He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Pursuit Of The Wise: Gaining Respect For
Others (Part 2): Proverbs 14:23-25
23) In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
24) The crown of the wise [is]
their riches: [but] the foolishness
of fools [is] folly.
25) A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
EXPOSITION:
We
continue with our previous devotion (vs 19-22) on the wise lifestyle that will
gain respect of others and produce a Godly testimony for the cause of Christ.
23) In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
1. When a wise man uses honest labor to meet his
material needs he will gain both materially and spiritually.
2. When a man is slothful choosing to only speak
of laboring he will be face shortfall and poverty.
Even
the lost world finds respect in honest labor and profiting from the work of the
hands. Those who choose a slothful
lifestyle will find ridicule and rejection due to their future impoverishment. Those who are able and needy but REFUSE to
work should be treated as ones who are unsubmissive to the Word of God and
living sinfully.
It
is important to note that, as Christians, we should not make hasty “surface”
judgments of those who are in poverty.
For many, based upon the current economic conditions, we have those who
are very willing and desirous to work unable to supply their own needs due to
no opportunities for gainful employment.
Also, there are many who are truly unable to work due to physical or mental
infirmities. In these cases, a Christian
should be ready to help those to meet their material needs.
“For even when we were with
you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are
some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we
command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and
eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not
weary in well doing. And if any man obey not
our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he
may be ashamed. Yet count [him] not as an
enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-15)
“Then shall the King say
unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and
ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye
took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me:
I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous
answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or
thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a
stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick,
or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer
and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.” (Matthew 25:34-40)
24) The crown of the wise [is]
their riches: [but] the foolishness
of fools [is] folly.
1. One of the rewards given to those who are
wise is spiritual riches (blessings through the grace of God) and, in some
cases, the blessings of material riches also.
The spiritual riches include increased knowledge, understanding and
wisdom in all areas of his life.
2. When a life is lived by foolishness, it is a
wasted life that displays twisted moral standards and selfish motivations. They are living for only the things this
world has to offer and unwilling to help those who need their aid.
A
lifestyle that displays wisdom through the possession of spiritual riches gains
the respect of many as their lives are lived sacrificially for the benefit of
others. Conversely, those who live
selfish lazy lives, are looked down upon by their acquaintances.
“He hath dispersed, he hath
given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be
exalted with honour.” (Psalms 112:9)
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the
stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is]
his treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)
25) A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
1. A reliable, honest witness of Christ and His
Word will rescue souls from the servitude of sin and the judgment of God for
their sin. They will be willing to
sacrifice for others in an attempt to share the truths of God with them.
2. Those who are untrustworthy witnesses will
mislead others for personal selfish gain.
They will live selfish lives wiling to harm others for their own
personal gain.
The utmost type of
respect that can be gained by living a wise, Godly life is the respect of those
we have won to Christ through our speech and the actions of our lives. The greatest form of dishonor and disrespect
will come from those who stand before the Lord guilty of their sin awaiting eternal
punishment because they trusted in a false message and followed the example of
an ungodly lifestyle.
SUMMARY:
The
importance of our lifestyle to gain the respect of others cannot be
overemphasized. The greatest, most honorable
respect that can be received is from those who we have led to Christ through
our Godly lifestyles and from the Lord Himself when He says… “Well done, good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee
ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23)
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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