He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Sources Of Ruin For Our Lives: Self-Centeredness:
Proverbs 23:9-11
9) Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of
thy words.
10) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the
fatherless:
11) For their redeemer [is]
mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Solomon
now shares with us teachings on many different sins that can ruin our lives…
EXPOSITION:
Solomon
addresses the sin of Self-Centeredness
9) Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of
thy words.
1. Do not instruct those who do not apply God’s
truth to their life.
2. Because he will not show respect to the
application of truth you speak
We
are to always put the Lord’s glory and a Godly testimony as primary motives for
our teachings. When we become
self-centered, we forget these priorities.
Because
we think so highly of ourselves, we look down upon others and think we have a
right to dictate to others what they are to do with their lives. We believe
that our words alone can soften the hardened heart of the hearer. We then choose to unwisely share God’s Word
with those who will despise, mock and reject the truths of God.
A
humble spirit will cause us to think twice before sharing our thoughts; seek
God’s will beforehand; and recognize that if our advice helps anyone, it is
only because of the Lord’s gracious intervention in our speech and the prepared
heart of the listener.
“Give not that which is
holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:6)
10) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the
fatherless:
1. Do not take away the boundary markers from
times past
2. Do not trespass onto the land of those who
are defenseless
A
spirit of self-centeredness causes us to feel as if we have a right to that
which is not ours. It makes us feel
justified to take advantage of others and mistreat others for our gain.
Why
is this attitude dangerous for us to possess?
“Why, seeing times are not
hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? [Some] remove the
landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed [thereof]. They drive away the ass of
the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They turn the needy out of
the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. Behold, [as] wild asses in
the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the
wilderness [yieldeth] food for them [and] for [their] children. They reap [every one] his
corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. They cause the naked to
lodge without clothing, that [they have] no covering in the cold. They are wet with the
showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They pluck the fatherless
from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. They cause [him] to go naked without clothing, and they take away the
sheaf [from] the hungry; [Which] make oil within
their walls, [and] tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.” (Job 24:1-11)
11) For their redeemer [is]
mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
The
Lord takes special interest in His people who are abused and mistreated by
others…
1. The One that paid the ransom for their sins
possesses all authority and strength.
2. It is this same Lord that will make their
case for them as He stands against the abuser.
A
self-centered attitude is only asking for the Lord to intervene in this
situation. If the Christian continues on
in willful disobedience by possessing a consistent attitude of selfishness will
feel the chastening hand of God.
“For the oppression of the
poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will
set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.” (Psalms 12:5)
SUMMARY:
Our selfish,
self-centered attitudes can be the downfall of a Christian and his testimony
for Christ.
As we work with others, we
need to always remember to seek to help (not take advantage of) them with a
spirit of humility and love …
“Brethren, if a man be
overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit
of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself.” (Galatians 6:1-3)
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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