is your work ethic? Good or bad? Do you give 100% everyday or do you spread it out over the week? Solomon says that the one who does not diligently work is related to the one who destroys other people’s property. Whether you are a ditch digger, or an executive, or a free lancer, as Christians you are called to work with all your heart as if the Lord Himself was your boss (Colossians 3:23). Related proverbs: Proverbs 10:4, 23:20-21, and 24:30-34.
Are you listening?
He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13
In today’s proverb, we are being challenged to be good listeners. How good of a listener are you? When you communicate with your spouse, children, friends, or God are you the one doing all the talking? Let’s slowdown, open our ears and listen to what the people around are saying and feeling. If we’ll do that then it will produce the righteousness of God in our lives (James 1:19-20).
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