PROVERBS 152006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Proverbs 15

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2006. Well, here we are, finally, in Proverbs chapter 15.

Now, in the book of Proverbs, as we've been seeing every week, we're talking about the subject of wisdom, which I've defined as following God's recipe for life. And we've looked at many different aspects of that. And we continue or we will continue to look at different aspects of wisdom and walking with God. But as we begin this chapter, another thing I want to bring out and something else that we find in Proverbs is.

is a lot of good indicators to help us examine our life. And what I mean by that is we have these things that says a fool is this way,

And by that, we can look at that example and apply it to our life and say, am I that way? And find out whether or not we are fools. Now, it's not common for us or we don't necessarily like to think of ourselves as fools. But when we are fools, we need to know. And it's important that we know so that we can change, so that we can turn from our foolishness

and follow wisdom, which is God's recipe for life. And so we can quickly find out by comparing ourselves with some of the statements made in here. We can find out if we're right with God or not. We can find out if we are wise or not. If we're following God's recipe for life, and it becomes evident, and we'll see that several times throughout the chapter as we look at Proverbs chapter 15. But let's begin it. Start it off with the beginning. Verse 1 says this,

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Beginning with the question, how do you respond when someone is angry at you?

You ever have someone? Of course you had someone yell at you or be mad at you, be upset with you. How do you respond in that situation? Of course, it probably depends on who it is that's mad at you. But Solomon tells us here that a soft answer turns away wrath and a harsh word stirs up anger. It's a good example for us of how the ways of God are so backwards sometimes.

to us because when someone yells at us what do we naturally want to do thank you for being audible that's great our natural tendency is to do the same yell back probably louder right we want to get them worse or get them more yell back at them you know they they give us some motions we give them some motions you know if there's anger towards us we give that same anger back

When someone is angry around you, do you ever have, and I know it's kind of evil, but it's just how we are. Do you ever have that desire just to see how mad you can get them? You know, like what they'll do if you push them over the limit? Oh man, if you have siblings, you know what that's like. How do you respond when someone is angry around you or angry at you?

Solomon says something very important. A soft answer turns away wrath. The right thing to do, the appropriate thing to do is to reply softly. Now, soft answer is not speaking of how loud the answer is. It doesn't mean to whisper, but instead it means tender, delicate or gentle response.

A gentle answer turns away wrath. A delicate or tender answer turns away wrath. Now, we quickly make a bad situation worse by saying the wrong things, by not being tender or delicate or being insensitive. And Solomon says, no, you need to learn to give a gentle answer, a gentle answer of love. It requires self-control on our part. It requires that we think before we speak.

So that our response is gentle and loving. In Luke chapter 6, Jesus says something very important to us. He says, I say to you who hear, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Notice this. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you.

How do we answer with a soft answer, with a gentle answer? It's with blessing. Jesus says, bless those who curse you. Give them wonderful things they don't deserve. Pour out grace upon them with your answers, with your response. And it turns away wrath. But if you respond harshly, then it will continue to stir up and make matters worse. Verse 2.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Now, again, we see the subject is our words and how we use them. He says that the tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly. This means that the wise speak rightly when it is right. And yet our silence as well when it is right, as opposed to the fool.

Who does not know how to restrain his tongue. And so he pours forth foolishness. And you get the idea that it's uncontrolled. He's not able to control it. It just keeps pouring forth foolishness. Our words are so important in our Christian walk. And we've seen it over and over again throughout the book of Proverbs. We'll continue to see it chapter after chapter as we continue in the coming weeks. Wisdom is found...

and being able to receive instruction and correction, if you remember. Wisdom is about how well we do what we are told. And I'm on the wrong page of my notes. I hate it when that happens. There's always that danger when you don't number the pages. Alrighty then. Well, it's somewhere.

Let's continue on. Verse three, the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Now, this covers an important thing that is often misunderstood about God. You've probably heard it talked about and said that, you know, God cannot look upon sin. Maybe you've heard it taught or said that God cannot be in the presence of sin.

And often they, when referring to that or teaching that, turn to Matthew chapter 27. And you don't have to turn there, but there in Matthew chapter 27 is Jesus is dying on the cross. He cries out from the cross in verse 48. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And often we will look at that and come to the conclusion. God cannot look upon sin and Jesus and taking upon our sin.

became sin. And so God had to turn his gaze away because he cannot look upon sin. But verse three clearly says otherwise. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Sin does not separate God from us.

It separates us from God. Our sin does not limit God's ability to see us, to be with us, to love us. But sin limits our ability to

To see God, to receive his love, to receive his presence, to experience who he is and how good he is. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. He understands he's on the throne. He sees everything. There's nothing hidden from his sight in dark or in light, in secret or in the open.

He sees everything, be it when you're in sin or be it when you're walking right, be it when your heart is good or when your heart is evil. God sees it. He knows what's going on. He's in control. He's on the throne and he knows what's taking place. There's nothing hidden from the eyes of the Lord. Verse four, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

A wholesome tongue, which means a sound or a healthy tongue. The right tongue, the healthy tongue brings life to those who hear what's coming forth from it. But if there's any perverseness in it, Solomon says, if there's any crookedness in it, then it brings death. It breaks the spirit. It brings destruction and despair.

It breaks the spirit of those who hear. And that's why Paul in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 29, a verse I quote very often, tells us to not let any unwholesome words come out of our mouth, but only what is necessary, what's helpful and beneficial for edifying and building up those who hear that they might receive grace.

And so we need to be careful again with our words, with what we say. A healthy tongue, the right tongue is the one that builds up. But a crooked tongue, a perverse tongue is the one that breaks down. And how quickly we find ourselves, don't we? Breaking down, tearing down, cutting into those around us. That's not healthy. It's not good. It's not right. We must turn from that and have a healthy tongue that builds up and loves those around us. Verse five says,

A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent.

A fool despises his father's instruction. This is another theme that we've seen very many times throughout the book of Proverbs, because wisdom is about receiving instruction, receiving correction, receiving rebuke and letting it change our lives and putting into practice God's instruction and rebuke and correction. And so here in verse five,

Solomon tells us that a fool despises his father's instruction. It's foolish to despise your father's instruction, be it your earthly father or your heavenly father. It's foolish to despise their instruction. God placed authority in your life for a reason.

And it's a foolish thing to disregard that and despise that. But he who receives correction is prudent, Solomon says. The one who receives it and allows someone else to give them instructions. So hard for us, isn't it? To be obedient to others. But that's the right thing. That's the prudent thing to do. That's the wise thing to do. A person who's right with God receives instruction from those whom God has placed in authority in their lives. Verse 6 says,

Now, this is one of those that we need to look towards eternity for the ultimate fulfillment. Because in a righteous person's life on this earth, there might not be much treasure from a world's perspective.

But there's spiritual treasure beyond belief. And we'll even talk about that a little bit later in the chapter this evening. But the revenue of the wicked is trouble. Remember Romans chapter 6 verse 23. The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. Christ Jesus our Lord.

And so the house of the righteous, oh, there's great treasure because to be righteous means to to be right with God and to be walking with God, to have right relationship with God. And therefore, like Jesus said, we are storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven and the house of the righteous. There's much treasure, but the revenue of the wicked is trouble. Paul in First Timothy, chapter four, verse eight says,

tells us that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. And so the proverb agrees with Paul, both inspired by God, that if you will be godly, if you will walk with God and apply his principles for life,

It will be beneficial for you. Your house will be full of treasures in this life. But even more importantly, in the life to come, walking right with God is what is best for you. Jesus said, lay up your treasures in heaven. Matthew chapter six, verses 19 and 20. But on the other hand, wickedness is living in disobedience to God and it brings trouble. The wages of sin is death. Now, the interesting thing is you and I get to choose.

Whether we are righteous and have treasure or are wicked and have trouble. It's not that we're just one way or the other and there's nothing we can do about it. God gives us the choice. He gives us what we need to make a choice so that we can choose to walk with him or walk away from him. We choose by our response to what Jesus did for us by receiving or rejecting his offer of forgiveness from the cross. Verse seven.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. Now, this is an important verse to remind us to consider who it is that we listen to. Who do you receive counsel from? Who is it that you do allow to speak into your life? If you want knowledge, Solomon says, then you must go to someone who is wise and

Wisdom, remember, is not about how smart you are, but it's how well you receive instruction and correction from God. And so if you want knowledge, go to a wise person, receive from a person who walks with God and will give you godly counsel. That is the person who will be able to give you knowledge. A fool is not able to disperse knowledge because they do not have relationship with God.

And the way that you get wisdom and knowledge is by relationship with God. Proverbs chapter 2 verse 6 told us this. For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. And so if a person does not acknowledge that God exists or if they are in continual rebellion against him, not receiving Jesus Christ, not walking with Jesus Christ, not having relationship with God, they do not have wisdom because the beginning of wisdom begins.

is the fear of the Lord. And the Lord is the one who gives wisdom and knowledge. If you're listening to advice or counsel that is not from a godly person, beware, because a fool does not disperse knowledge. If you are wise, the things you say will be worth listening to. But a fool really has nothing to say. We need to think about that as we listen to those around us. Verses 8 and 9.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Verse nine, the way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who follows righteousness. Two things about the wicked that are an abomination to the Lord, the sacrifice of the wicked and the way of the wicked. Both are an abomination to the Lord, but those who are upright, their prayer pleases God. It's his delight. Verse nine,

And he loves those who follow righteousness. Now, abomination means disgusting. It's disgusting to God. The sacrifice of the wicked and the way of the wicked is disgusting to God. Now, think about this for a second. Why is the sacrifice of the wicked an abomination or disgusting to the Lord?

Well, we need to understand that a wicked person is not just someone who sins. We all sin. There's that wickedness in all of us from that perspective. But a wicked person, as Solomon is talking about here, is someone who refuses to receive God's forgiveness and have right relationship with God. And so if a person does not want relationship with God, why would they bring a sacrifice? Well, they still want the benefits.

Of being pleasing to God. They want to feel good about themselves. They want to still have hope. For eternal life. Yet they want to live in their own ways. In rebellion to God. And so it's disgusting to God. Because it's a rejection of him. His forgiveness. His son. And yet an attempt to feel good about themselves. And still get to spend eternity in paradise.

In Isaiah chapter 1, verses 10 through 20, God rebukes the nation of Israel for such activity, for living the way that they want to and worshiping other gods, yet still coming back and sacrificing in the temple to God. And in verse 13, he says, bring no more futile sacrifices, incenses and abomination to me, the new moons, the Sabbath, the calling of assemblies. I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

Iniquity and the sacred meaning. You're coming to try to have fellowship with me and to walk with me, but you're not really doing that. You're coming in pretense. You're just coming to offer and to do these outward works. But your heart is far from me. God tells them over and over again. Listen, if you do not want to walk with God, don't bring sacrifices. Don't give in to offerings.

Don't give your time or your service. It's disgusting to God for you to try to appease him or please him by outward works when your heart is far from him. If it's not in your heart to do so, don't do it. If you don't want to be with God and walk with God, if you don't want right relationship with God, do not bring him sacrifices. They're disgusting. They're not pleasing to him. However, if you will walk with him and if you receive his gift of forgiveness and

Your prayers, your ways will be pleasing and a delight to God. Again, it's our choice whether we receive or reject relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Verse 10. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way and he who hates correction will die. Again, you and I must learn to receive correction. Here's something we need to understand. We are corrected because we need it.

We're corrected because we need to be corrected. Now, some discipline is harsh, but none of it is unnecessary. God is not anxious to correct us. He does not try to think of new ways just to punish us and make us miserable just for the sake of inflicting pain.

He only corrects us when we need it. He chastens us because he loves us. Hebrews 12 is clear on that point. And you can check it out. Hebrews 12, 3 through 11. So don't hate correction, be it from your boss or from your spouse, from your parents or from God. Solomon says, if you hate correction, you will die. If you do not receive correction, you will die.

If you don't receive from those in authority in this life, you will not receive from God correction. And so we need to learn to be obedient to those that God has put in authority in our lives. Verse 11, hell and destruction are before the Lord. So how much more the hearts of the sons of men? You know, the Lord knows your heart. He knows it completely. Every detail, every crevice, every tiny corner.

He knows everything about you. He knows the innermost secrets, the thoughts, the intents. He knows everything about you. Now, the interesting thing is you do not know your heart.

But the Lord does. And that's why we must take his word for it and be obedient to him because he knows our heart better than we do. And we're convinced that we're OK. We're convinced that we know what we're doing. We're convinced that we have it under control. And God says, you don't. We need to take his word for it and be obedient to him.

Because we do not know our own heart. We talked about that last week, but let me recap. Jeremiah 17 verses 9 and 10. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? So first and foremost, your heart, my heart is deceitful. That means the thing that my heart is best at is deceiving myself.

Tricking myself, pulling the wool over my eyes, thinking I'm right on track, thinking I'm right where I need to be, that I have right motives. But the reality is the intents of my heart are wicked, desperately wicked. The best thing that my heart can do or that is best at is deceitfulness.

Who can know it? Then verse 10, God says, I, the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing. God knows the heart. He knows everything about you. He knows all of your secrets, all the things that you've hidden from everyone else, even the things that you hide from yourself because your heart is deceitful. God knows those things. Now, isn't that such a wonderful thought? Isn't that great news?

You say, Jerry, why is it great news? Because I know some of what's in my heart and it's not that great. Well, it's great news because he still loves you. He knows all the dark, dirty secrets and he loves you.

And he's passionate about you. And he wants to spend eternity with you. You know, the fact that he knows all those things means that you cannot disappoint God. You can't surprise him with how you've fallen or the sins that you've committed. He's not shocked about what you have done nor what you will do. He already knows it.

He knows you through and through. He knows everything about you. And he loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you, that he could have a relationship with you, that he could spend eternity with you. That's amazing. God is good. He knows us and he still loves us. That truly is unconditional love. Verse 12, a scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise. Now, as I said, there's some indicators in this chapter.

Are you a scoffer? This word scoffer, it means one who mocks and ridicules. You know how you can tell if you're a scoffer? Here's the test. Do you love those who correct you? Do you love those who correct you? Do you go to the wise? The answer to those questions will tell you if you are a scoffer or not. How do you respond? What is your attitude towards those who take it upon themselves to come to you and say, you know, brother or sister,

You're failing in this area. You need to repent or you need to change. Or your boss comes and says, you're not doing this right. How do you respond when people correct you? A scoffer does not love those who correct him, but a wise person will. Are you a scoffer? Do you hold it against people when they correct you? How dare they tell you that you're not right? How dare they correct you? You've been doing it for 25 years or however long you've been doing whatever.

The pride and the arrogance of our hearts that prevents us from receiving and loving those who care enough about us to correct us and bring instruction in our lives determines whether or not we are a scoffer. Don't be a scoffer. Love instruction and love those who care enough to give it to you. Verse 13, a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. Now, this proverb is talking about more than a temporary smile or a frown. It's talking about the results of your hearts, not results of circumstances. It's talking about a heart that has been released from the burden of sin, the heart that's been set free by the grace of God.

Now, for those who have been with us on Sunday mornings, think about Paul in prison, writing the book of Philippians, which is known as the book of joy. Yet it was written under very bad circumstances, being imprisoned in Rome, waiting most likely to be put to death. And yet it's the epistle, the book, the letter of joy. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. But by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken.

Even in the midst of difficulties, you can have a merry heart and great joy. If we will simply keep the right perspective and priority in our lives. Again, Jesus, others, ourself. Spells joy. Jesus, others, yourself. Now, if you will keep that priority and keep that perspective, if you will live your life that way, you will have joy and you'll have a merry heart that gives a cheerful countenance.

But when you lose that order, when Jesus is no longer first in your life, when that order is broken, the spirit is broken. And then comes discouragement, hopelessness, depression, etc. Keep the priorities straight. Put Jesus first in your life. Verse 14. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

The heart of him who has understanding understands he does not need to seek knowledge because he has understanding. That's what it says, right? No, the heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge. The truth is, the more that we grow in understanding, the more we understand that we need to grow in understanding. Right? The more we know, the more we realize how little we know. Right? I know it's backwards, it's opposite, but that's the point.

He who has understanding seeks knowledge. He doesn't say, well, I have understanding. No need to seek knowledge any longer. No, there's a continual growth and a continual thirst in our life. There must be a continual desire to draw close to God, to know more about him, to know more about what he says, his thoughts, his heart, who he is and what he has done. It's a continual growth for you and I.

The one who has understanding seeks knowledge. So keep on seeking knowledge. Draw close to God. Spend time in his word and see what he has to say to you. Verse 15. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. Here's the merry heart again. Paul was talking about earlier, but here's the bottom line of what Paul is saying.

You can either get right with God and have abundant joy or you can keep running and be miserable. Again, your choice. You can get right with God and have abundant joy. You can put Jesus first and have a merry heart or you can keep running and keep trying to do it your own way and keep on being miserable. Does that describe you? Are you miserable all the time? How about this one? Do you always think that everyone else is out to get you?

You always have that outlook and that aspect of everybody's just trying to snake you a little bit, to rip you off, to get in front of you. Are you always focused on how much everyone else gets and how little you receive? See, all the days of the afflicted are evil. It's not saying that those who are going through trial and tribulation, their days are evil. But it's those who follow the mentality of this world.

The victim mentality that's so prevalent. I'm a victim of everything. And if that's my mentality, if I have the heart that I've been ripped off and everybody's out to get me, I better check my heart because a heart that's right with God has a continual feast. It's not about what we're not getting or what everybody else is doing. It's where I stand with God. And when I put Jesus first in my life, I have abundant joy. It's a continual feast.

Even in the midst of affliction like the Apostle Paul. Don't take my word for it. Take his word for it. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice, Paul says. We can have a continual feast when our heart is right. But if we become bitter or depressed, then we need to get right with God. We need to come back and put him first in our life. He's what we need. And it's not that everybody else is out to get us. Once we have that perspective, once we have that thought, then all our days are evil.

Because everybody's out to get us and everybody's out to rip us off. But when we put Jesus first, it's not about us anymore. We're dying to ourselves to put Jesus first. We learn, wow, it's just like Jesus said. You have to lose your life to find it. And when you die to yourself, there's continual feast. Great joy for those who will put Jesus first in their life. Verses 16 and 17.

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. I'm sure someone will correct me. It's herbs, not herbs. You know, there's old habits. The things that really matter in life are not the things of luxury. 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

With hatred. You know, we can feel very successful getting the right transportation. We can feel very successful having the perfect house, the promotion, the status or whatever. But those things are the things of this world. They're the things that the world tells us to seek. But they're not the things that really matter.

What really matters in life is a life that's lived in fear of the Lord. And even if that means you only have a little or you have simple meals rather than elaborate meals, it's better. Walking with the Lord and having a little is better than having much, but being full of trouble than a great meal with hatred. We need to put God first.

Make his priorities our priorities and make pleasing him the most important thing in our life. In Luke chapter 9 verse 25, Jesus asked the question, what is it profit to a man if he gains the whole world and is himself destroyed or lost? So you can seek after and chase after the things that this world tells you is important and that your flesh desires and craves.

But what does it gain to you if you attain those things at the expense of losing your family, at the expense of losing your soul because you've sacrificed your walk with God, your relationship with God? You don't read anymore. You don't spend time with him. You don't really serve or minister. You don't do anything that he's called you to do because you're chasing after those things. What good is that? What gain is that? No, it's better. Live a simple life. Have a little.

And fear the Lord. Walk with Him. Obey Him. Do what He's called you to do. Rather than seek after those things and have trouble. Verse 18. A wrathful man stirs up strife. But he who is slow to anger allays contention. A wrathful man stirs up strife. Now...

This is something we've talked about a few times in the book of Proverbs as well. Are you slow to anger? Does it take a lot to get you angry? Like 1 Corinthians 13 says, it suffers long and yet is still kind. It's not easily angered. Does that describe you? Now I realize that this can be a challenge to many of us. It can be very difficult.

But the fact that it's difficult, the fact that it's a challenge does not negate the fact that God wants to help you overcome this sin just like any other sin. A wrathful man stirs up strife, Solomon says. Outbursts of wrath are sinful.

And what they do is they cause up more trouble. It stirs up more strife. Anger quickly escalates, as I'm sure you've experienced. And it causes more and more problems. But we must understand and realize it's sin just like any other sin. We cannot excuse ourselves from it. Can a person who steals announce that that is how they were brought up and then it be acceptable? Can a person who lusts announce that that's how God made them?

And then it'd be acceptable. Can a person who kills announce that it's just how they are and then it'd be acceptable? Of course not. It's sin. And just like any other sin, outbursts of wrath and anger, God wants to deal with in your life. He wants to free you from those things. He wants you to repent and turn from them.

It's sin that God wants to deliver us from. Colossians 3, verse 8, Paul tells us this, but now you yourselves are to put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. It's a command to you and I to put off math, math. Put off math. All the kids love that one. No, put off anger, wrath, and malice. Put it off.

Being that it's a command of God, we are able to be obedient to it as we're surrendered and submitted to the Holy Spirit. And each time there's an outburst of wrath, it should be an indicator to me and to you that we need to run to God again and surrender yet further to him and call upon him again for help. It's an indicator to us that we haven't arrived yet. He's not done with us yet. We need to allow him more right now.

more access to our hearts. We need to spend more time with him. Our hearts have shown themselves. Verse 19, the way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway. I like this verse. The way of a lazy man is a hedge of thorns. This is dealing with the excuses that we can often give. See, a lazy person doesn't do what they're supposed to because there's all kinds of obstacles.

They have a whole bunch of thorns in the way or maybe a whole bunch of points as to why they were not able to do what they are supposed to do. Well, I couldn't accomplish it. I couldn't serve God. I can't serve God because I couldn't do my job and do what I was told to do because I don't read my Bible that much because and there's all these points as to why they're not able to go the way that they're supposed to go. But they're all excuses.

The way of the upright is different, though. It's a highway. And here's how it works. First, we must understand that God gives me everything that I need to complete what he wants me to complete in this day.

He gives me everything that I need to do what he's called me to do for this day. And so the key is to get my priorities straight and to spend time with God, make sure that I'm where he wants me to be. And then my path is a highway because he's prepared the way for me and he's prepared me for the way enabled and equipped me for what he's called me to do today. And so there's not a hedge of thorns, but it's a highway.

Because God's already laid out for me my day and what he's calling me to do. And I can be confident that as I walk with him, he's going to continue to open the doors and pave the way for me to accomplish what he wants me to accomplish. Now, let me give you a very important note. When you take some time to spend time with the Lord in his word and in prayer, you have already accomplished the most important thing that you will do that day.

God desires relationship with you. And that's the most important thing. It must be our priority. A day is not complete if we don't spend time with God.

If we've spent time with God, we've already accomplished the most important thing. So anything else, it's just gravy on the mashed potatoes, right? It's just a little bit extra. I accomplished a little bit more. The priority is not your family. The priority is not your job. The priority is not church. The priority is God. And when you've spent time with him, you've already done the most important thing. Verse 20.

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. This is an interesting verse to me. It makes me think about the relationship a wise child has with their parents because a wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish man, the opposite of a wise son, despises his mother. Now, if you remember, wisdom is receiving God's instruction for life or following God's recipe for life.

And so if I am wise, walking in God's ways, Solomon says, I will bring gladness to my father. If I am wise, I will have good relationship with my parents. I will bring joy to them and not harm. But if I despise my mother, if I despise my parents, I'm a fool and I'm not walking in God's ways. It's an interesting challenge to us. What's your relationship with your parents like?

Again, you can find out it's a good indicator. Where do you stand? Are you right with God? What's your relationship with your parents like? This is something we're going to discuss more in detail on Friday as part of the dating series. So some of you can look forward to that. But let's move on to verse 21. Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment. But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Now, folly is foolishness.

It's another word for foolishness, but Solomon is not just talking about someone who does silly things. Remember, the wise person is the person who walks with God. Wisdom is not about how smart you are, but how well you walk with God and receive his instructions for life. The fool, on the other hand, in contrast to the wise, does not walk with God. And so therefore, wisdom is following God's instruction and foolishness is.

Is not following God's instruction, also known as disobedience.

And so Solomon is saying whoever lacks understanding finds joy in disobedience to God. They happily, willingly, joyfully disobey. And if that is your attitude towards sin, the Bible says you're a fool because sin will destroy you. Turn from your sin. Repent and allow God to change your heart. But if you have understanding, you will walk uprightly, staying away from sin, keeping yourself in right relationship with God. Verse 22 says,

Without counsel, plans go awry, but the multitude of counselors, they are established. Without counsel, plans go awry. It's important for us. Do not be so proud and arrogant as to think that you do not need counsel. We all need counsel. We all need others' counsel.

to share insight and encouragement, God's word into our lives. We need to consult other believers, older believers, spiritual leaders that God has placed in our lives. Now, it's a matter of spiritual pride to say, you know, I don't need counselors. I just hear from the Lord. No, God has placed other believers in our lives for that purpose, that we might receive counsel, that we might hear what the Lord says.

from those that he's placed in our life. Seek out counsel when you're making decisions as you're living this life. Don't be afraid of asking for advice and encouragement and counsel. Let God instruct you through those that he's placed in your life. Verse 23, a man has joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season. How good it is.

Again, the importance of our words. Notice it's all for our good, though. All of God's commands are for our good. Speak right, speak well, and it brings joy to your life. I have a note next to this verse in my Bible. It says this. Well, it's a date and time. June 22, 2005 at 2.25 p.m.

And it's just an interesting side note for me because it's the day that I read this verse and it's the time that Kim told me that she loved me for the first time. And so it's special to me. So words spoken in due season. And it was in the right time when she shared that with me. Verse 24, the way of life winds upward for the wise that he may turn away from hell below.

The way of life winds upward. This verse, I don't know if you picture the same thing, but it makes me picture a spiral staircase. Winding upward or winding downward. You're either going one direction or the other. Again, the choice is yours. You're either winding upward or winding downward. And that's why the idea of repentance is so important. We talk about repentance being a 180 degree turn. And so if you're walking down the spiral staircase...

Towards destruction and death and hell. Then you need to repent. You need to turn around. Make a 180 degree turn and start walking towards God. Up the spiral staircase. Drawing closer and closer to God. Walk towards the Lord. Following his recipe for life. And it will be a constant journey upwards. Closer and closer to him. Verse 25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud.

But he will establish the boundary of the widow. God is the protector of the widow. In Psalm chapter 68, David says, God makes the promise, many promises,

That he will cast down the proud, but he defends and protects the humble, the helpless, the fatherless, the widows. He promises to protect and take care of. 1 Peter 5, verse 5 reminds us that God resists the proud. And so the house of the proud will be destroyed, but the boundary of the widow will be established by God. Verse 26 says,

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasant. The wicked, again, is a person who is in opposition to God, who will not walk in God's ways or receive his forgiveness.

And Solomon says even their thoughts are an abomination to God. They're disgusting to God because they're all foolishness, which emphasizes to us the point that there is no way that we can try to please God on our own. As hard as we try, we cannot do enough because even our thoughts are not pleasing to God. But if our heart is right, if we have received God's forgiveness and are walking with God, our words are pleasant. They're pure and they're pleasant.

See, Jesus explained to us that it's out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks in Luke chapter 6, verse 45. And so if our heart is wicked, then our thoughts and everything that proceeds from them will be wicked. But if we've allowed God to change our hearts, then not only our thoughts, but our words will be pleasing to him as well, which is difficult to do. If you remember James chapter 3,

James says that we've tamed all kinds of animals, but we cannot tame the tongue. It's impossible to tame the tongue. Nobody ever has. Yet in James chapter one, James says, if you don't bridle your tongue, your religion is useless. And so there's this apparent paradox between the two. The need for us then to surrender more to God, to give him the right and the rule of our life.

that he would bridle our tongue, that we would be more submitted to him, that he would empower us with his spirit to give us control, self-control over our words and what we speak through the transformation of our hearts. We can't do it on our own. We can't tame the tongue, but God can change our hearts. And so we need to come to him and allow him to do so. Verse 27, he who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes

Will live. Notice again that God's commands are for your good. Don't be greedy for gain because you're going to bring trouble to your own house. You're going to cause problems for yourself if you're greedy. Paul agreed. First Timothy chapter six, verse 10. He says, for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Be content where God has you, with what God has given to you. Hate bribes and hate any other type of ill-gotten gain and you will live. Walk right with God. Verse 28. The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

As you can see, the subject of our mouth and our words is a predominant theme here in chapter 15. It's something Paul tells us over and over and over again.

Remember Philippians chapter 3 verse 1, Paul says, Hey, it's not tedious for me to tell you the same things, but for you it is safe. It's repeated and it's emphasized throughout this chapter and throughout the book of Proverbs and throughout the word of God because it's necessary. It's important. We need to understand how important our words, our conversations, how important our mouth and our tongue is. He says that the righteous studies how to answer.

We need to think before we speak. We need to be slow to speak, as James 1.19 says. Think about what you say. Give thought to what is right and what the right words would be. It's important, and that's why God keeps telling us over and over again. In Matthew 12.36, Jesus makes it very clear why it's important. He says,

They'll give an account for every idle word. And so it's important. Every word that we speak is important, whether it builds up or cuts down, whether it helps others and brings life or brings death and destruction to those around us. So it turns out your mom was right after all. You should count to 10 before you say anything. Think about it. Study how to answer. Meditate.

Don't just speak right away. The wicked don't consider what to say. Again, the idea of pouring out whatever, not caring if it's right or wrong, unrestrained, not able to control. Everyone should be slow to speak, slow to wrath, but swift to listen. James 119 verse 29. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. God is as close to you as you want him to be.

The wicked have said, I don't want God to be a part of my life. And so God honors their requests. So he's far from them. He doesn't involve himself. He keeps himself far from them out of respect for their wishes.

God honors the choice that we make. But the righteous, those who want to be close to God and have right relationship with them, he's near to them and he hears their prayers. And again, we choose, you choose. Do you want to be close to God or far away? How do we choose? James 4, 4 or 4, 8 tells us, draw near to God and he will draw near to you. How? Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

We draw near to God by coming to him in confession, asking for forgiveness and repentance and humility. We draw close to him and he draws close to us. Repent, confess your sins and turn from it. God will draw near to you. He'll make himself available to you. He'll reveal himself to you. He longs to, he desires to. He wants relationship with you. Verse 30.

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart and a good report makes the bones healthy. I like how the New International Version translates it. It says, a cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones. You know, it's often been said and noticed that smiles are contagious. And it's interesting that effect that can happen, that takes place when you smile genuinely at someone. And there's rejoicing, there's joy that it brings to the heart.

So the encouragement to us is to bring joy and good health to the people in our lives. Smile at that. Share with them the good news of what Jesus has done. Share with them the love of Christ. Bring health and joy to them. Verse 31 and 32. The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

Again, Solomon tells us the importance of receiving correction and instruction. How well do you receive it? How well do you let others that God has placed in authority in your life instruct you? How obedient are you to them? And what is your attitude as you are obedient to them? God's commands are for your good. If you disdain instruction, if you hate it, Solomon says you despise your own soul.

You hate yourself. You're destroying yourself if you will not receive instruction and correction. It's destructive to yourself to refuse to hear instruction. So receive it. Heed rebuke. Get understanding. Love those who rebuke you. Allow God to instruct you. You know, we're so stubborn and proud. We must humble ourselves and receive instruction from God and from those that he has placed in our lives and positions and roles of authority.

We need to receive from God. Verse 33, the final verse of the evening. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility. Before honor is humility. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. This is the fear of God. To receive instruction, to receive correction, to humble ourselves with him is the requirement for that.

We must humble ourselves before God. So the worship team is preparing now and I'm just going to close in a chorus and I want us to take a moment. Humble yourself before the Lord. It comes before honor. It comes before the fear of the Lord. It's what helps us to receive instruction and correction. As we are led now in this time of worship, reflect and receive God's instruction.

Receive his rebuke and correction. Whatever area maybe that God has spoken to your heart this evening or has been speaking to you for a while, use this time. Use this opportunity to humble yourself. Repent. Confess your sin and turn from it. Follow God's recipe for life. Draw near to God. He will draw near to you. He wants to meet you, to give you great joy and offer to you forgiveness. And so let's take this opportunity now.

To confess our sins to him, to draw close to him, just personally on your own.

And worship to God after the song you're dismissed and there'll be men and women up here who would love to pray with you and encourage you and what God is speaking to you. If you need to receive Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, if you need to be born again and receive God's forgiveness for the first time, come forward. We'd love to share with you how God can make you new, how God can give you forgiveness and new life in him. But let's worship the Lord together and allow him to work in our hearts.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.