The List
Proverbs 3-5
Proverbs 3:3, 22, 6:21
Bind them around your neck and heart
Chapter 1 and 2 give the picture of wisdom and foolishness. One is beautifully adorned and worth striving for, the other is disgrace and death. Throughout both chapters, the “fear of the Lord” is linked together with knowledge. In Prov 3:7-8 the “fear of the Lord” is now linked to turning from evil. If the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of knowledge, it is natural then to say that this knowledge leads one to turn from evil and towards God. The question for us then is how does one turn from evil and towards God? Chapter 3 opens up with a great answer;
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” Prov. 3:1-2
Teaching and commandments. We are often bombarded by people whose objection or dislike of Christianity comes down to these words…”keep my commandments.” Have you ever had that discussion with someone? I probably wouldn’t mind being a Christian if it wasn’t for all the “do this and don’t do that” lists. Have you ever found yourself saying something really dumb like “NO! They’re ‘we get to lists!”’ Sorry to say, that’s not going to win them over. They argue that doing these things takes away from all the fun we should be having, but look closely at scripture and see what it says. Prov 3:8 tells us when we turn from evil and towards God there is healing and refreshment. Likewise Prov 4:4 says “keep my commandments and live!”
We have a misconception when it comes to lists, rules, and commandments. They are made to be broken, right? After all, all they do is drag us down and keep us from having some real fun. The truth is though, many times OUR lists of wants and needs and gotta haves are far more burdensome, costly, and damaging to us in the long run. But we’re young and have plenty of time to settle down. Sadly, we slowly and with out realizing it, are shaped by our thought processes, actions and decisions. We begin down a road and before we realize it, we are no longer who we once thought we were. So what then are these commands? What makes a wise person according to the scripture we read this week? There are seven specific commands in Chapters 3 & 4.
1. Honor God with your money.
a. We put our money where our heart is.
b. Our heart follows where our money goes.
c. Every time this is brought up in scripture, a promise is made.
2. Do not with hold good Prov 3:27
a. assistance, aid, or honor
3. Do not do evil against your neighbor. Prov 3:29
4. Do not contend with or accuse a man. Prov 3:30
5. Do not enter the path of the wicked. Prov 4:4
6. Put away crooked speech. Prov 4:24
7. Ponder the path of your feet. Prov 4:26
Now these are great examples of how to show ones self as wise. Obviously, they’re Biblical. But why is it necessary then for us as Christians and Believers to do these things? Because Christ did.
1. Christ taught about how a person should view money.
a. Render to God what is God’s
2. Christ always did good by healing and casting out demons.
3. Christ defined who our neighbor is.
4. Christ was a victim of false witness when he had done no wrong.
5. Christ walked the path of righteousness for the wicked.
6. Christ did not open his mouth in defense.
7. Christ prayed not my will but your will be done.
So now we have what we should do and why we should do it. But there is still a problem. I know everything Christ did as my example. I know everything I should be doing as a Christian. What happens when I fail in one area or another? I don’t always do what I should. You don’t always do what you should. The problem we face now is knowledge of what we should do and how Christ lived doesn’t save us. Read Prov 5:21-22 with me. Sin traps people. It snares them and it is a difficult bond to break. Not only that, but sin condemns us. We need someone to rescue us from that snare and declare us not guilty. We need forgiveness. You see, it’s not the life of Christ that saves us; it’s His death and resurrection that saves us. But we continue to do foolish sinful things. Why?!? Because that sin nature is never gone. That’s why we need to mortify or kill sin daily with in us. Put to death that old man each morning as you get up. Strive and press on each and every day to be more like Jesus because his spirit lives with in you. However it takes discipline to do this. It is hard work doing this each and every day. Actually every waking breath is a battle for holiness. Don’t be fooled. The devil does prowl around looking for someone to devour. Why does the foolish man die? Because he lacks discipline.
You know, the wisest thing any of us could ever do, is to confess Jesus with our mouth and believe that God raised him from the dead. On the Day of Pentecost, 3000 people cried out what must we do to be saved. Peter answered them, “Repent and be baptized each and every one of you for the remission of sin.” That day, 3000 people were baptized. I sometimes wonder what this would have looked like in today’s “church”. Would baptismal classes and membership classes have gotten in the way of the Spirit working? Repent and be baptized. The first command given in the church. Baptism is that public profession of faith that says, “I do believe Christ is Lord and God raised him from the dead. In him and him alone there is forgiveness of sins. And by being baptized, I am saying I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus. I am not ashamed of his church. I will follow him.”
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