PROVERBS 212006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Proverbs 21

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. Here we are in Proverbs chapter 21.

We're continuing our study through the book of Proverbs, and of course Proverbs is all about wisdom, and we've learned over and over again it's not about how smart you are, but how well you receive instruction and follow instructions, how well you receive correction, and so on and so forth. And this weekend at the men's retreat, one thing that I did learn that I thought was interesting is that George is a fool. Did you know that George is a fool? Patty says yes.

Well, after all these illustrations that I've given about my inability to follow directions and everything, we get to the end of the weekend and we're about to head down the mountain. And it's three cars coming down. I'm driving one, Royce is driving another, and George is driving the last. And he says, Jerry, why don't you lead us down? And I said, wait a second. After all these instructions or all the times I've shared of how bad I'm following directions...

You expect me to look at this directions and reverse them and lead you all correctly. It's not a wise thing to do. So I pulled over and let George lead. So it was a good decision. Proverbs chapter 21. Let's look at verse one. It says this. The king's heart is in the hand of the fool of the Lord. I'm still thinking about George.

Let me start over. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes.

This is an important thing for us to know. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, we see countless times of God using kings and nations. He raises them up and puts them down. He uses them to accomplish his will.

A good example of that, for those of you familiar with the book of Habakkuk, where the prophet is saying, God, how come you're not dealing with the nation of Israel? And God says, well, I am. But, you know, if I tell you what I'm going to do, you won't even believe it. And Habakkuk says, well, try me. And so God tells him, I'm raising up the Babylonians and they're going to come and they're going to enact my judgment on

My chastisement upon the nation of Israel. In other words, God says, I'm raising them up. The king is in my hand. His heart is in my hand. He thinks it's his own doing, but I'm using him to accomplish my purposes on my people. Another good example is in Isaiah chapter 45, verses one through 13, which gives us a prophecy about a king to come named Cyrus. He has come already, but it

At that time, he was yet to come. And in verse 13 of Isaiah 45, God says this about Cyrus. He says, I have raised him up in righteousness and I will direct all his ways. He shall build my city and let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, says the Lord of hosts.

God says his heart's in my hand. He's going to what he does is he conquers Babylon, who took Israel captive. And it's through Cyrus that the people are allowed to go back and rebuild the city because the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water, he turns it whichever way he wishes.

And so it's important for us to know because it doesn't matter who has the majority in the House or the Senate. It doesn't matter who the president is. They cannot escape or evade God's will. He will turn it whichever way he wishes. Verse two, every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart's.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. Now, again, wisdom is not about how smart you are, but it's how well you receive instruction and how well you receive instruction depends on how well you understand that you need it.

Because if you don't understand that you need instruction, you're not going to be very open to receive instruction. And that's the problem. Because every way of a man is right in his own eyes. In other words, we always think we're right. We always think what we're doing or what we're involved in is right or okay. If we thought we were wrong, we would change our mind. We wouldn't continue to insist that we're right if we thought we were wrong.

If we thought we were wrong, we would change our mind. But the problem is we think we're right. We think we're right. And what we need to realize is that we're not capable of understanding right without the instruction, the revelation of the Lord.

See, we need the Lord to show us our own hearts and motives. And we need to receive instruction from him so that we can walk in his ways and not our own. Proverbs chapter 16 verse 2 tells us that all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. My ways, my actions, the way that I live my life, I think it's right. I think it's pure. But what I need to do is realize that

That I need the instruction of the Lord and apply it to my life. Verse three, to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Now, this is something, again, that's very important for us to understand. To do righteousness and justice. This is action, activity in our life. To live righteously and justly is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Jesus also made it.

This point in Matthew 9, 13, he was quoting from Hosea 6, 6, but he tells the Pharisees, the hypocrites who were very religious and into fulfilling the letter of the law and looking great outwardly. They would be at church. They would read their Bibles. They would pray lengthy prayers. And they just seemed and had every appearance perfect.

of righteousness, but their hearts were corrupt. And Jesus tells them, go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice. So here's the point. God wants you to live right and to follow his principles for life. He wants you to walk in relationship with him. And that is the most important thing.

You cannot make up for walking in the flesh by generous donations or great sacrifices. You cannot live your own life and then come and offer a big offering and expect God to be satisfied. If you want to please God, then walk in His ways and stay close to Him because that's what's pleasing to Him, not the sacrifice. Verse 4 says,

A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin. Now, here's the point of this proverb. All three of these things are sin.

The plowing of the wicked speaks of the activity of the wicked or the business of the wicked. And the business of the wicked, the activity of the wicked is wickedness, which makes sense. And everyone knows that wickedness is sin. So that's not a big shocker there. But what we often forget is that a haughty look and a proud heart are just as sinful. As Christians, we quickly become self-righteous.

Because we do not do some of the things that other people do. But God is not just concerned about what you do or what you do not do. He is concerned about the state of your heart because that's where it begins. And that was the whole point in Matthew chapter 5. As Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount, remember he says, You've heard it said, you shall not commit murder, but I say to you, whoever has hated his brother in his heart...

Because it begins in the heart and that's the real issue. Now, a haughty look is when literally it's a high look. Or in other words, it's when we look down on others. It's when we look down on others. Now, you may not be involved in openly sinful activity, but do you look down on others? Do you have contempt or show contempt for others?

That is sin and sinful just as the activity of the wicked. And the same thing with the proud heart. Maybe you don't look down on others, but maybe you think highly of yourself. That is sinful just as the activity of the wicked. All three are sin and all of them are to be put aside from our lives. Verse 5, the plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty.

But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty. It's a guarantee. It's something you can count on. Now, the diligent are those who plan ahead, work hard, and are persistent and consistent in their discipline.

The promise is that if you are diligent, you will have plenty. That is that God will supply all your needs. He will meet every need and you will have plenty. It's the promise of God for those who are his children and those who are diligent. Now, the contrast is of those who are hasty. A hasty person is focused on and consumed with the riches and with the plenty, and they want the end results immediately.

They're not interested in doing all of the diligence and putting in the labor that it takes to get there, but they're just focused on the end result, the riches, the wealth. They're hasty, maybe what we would relate to a get-rich-quick scheme, to get rich and to have wealth. And so it's important for us to not get caught up in such things, in hastiness,

Do not try to shortcut your way to wealth because it's not good for you and it leads to poverty. As surely as diligence leads to plenty, hastiness leads to poverty. 1 Timothy 6.10 says,

Paul talks about the love of money and he says it's 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. It's important for us that we not set our eyes on the things of this life and the wealth and the riches that can be attained because it can lead us astray as a result of our own greediness. Verse 6 says,

Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

Here he continues the same type of thought. Those who are looking to obtain treasures, those who are looking for riches, those who seek wealth, riches and treasure. Now there are many who get caught up in riches and wealth and they convince themselves that the end justifies the means. So if they have to lie and cheat to get ahead and to get and achieve their goals, then that's what they do.

But Solomon says, don't do it. And something very sobering, it's the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. In other words, they'll try to lie and cheat and steal in order to attain the thing that they're looking for. But it will continue to elude them. But the reality is, those who lie in order to get ahead, Solomon says, are those who seek death.

Those who are seeking to destroy themselves. If you are lying to get a better job or an extra sale, you're living in a fantasy and seeking your own death. Turn from that and live. Verse 7. The violence of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do justice. The violence of the wicked will destroy them.

Here, like we've seen many times in the Proverbs, we find the principle of reaping what you sow. It's their own violence that destroys them. It's the result of their own actions and their own wickedness that destroys them because they refuse to do justice.

Disobedience to God is bad for you. Don't do it. You will reap what you sow. Ignoring or rebelling against his principles for living is not good for you. Galatians chapter 6 verses 7 and 8 promises it. You will reap what you sow. If you refuse to do what's right, you will be destroyed by your own sin. Because as the word says, your sin will find you out. Verse 8 says,

You know, guilt does strange things to a person. He says the way of a guilty man is perverse or crooked, hard to follow, deceitful. God gave us a conscience. And he gave it to us so that we know that we have done something wrong. When we do, we feel guilty.

It's a natural thing that God has given to us that we would know right from wrong. But then what do we do with that guilt? Now, as believers, the right thing to do is to take it to the Lord and confess our sin to him and he's faithful and just to cleanse us. And so Romans 8, 1, there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And we give our guilt and he takes away and removes our guilt because of our faith in Jesus Christ. But for someone who is not a believer in Jesus Christ,

Or for someone who doesn't take their guilt to Jesus Christ, that guilt then affects their whole life. And their whole life becomes crooked and perverse. Titus chapter 1 verse 15, Paul says, "...to the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure."

But even their mind and conscience are defiled. It affects every part of us. Sin does not just affect one part of your life, but the way of the guilty man is perverse. But as for the pure, his work is right. And so like the author of Hebrews in 10.22 tells us,

We need to let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, coming to Jesus Christ by faith. Let the blood of Jesus wash your guilt away. If there's things in your life that you're guilty about, just bring it to the Lord and trust and draw close to him.

And he washes and cleanses all of your sins. 1 John 1, 9 promises that. Couple that with Romans 8, verse 1. And know that there's no longer a need to be guilty for the things that you have done. Verse 9. Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman. We could have a lot of fun with this proverb. Larry says amen. Yes. Laughter

Now, we could look at this as just an observation about how hard it is to dwell with a contentious woman. And I'm sure that observation will be pretty accurate. But let me throw a different twist on this. By the way, this is not an encouragement to separate if things are rough either. It doesn't mean you should dwell on the roof. Here's what I believe this proverb is saying.

The housetop. Now, the roofs in Israel would be flat. And so they would often have it as kind of like a patio or a deck where they would go up there and it would be a place to enjoy the cool of the evening. As the sun was setting, it would be a place of isolation or maybe some solitude to spend some time alone. But it would just be a nice relaxing place. However, you would not want to live there.

Because you would be exposed to the elements. You'd be exposed to the heat of the sun during the day. And in the desert terrain of Israel, you would not want to experience that. You would experience the cold of night, which like in the deserts here becomes very cold at night. You would also be exposed to the wind and the storms and the dust and everything else. You would be without shelter. And so the housetop is not a place where you would want to dwell.

Now, here's what we assume about this proverb. We assume that it's saying it's better to be alone on the housetop without that shelter, without those things, than to be inside of a house with a shelter and with a contentious wife. But the problem is, that's not what the proverb says. We assume it means that the man is dwelling alone on the housetop. But here's what I believe the proverb is saying.

It's better to dwell in horrible conditions with your wife than to dwell in luxurious conditions with a horrible wife. Get it? It's better to dwell in horrible conditions with your wife than to dwell in luxurious conditions with a horrible wife or a contentious wife. In other words, if the cost of providing a house...

And I say you guys, and I include myself, by the way.

Going along that same lines, if you remember Proverbs 15, 17, better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted calf with hatred. You might get the fatted calf and the luxurious things and the big fancy house that you want. But if it's at the expense of you've worked to the extent that you have not loved your wife as Christ loved the church, it's not worth it. If it's at the expense of your relationship with your wife, it's not worth it. It's better to

To live in bad conditions and have a great relationship with your wife because you love her as Christ loved the church. Then to have all the things that society says that we need to have, or maybe all of the things that you need or that you've dreamed about.

The most important thing is not the house or the car or the clothes. The most important thing is to love your wife as Christ loved the church. Proverbs 17, 1, better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. Even if you just have to live off toast and I don't know what else is dry morsel, but even if you just have to live off toast, then I could cook for you, by the way, if you could do that. It's better than having the feast and the result is strife.

Because you've given so much to attain the feast that you've neglected your wife. Guys, whatever it takes, learn to love your wife, even if it means you do not get the house, promotion, or the career of your dreams. It's not worth it. Verse 10. The soul of the wicked desires evil. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. One of the lies that we often believe is,

is that our sin only affects us. But what we need to know is that our sin does not just affect us, it also affects everyone around us. Oftentimes we think, you know, it's not so bad as long as other people are not hurt. For example, adultery. We would say, yeah, that's wrong and that's bad and that's sinful. It's very destructive and we can see the results of that.

But what about pornography? It's just me. It's just me who's affected. I'm not involving anybody else and nobody else is getting hurt. And so I don't think it's such a big deal. But what Solomon is telling us here and what the word would tell us and warn us about is that it affects everyone around us because the soul of the wicked desire is evil. And the result of that, his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

Maybe lying, you know, oh, I'm not lying about people and hurting them. I'm just exaggerating myself. It's not anything, you know, harmful. Nobody's getting hurt. We convince ourselves that we're only hurting ourselves so that we should be allowed to do it if we want to. Thinking that, well, we've counted the cost and we're OK with it. But the problem is that sin affects everyone around you. It's not just you that you're hurting.

You may not be hurting them directly, but indirectly, everyone around you will be affected by your sin, either from the withholding of favor that is due them, the love that you should be giving to them, or the inflicting of pain as a result of your sin. Verse 11. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise. But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. We saw this concept in chapter 19 as well.

Back in chapter 13, verse 1, it tells us that a wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. And that's the common theme about the scoffer throughout the scriptures. He doesn't listen to rebuke. He doesn't receive instruction. Correction is not beneficial to him or he doesn't receive it, even if it's physical punishment. Scoffers do not receive rebuke or correction.

So often the question is asked, well, then should they be corrected? Is it worth it? And Solomon says, yes, because even though they do not receive it themselves, the simple, those around them who maybe did no better before, haven't given much thought to it. Those are made wise as a result of the correction to the scoffer. The scoffer doesn't get anything out of it, doesn't help them at all because they refuse to hear correction. But those around them don't.

are given wisdom as a result. But the contrast is a wise person, because a wise person, as opposed to a simple person, receives knowledge and it doesn't take punishment of others or even themselves, but they submit and they respond when instruction is given. And as we've seen so many times, I ask you again, what does it take for you to change? What does it take for you to apply wisdom

God's instructions to your life. Do you receive instruction easily or do you require a beating before you will obey? You know, we often talk about the spiritual two by four that God waxes over the head with. Sometimes that's what it takes. But wisdom is not allowing ourselves to go to that point. Now, when we go to that point, it's because we go back to verse one. Everything that we do is right in our own eyes. Actually, verse two says,

And so we think I'm right. And so God has to whack us over the head. But the better thing to do, the wise thing to do is to search God's word and live by it and not force him to beat you that you might obey. Be wise. You know, this evening you're receiving instruction from God's word. Take heed to it. Obey it. He will discipline you. Hebrews 12 promises that because he loves you. And so if you require that chastening and that discipline, he'll give it to you.

But you're wise if you'll receive it before that is necessary. Verse 12. The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Here again we have the law. You reap what you sow. God will ensure that justice is done. He promises that. He is a just and holy God.

Understand that you cannot get away with wickedness. You may think that you can, or you may think that you have, but God is going to take care of it. Again, Galatians 6, 7, and 8. Paul says, do not be deceived. Don't think that you can get away with it. Don't think that you can escape the consequences. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked.

For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. We reap what we sow. And so the righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their own wickedness. Disobedience to God is bad for you. If you're living in sin, if you're walking in wickedness, if there's wickedness in your house, turn, get rid of it. Repent so that God does not overthrow your house. Verse 13 says,

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. I think this is a verse that we should meditate on and allow God to challenge us with. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. The question is, how sensitive are you to those who are in need? Are you calloused to those who are in need, to those who are in need?

who are asking for money, to those who are asking for food, to those who have genuine needs. How sensitive are you to their cry? How attentive are you to what they say, to their pleas? Now, this does not mean that we meet every need. We cannot. It's not possible. But we know the one who can meet every need.

Remember in Acts chapter 3 verse 6, there was the man who was begging. He was a lame man. And as he's begging there at the temple, Peter and John walks by. And Peter says, look at me. And so he looked at them expecting to receive something. And Peter tells him in Acts chapter 3 verse 6, silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, give I you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

The issue is not if we can meet their need or not. The issue is our hearts. We are to be compassionate and loving and caring for those in need and pointing them to their primary need, which is Jesus Christ. And so whether or not we can meet their physical need is beside the point. Our cry or their cry should fall to attentive ears on us.

That we would point them to the one who can meet their needs. Whether we can help them out or not. Meeting their physical needs as we are able and as the Lord leads. But keeping the focus on Jesus Christ and being attentive. And crying out to God on their behalf and teaching them to do the same. If we turn a deaf ear, there will be a time we reap what we sow. Where we will cry and deaf ears will be turned to us. Verse 14.

A gift in secret pacifies anger and a bride behind the back, strong wrath. Now we see this concept a lot in Proverbs. We've seen it a few times as we've studied together. Solomon is not condoning the practice of bribery, but recognizing the corruption of man's heart as demonstrated by the effectiveness of a bride. In Proverbs 17, 23, he says that it's the wicked man who accepts the bride behind the back to pervert the ways of justice.

It's not a good practice. It's not the right thing to do. But it demonstrates the corruption of men's heart. It's a wicked person who accepts a bribe. Verse 15. It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. Now, this is in contrast to those who give and receive bribes. For a just person or someone who is right with God, it's a joy to do what's right.

A righteous judge can have joy, not because the guilty is punished, but because justice is done. You know, a common question that we encounter is how can a God of love send people to hell? And there's various ways of answering that and dealing with that question. But understand that God is a righteous judge and hell is what we deserve, right?

The person who asks that question doesn't understand that we deserve hell. Now, God takes joy not because a person is punished, but he will take joy because he will do what is right, because justice will be done. It is joy for the just.

to do justice. In Ezekiel 33, 11, God says, as I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways for why should you die? Oh, house of Israel. This is God's justice. He says, I don't have any pleasure in it. I don't take joy in the death of the wicked. I don't find the glee at their pain and misery.

And so he says, turn, turn. He's giving them and giving you and I the opportunity to turn from our evil ways. Why should we die? We don't have to die. But if we refuse, then he will give us what we deserve. God offers you life through Jesus Christ. But if you do not receive it, then you will die in your sins and be sentenced to hell because that is what you deserve. But God doesn't want you to go there.

It's not his will that any should perish. He says, come to me and have life. I've come that you may have abundant and overflowing life. Verse 16, a man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. God wants you to know that disobedience is bad for you. If you wander away from the way of understanding, you're

You will rest in the assembly of the dead. If you wander away from the truth, from God's principles, it will kill you. Romans 6.23, a verse we're familiar with, tells us that the wages of sin is death.

But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The wages of sin is death. If you wander from the way of understanding, if you wander from God's principles, the result will be death. This does not change even if you are a Christian. If you wander from understanding, if you wander into sin, the result is death. That is why we must stay and flee from sin. Verse 17 says,

He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. We've seen this concept a few times already this evening and we'll see it again. The idea of chasing after riches or chasing after treasures. Now here Solomon says, he who loves pleasure will be a poor man.

The one who loves pleasure is one who is only concerned with immediate fulfillment of pleasure. They want pleasure and they want it now. And Paul says the result is they will be poor. If you love wine and oil, you will not be rich.

If you're involved in alcohol, if you're involved in luxurious living, if that's your pleasure and that's your love, he says you will not be rich. If you're consumed with making yourself happy now, you will be poor. Now, this is not just applicable to life in general. It's also a spiritual truth. If you are focused on this life here and now.

If you're just looking for pleasure in this life, you will be poor. You will be spiritually bankrupt. But if you die to yourself and live for eternity, you will have great riches. Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 through 21. Jesus encourages us, admonishes us, commands us. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on this earth where things rust and destroy and are stolen forever.

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Don't live for this life. Live for eternity. And you won't be bankrupt, but you will have great riches in heaven. Verse 18. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous and the unfaithful for the upright. One commentator, Matthew Poole, on this verse says,

Says that the wicked shall be brought into those troubles which were either threatened by God or designed by wicked men against the righteous. And by that means, as by a ransom, the righteous shall be delivered. In other words, the wicked receive the results or the penalty of the plans and the things that they had in store. You could equate it to the book of Esther. If you remember the man named Haman in the book of Esther who plotted against Mordecai.

Seeking to destroy him because of his pride. Of Haman's pride, not Mordecai's pride. But Mordecai was saved. And Haman was hanged upon the gallows that he built for Mordecai. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous. And the unfaithful for the upright. Wickedness does not pay. It costs. So flee from wickedness. Verse 19. Better to dwell in the wilderness...

than with a contentious and angry woman. Again, same thing. I guess, guys, we didn't get it the first time. God needed to tell us again. Even more extreme than the housetop is the wilderness. We're reminded our priority, guys, cannot be material goods. Our priority must be loving our wives first and foremost. Ephesians 5, 25-31. Look it up. Spend time.

Looking at how Jesus loved the church as the example for us to love our wives. The toys, the status, the career, none of it is worth it if it keeps you from loving your wife as Christ loved the church. Even if you have to dwell in the wilderness in a tent or without a tent, love your wife and give yourself to her. It's worth it. It's way better.

than all the material goods that you can amass to yourself. Verse 20, There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but the foolish man squanders it. Again, the wise and the foolish, the wealthy and the poor. Now, remember verse 5 told us that the plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty. A wise person is diligent, works hard, is a good steward. And a foolish person is the opposite.

lazy, and squanders what they do have, what God has given to them. So there is a desirable treasure and there is oil in the dwelling of the wise, but the foolish have squandered it and they've given up what God desired to give to them. Verse 21, he who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

Now, just as disobedience is bad for you, obedience to God is what's best for you. He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor. Follow righteousness and mercy. Do what is right. Walk uprightly, live by God's principles and be merciful.

Do not give people what they deserve. Do not treat them as they deserve to be treated. Now, one thing we often say after treating people poorly is, well, they deserved it. Or as we share what took place with someone, they tell us, well, they deserved it. It's okay. And we justify ourselves and we justify others because they deserved it. But mercy is not giving people what they deserve in the sense of punishment or

or vengeance, showing mercy, letting it slide, being graceful and loving anyways, even though they don't deserve it. We say, well, they deserve it or they started it. He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor. The attitude of they deserve it or they started it, that's not mercy. We need to follow righteousness and mercy. Show mercy. Give people kindness.

Verse 22. Now, for some people, fitness and strength is very important. I'm not one of those people. But I would ask, are you more concerned about your spiritual state than your physical state?

Which time do you spend more time or which one do you spend more time focusing on, considering and paying attention to? Remember what Paul said in First Timothy four, eight, that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. Having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

exercise it does profit a little paul says but it's not more important than wisdom and godliness make your spiritual development and fitness your priority verse 23 whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles now this is a common theme as well in proverbs we've seen it so many times does your mouth ever get you into trouble

The importance of our words, our tongue, and our speech. Back in chapter 18, verses 6 and 7, we saw this same thing. And I made this tactful statement, remember? If your mouth is always getting you into trouble, then you're a fool. Don't be a fool. If you keep...

And guard your mouth and tongue. You will keep your soul from trouble. Now people will say, but that's just who I am. You know, I just, I'm like Peter. I just, I talk without thinking and it just kind of comes out. It's always, always been. It's how my mother was and my great grandfather was that way too. It's just in my blood. But remember what we learned from Colossians chapter 2? In Christ, you have been circumcised.

The old life and nature has been cut off. You don't have to be that way anymore just because that's how you've always been. Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 gives us the fruit of the Spirit. The result of the Spirit being at work in our life, one of the things that it mentions at the very end, is self-control. The result of the Spirit at work in your life is self-control.

that you would guard your mouth and your tongue and keep your soul from trouble. Let the Spirit give you self-control over your words, and you will save yourself from much trouble. Don't continue to be a fool and let your mouth get you into trouble. Verse 24, A proud and haughty man, Scoffer is his name, he acts with arrogant pride. A proud and haughty man,

He acts with arrogant pride. You know, God hates pride. It's what caused Satan to fall and it's destroyed so many lives. Pride in your life and my life keeps us from repentance. It keeps us from trusting God. It keeps us from relying upon God. It keeps us from right relationship with God. If you're full of yourself and you look down on others, if you act with arrogant pride, know that God is opposed to you. He's against you.

Because he's opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Verse 25 and 26. The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and does not spare. Here again, the subject of riches and wealth. Now, notice the contrast. It's between the righteous and the lazy.

Isn't that an uncomfortable concept? The contrast between the righteous and the lazy. You know what that means? That means that there's no such thing as a righteous lazy person. They're in contrast to one another. The lazy person, the desire kills him because he refuses to labor. He covets all day long. But the righteous, in contrast to the lazy, gives and does not spare it.

The lazy will not work, but will continue to covet and desire all day. But the righteous person works hard and diligently, not to satisfy their own greed, but instead to give to others. Matthew chapter 16, verse 25 says,

Remember Jesus said, whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. If you're chasing after your dreams, your focus, your greed, it will cost you your life. But if you lose your life and give up those things for Christ, you will find it. Verse 27 says,

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. How much more when he brings it with wicked intent? Understand that God is not looking for your sacrifice. True sacrifice is given to God, not because he requires it, but as an act of gratitude and devotion to him. God hates it.

When you do not walk according to his ways, but bring your sacrifice to him to try to appease him. It's disgusting to him for you to live in sin, but to bring your offering and say, all right, God, be pleased with me because I brought a good offering.

To live in sin and come to church so that you can feel like you're okay with God is disgusting to him. To live in sin and give your money or time or whatever else to try to satisfy him is disgusting to him. Especially, Solomon says, when you're bringing a sacrifice to get something from God. You're living in sin, but you bring your sacrifice because you want something. There's wicked intent. It's disgusting. It's an abomination to the Lord.

Sacrifice is the blessed privilege of those who walk with God and have a relationship with him. Verse 28, a false witness shall perish, but the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

There's a couple of ways to understand this proverb. There's good scholars on both sides. The first way is that if you listen to a false witness, you will speak the same things and so you will perish as well. That's why the New International Version translates it this way. A false witness will perish and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.

The second view is that a false witness will perish. But if you hear instruction, then you will continue. In other words, if you don't listen to the false witness, but listen instead to the truth, you will continue and speak endlessly because you speak the words of truth. Proverbs 12, 19 is along that same line. The truthful lip shall be established forever. But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Either way, the lesson for us is this. Number one, speak the truth. And number two, do not listen to a false witness. Verse 29, a wicked man hardens his face. But as for the upright, he establishes his way. The wicked man, like the scoffer, refuses to be corrected. He hardens his face and will not hear it or receive it. But an upright person,

One who is wise establishes his way by receiving instruction, by receiving counsel. Verse 30. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. These are his words. There's his plan given to us in the scriptures. Prophetic plan of what is to come. And there's no escaping it. As hard as man tries...

As much as Satan tries, there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. You cannot defeat him. You cannot beat him. You cannot prove him wrong. His will will be done. His words will be fulfilled. He will be victorious. Verse 31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle. This proverb teaches us this. We need to do our part.

Do your part, but then trust in God as you look forward, as you're diligent. It's good to plan ahead, to save, to prepare. Facing court issues, be prepared. Get ready. Facing life issues, get ready. Be prepared. Facing issues at your work, be prepared. Think ahead. Get ready and prepare yourself. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but understand your deliverance is not from your preparation alone.

Your deliverance is from the Lord. Do your part, but then trust in God and not in your own preparation. Retire, but not trusting in your retirement. Trusting in God. Deliverance is from him. Do your best, as the saying goes, and commit the rest. He'll take care of it. Trust in him. Here in Proverbs chapter 21, man, we've seen so much.

And I pray that God is speaking to your heart. And I would ask you to meditate, to receive the things that he's speaking to you about. The fool, the scoffer, refuses to hear instruction. Our ways are right in our own eyes. I don't need to hear it. It doesn't apply to me. I'm different. My situation is different. But the reality is we need to hear the instruction of the Lord. So be wise. Repent. Change.

Let God transform your life as you apply his word. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. Lord, that you've given it to us that we do not have to be wondering what your will is for us. We don't have to question what is right. But Lord, you've given to us your instructions, your principles, that we might live according to your will, that we might follow righteousness and mercy and find life, honor and righteousness.

God, we ask that you would help us to be obedient to your word. As you're speaking to our hearts, Lord, we confess to you that we've blown it. Lord, we think we're right. We need your instruction. So, Lord, help us to overcome these issues, these things that you're speaking to our hearts about. Help us, Lord, to allow your spirit to work in our hearts. Help us to surrender ourselves to you, that you might be glorified in us, that we might be wise.

Lord, that you might transform us by the renewing of our minds. Direct us, Lord, we pray. In Jesus' name, amen.