Tuesday, October 15, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 10:14-17


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

Wisdom On Display: Wisdom Brings Security 10:14-17
14) Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.
15) The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction of the poor [is] their poverty.
16) The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17) He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.


Solomon now shares with us several areas of security that is enjoyed by those who live wise lifestyles…


EXPOSITION:

14) Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.
1.  Those that are wise will keep secure knowledge so that they can use it and teach others when it applies to any given situation.
2.  The words that flow from the mouth of fools, due to lack of knowledge, bring ruin to themselves and those that follow their teachings.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.   (Matthew 12:35)


15) The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction of the poor [is] their poverty.
The ruin that comes upon fools is certain, it makes no difference what their financial condition may be….
1.  The rich fool, who relies on ill-gotten material possessions for his security, will come to a ruinous end.
2.  Their foolishly gotten gain will be of no benefit to them.  The Lord will hold them accountable for impoverishing others by bringing catastrophic loss upon them.  

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.  And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time [is] evil.   (Micah 2:1-3)


16) The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
1.  The efforts of the righteous man, due to the wisdom that he has obtained, can supply life for himself and those to whom he ministers.
2.  Sinful acts and their punishment is borne by those who rebel against the wisdom of God.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   (Galatians 6:7-8)


17) He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
1.  For those who hold close the instructions and warnings of wisdom, will find himself inhabiting the path that leads to life.
2.  Those that walk away from the wisdom that corrects, will stray from the path that leads to life.  

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.   (Matthew 7:24-27)


SUMMARY:
The choice for each of us is very simple…. 
Do we live pursuing material possessions, irrespective of whom we may hurt along the way, only to find our possessions are of no lasting value?  Or, do we wisely live for the things of God, those things which will possess eternal, spiritual, benefits for us?

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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