He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Increasing Life’s Joy: Seeking To Honor Our Creator:
Proverbs 22:1-4
1) A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great
riches, [and] loving favour rather
than silver and gold.
2) The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
3) A prudent [man] foreseeth
the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4) By humility [and] the fear
of the LORD [are] riches, and honour,
and life.
In
this chapter, Solomon explains several factors that cultivate the experience of
joy during our earthly life.
One
of the greatest factors that increases our joy is the pursuit of honor for our
Creator…
EXPOSITION:
1) A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great
riches, [and] loving favour rather
than silver and gold. 2) The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
1.
A reputation that is pleasing and honoring to God and desired by man should be
selected instead of the overflowing, temporal, wealth offered by the world.
2. To show others mercy and kindness that
beautifies our Lord should be selected over silver and gold that only exist
temporarily.
3. Both those who are wealthy and those who have
little find common ground…
4. They are both created by God, and as such,
are under His authority.
Note
the two basic principles….
Our lasting testimony
is far more important than that of temporary, overflowing wealth and the things
of supreme earthly worth that this world offers.
When
we understand this very important truth, we also come to an understanding that:
a. those
who are poor in this world, can truly be very wealthy in the eyes of the Lord; likewise,
b. those who are wealthy with the riches of
this world, can be impoverished in the world to come.
How
these truths change the way we look at this world, its benefits, and the people
who are living in this world!
No matter how
wealthy or how poor, we all will stand before our Creator and give an account for
what we have done with our lives.
Regardless
of the level of earthly wealth we may possess, we can be joyous knowing that we
are striving to cultivate a testimony with which our Creator is pleased. In doing so, we are accumulating eternal wealth
that can never be taken from us.
3) A prudent [man] foreseeth
the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
1. A man who is discerning and wise will be able
to discern that which causes harm and, wisely, conceal himself from it.
2. Those who do not understand the true nature
of the evil, will continue on the path that intersects with the evil and then will
be harmed.
A
part of a Godly testimony involves recognizing that which is evil, discerning
its future affects and then avoiding it.
For those who are naive and inexperienced in the ways of darkness, they will be easily enticed and entrapped by
them.
4) By humility [and] the fear
of the LORD [are] riches, and honour,
and life.
1.
The two lynchpins of an honorable testimony is: a spirit of submission to the
Lord and merciful kindness towards others; along with the proper respect for
God and fear of His chastening hand.
2.
Eternal spiritual wealth, glory, and communion with our Creator are the results.
When
we humble ourselves before Christ in saving faith we are afforded and eternity
with Him, when we then seek to honor Him with our lives, many rewards will
await us. Knowing these truths will
bring great joy to our hearts and lives no matter what situations we may be
facing in this life.
SUMMARY:
For
the Christian, living a joyous life on earth is the direct result of placing
Christ and His honor first in our lives.
When we choose to live our lives for Him, instead of living our lives
for the wealth of this world, we can joyously expect living among His blessings
while we are on the earth and in the life to come.
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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