Tuesday, August 20, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 5:9-14


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Temptation: Avoid It’s Results: Prov 5:9-14
9) Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
10) Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours [be] in the house of a stranger;
11) And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
12) And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
13) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
14) I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.


INTRODUCTION:
Solomon now shares several proverbs with us that not only explains the results of yielding to temptations of a harlot, but by principle, yielding to temptations from any source.…


EXPOSITION:
9) Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Yielding to temptation leads to:
#1 handing over the reputation, respect and admiration that we have been given by others
#2 shortening the physical life by endulging in a lifestyle that lacks the blessings of God while doing both physical and spiritual damage to self.

And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].   (Romans 13:11-14)


10) Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours [be] in the house of a stranger;
#3 enriching those who mislead and deceive while becoming poverty stricken both morally, spiritually and monetarily
#4 laboring in vain for things that cannot satisfy nor bring eternal gain; only to find others receiving the benefits from our actions.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.  And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.  (Hosea 7:9-10)



11) And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
#5  loudly verbally mourn and cry out at the end of life when physically eaten up by the sinful lifestyle

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.  (Romans 6:20-21)

12) And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
#6 Looking back on life with many regrets including:
Regret #1 - being the enemy of God’s teachings
Regret #2 - speaking evil against His corrections.

Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.  Your fathers, where [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?  But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.   (Zechariah 1:4-6)


13) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
Regret #3 – did not submit to the teachings of truth
Regret #4 – did not desire to observe the Godly encouragement of others    

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.  (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)


14) I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Regret #5 – Known by those who worship God as being one who has committed many, if not all, ungodly acts.  (Possessing a ruined public testimony, especially, in the eyes of the saints and churches of God).

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  Of sin, because they believe not on me;  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.   (John 16:7-12)


SUMMARY:
Giving into temptations results in many harmful results that can ruin a person’s life, testimony and end in eternal ruin.  All of this is reaped, simply to gain a short term pleasure.   This is the sad state of those who choose the pleasures of sin for a season over the eternal joy of serving Christ.

O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end!   (Deuteronomy 32:29)


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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