He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Our Relationship To The Law Of God: The Love
of Possessions Opposes God’s Law: Proverbs 28:21-24
21) To have respect of persons [is]
not good: for for a piece of bread [that]
man will transgress.
22) He that hasteth to be rich [hath]
an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23) He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he
that flattereth with the tongue.
24) Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of a destroyer.
In
this chapter, Solomon directs our attention to having the proper relationship
to the moral laws of the Lord (this would include the 10 commandments and the
other manifold laws of God that are based upon His person and His character. As such, these laws are in effect for all time
periods and peoples...
EXPOSITION:
In
this devotion, we will look at how a love for worldly possessions will create a
lifestyle that is lived in opposition to the laws of God…
21) To have respect of persons [is]
not good: for for a piece of bread [that]
man will transgress.
The
love of worldly possessions causes favoritism….
1.
to reject persons is not beautiful or pleasing
2.
because men will cross the line of fairness to gain a morsel of bread
We
should recognize the need for the fair and just treatment of all others,
because it is very easy to favor one over the other for even small personal
gain.
“And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a
long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:3)
22) He that hasteth to be rich [hath]
an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
The
love of worldly possessions causes selfishness….
1. The person that runs anxiously towards the
wealth of this world has a view of the world that is displeasing to the Lord
2. This same person does not recognize the
destitution of others.
When
a person turns there heart towards the selfish accumulation of the riches of
this world, the natural result is that their selfishness will blind them to the
needs of others around them. Instead of
sharing their wealth to meet the legitimate needs of others, they continue to
accumulate wealth for themselves, thinking they will never have enough.
“But they that will be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9)
23) He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he
that flattereth with the tongue.
The
love of worldly possessions causes flattery instead of honest, open, helpful, speech….
1. The person who reveals error in the life of
another is considered more precious
2. Than a person who always speaks smooth words
with the tongue.
Many
times a person, in view of worldly gain, will choose to speak smooth words to
those who need correction. This is an
act of selfishness as they put their personal gain ahead of what is beneficial
for the one that is being spoken to.
“Let the righteous smite
me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let him reprove me; [it shall be] an
excellent oil, [which] shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also [shall
be] in their calamities.” (Psalms 141:5)
24) Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of a destroyer.
The
love of worldly possessions causes us to devalue personal relationships….
1. Whoever takes by force from his mother and or
father and claims he has done anything wrong
2. The same person is an associate of those who
is blood thirsty and cruel
When
we abuse those who are closest to us, simply to fulfill our fleshly desires, is
of the same moral standing as those who without heart, will treat others
brutally showing them no justice or mercy.
“For God commanded, saying,
Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him
die the death. But ye say, Whosoever
shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me;” (Matthew 15:4-5)
SUMMARY:
When a person loves the
accumulation of worldly possessions, it will lead to a lifestyle that abuse those around them by:
1. treating them unfairly
2. ignoring their needs
3. dishonesty and
flattery in their speech
4. devaluing their
relationship
May we all seek to live
our lives for the benefit of others and not ourselves.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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