Today's post is by guest writer, Lucas Ward, and is a second part to last month's installment on Proverbs and the tongue.
 
As Jesus originally instituted His church, it is to be many people coming together to make one body working together to accomplish God's will. 
1 Cor. 12:12-13  "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
1 Cor. 12:24-25  "which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another."
Eph. 1:22-23  "And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
 
We are to be one unified body under Christ, serving Him.  A careless mouth can undo this relationship. 
Prov. 13:10  "By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom."
 
To be insolent is to be rude, disrespectful, and contemptuous.  It is easy to see why Solomon warns that such speech causes strife.  Wisdom leads us in another direction.
Prov. 16:21  "The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." 
Prov. 16:23  "The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips."
 
If we want to be considered wise, our speech should be judicious, or thoughtful.  If we want people to listen to us without a fight, our speech should be persuasive.  Such is helped by sweetness of speech, not insolence.  We need to take care how we speak of our brethren.
Prov. 11:12  "Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent." 
To speak ill of another just doesn't make any sense.  All it does is cause fights and destroy relationships.  The wise man knows when to keep his mouth closed.  That leads us to the topic of gossip.
 
Prov. 16:28  "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
A whisperer separates even close friends.  This reminds me of Iago from the Shakespeare play Othello.  At the beginning of the play, Othello is a strong, confident man, a leader widely respected and trusted by the highest authorities.  Then Iago becomes offended and begins a whispering campaign.  He spreads lies, rumors, and innuendoes until Othello is a broken man, having lost his wife, his job and his confidence.  All because Iago whispered.  This kind of thing cannot happen in the church. 
 
Prov. 17:9  "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
This happens all too often, even by those who, in all innocence, mean nothing by it.  Random, happy babbling can cause as many problems as the determined whisperer.  Again, the wise man knows when to keep his mouth shut.  I am naturally curious about all things.  That has led me at times to be nosy.  One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn is that I don't need to know everything about everyone around me.  And, if I do know something, I don't have to tell my friends all about it.  I'm still working on that one.  Even innocent babbling can cause strife, and not all are innocent.
 
Prov. 24:28-29  "Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.  Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” 
Revenge is not a good reason to gossip.  We cannot allow ourselves to speak ill of someone just because we are angry with them. 
 
Prov. 12:6  "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them." 
Prov. 11:9  "With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered."
Notice how these people are described, who want to destroy others with their words:  wicked and godless.  If we want any hope of Heaven, we cannot allow those descriptions to ever fit us.  That means we need to watch our verbal attacks on others.
 
Sometimes gossip isn't fueled by anger and revenge, but that doesn't make it any better.
Prov. 18:8  "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Prov. 26:22  "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Another case where Solomon repeats himself.  It must be important.  Gossip is fun.  Most of us do it, not out of maliciousness, but because we like the juice.  It's satisfying to know what is going on.  It is titillating to hear secrets about others.  But, who are we getting this juice from?  The whisperer.  The one who separates close friends.  I may not be malicious about it, but in listening and passing on gossip, I am participating in something that could destroy the fabric of God's family.  And that is evil. 
 
Prov. 20:19  "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
It is amazing how much the fighting and bickering dies down when gossip ceases.  When no one is whispering, few are fighting.
Prov. 26:20  "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases." 
When the kindling runs out, so does the fire.  The whispering feeds the fights.  The church with few whisperers is also the church that is closer and tighter knit.  We cannot allow ourselves to be the person who continues fighting and dividing the church.
Prov. 26:21  "As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife." 
 
Another similar issue of misusing our mouths that can cause problems for the church is false flattery.
Prov. 29:5  "A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."
The ancient Israelites spread nets to catch birds.  So, the flatterer is laying traps for the people he flatters.  He is trying to bring them in and secure them before they know who he really is.  Instead of flattery, the wise man prefers correction.
Prov. 28:23   "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue."
Prov. 25:12  "Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear."
The rebuke and the reproof are to keep us on the straight and narrow.  In the long run, they are far more valuable than the short term warmth of flattery.  We should watch out for the gushers, listen closely to the constructive critics, and determine that we won't allow ourselves to be the kind of person who influences through false flattery.
 
There are two ways we can use our mouths.  Each has a consequence.
Prov. 29:8  "Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath."
Prov. 11:11  "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown."
How am I going to use my mouth today?
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
 
More than once I have been rebuked for the way I spoke to someone about the condition of his soul.  I then asked whether the situation was as I had judged it to be and those who rebuked agreed that it was.  I pointed out that the thing that I said was the same as Jesus, an apostle, or a prophet had said under similar circumstances and they agreed that is so.  I asked, well then, do you think that I spoke with love for him and his soul?  And, again, they agreed that I had.  Well, then, what is wrong?  Well, he (and his family/friends) are upset.  Jesus upset more people than he converted.   God will not allow me or you not to speak--"If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand."  (Ezek 3:18).   How can any spiritual person stop the voice of salvation to the lost brother?  I just don't understand.
 
Many members avoid every opportunity to learn the Bible.  They seek simple Bible classes about things they already know; they attend only part of the services.  In contrast are those who despite their own shortcomings or ability, and the same problems of time, seek out every opportunity to learn.  They study, fill in blanks, analyze, erase and try again.  They do this for the same reason a bride studies her husband.  Meanwhile, many times their number sing with gusto, "Oh how I love Jesus," but spend more time on their Gameboys than in their Bibles.   How can they believe they fool anyone, much less God, that they love him with all their hearts?  With all their souls?  With all their minds?   I just don't understand.
 
I cannot understand those who think the Lord's Supper is some kind of magic potion that will fix everything they have made little to no effort to change since the last time they bowed their heads so sincerely and prayed so hard.  And, if the past years of their lives are any clue to their future, they never will make much effort to change except to pray harder and think harder about Jesus on the cross.  It certainly looks like Calvinist mental faith-only to me.  After speaking of those who keep walking in the same old ways, Paul said, "But that is not the way you learned Christ!"  (Eph 4:20).  Then he goes on to instruct concerning the changes they need to make in their walk.  The Lord's Supper is no shortcut to heaven that excuses one from the work of changing himself.
 
I cannot understand those who proclaim all the proper pious phrases but never seem to apply any of them to their own lives.  "I know I am not perfect," translates to, "I really do not know of or admit any faults."  "Any man who shows me I am wrong will be my friend," translates to, "It can't be done no matter how many incidents and scriptures you list."  "I am doing the best I can and that is all God asks" translates to, "I am not studying much and have no intention of changing who I am."  They often quote pet scriptures and are somewhat knowledgeable, but they never see their own flaws when they look into James' mirror. 
 
I cannot understand those who come to church but are not of the church.  They participate when they feel like it.  They pay attention when it interests them, can often be seen playing on their devices.  They are perennially late and usually the first out the door.  Christians in name only, they have less hope than the man down the street who has yet to hear the gospel.
 
I cannot understand those things because I want to go to heaven no matter what it takes.  I know that I cannot know God or love him unless I know his word.  It takes a lot of study to get a little insight into God's character and how intensely he loves us.  The Lord's Supper is on every page of the Bible because Jesus is.  It will be in our hearts "till he come" and is my hope that "I'll Fly Away."  Each thing learned leads to something I need to change for who I am is not good enough.  I can never be really "good enough," but if I do my best by Jesus' standards (Parable of talents) rather than by my desire to get along on minimum effort, his grace will make me whole.  This I can readily understand.
 
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." (Rom 10:1-3).
 
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (Jas 5:19-20).

Keith Ward

Another in the continuing series on Proverbs by our guest writer, Lucas Ward.

In chapter 3, James writes of the dangers our mouth can get us into.  "How great a forest is burnt with a little fire".  He speaks of the difficulty in controlling our tongues, going so far to say that no one can do so -- and obvious exaggeration as he then instructs us to learn to control it.  Controlling what we say and how we say it being a big part of wisdom, is it any wonder that Proverbs devotes more space to this subject than any other except the need for wisdom itself?  There are at least 86 passages in Proverbs dealing with proper control of what we say.  So many, in fact, that I originally did two sermons on the subject, rather than one, and will write two posts on the subject.
 
Prov. 10:11a  "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. . ."
Prov. 10:14b  ". . . the mouth of a fool brings ruin near."
The first thing to think about is Proverbs' contrast of the mouth of the wise, righteous man with that of the foolish (and possibly wicked) man.  The outcomes of each are telling. 
Prov. 10:21  "The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense."
Prov. 12:13  "An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble." 
Prov. 18:6-7  "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.  A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul."
 
The mouth of the wise, righteous man is a fountain of life that feeds many and helps him escape from trouble.  The mouth of the foolish man brings ruin near, leads him to be ensnared for his crimes, and invites a beating.  So that leads to an obvious question:  How do I obtain and maintain a righteous mouth?
 
Prov. 17:27  "Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding."
The first answer to keeping my mouth righteous is to keep it closed.  Abraham Lincoln once said that it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.  Solomon said something similar:
Prov. 17:28  "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent." 
You can't possibly make any dumb mistakes with what you say if you don't say anything.  How often do we just ramble on unthinkingly and then realize we just put our foot into our mouth?
Prov. 10:19  "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." 
Prov. 13:3  "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." 
The more we speak, the greater chance of transgressing, but we preserve our lives if we guard our mouths.
Prov. 18:13  "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame."
If someone asks us a question, we need to think before we answer.  We especially need to hear the whole question before we answer.  Do you know anyone who is always finishing your sentences for you?  Occasionally, you are asking a question and they assume they know what you are going to ask and then answer the wrong question because they didn't listen, right?  And then you either laugh at them or get irked.  It is his folly and shame.
Prov. 21:23  "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." 
Prov. 29:20  "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him." 
One of the major themes in Proverbs is how much Solomon dislikes fools.  So for him to say that there is more hope for a fool than a man who is hasty in his words is a very strong statement.  So, the first lesson in how to have a righteous mouth is to keep it closed and to think very carefully before we decide to open it.
 
The second lesson should be second nature to Christians.  A righteous mouth is an honest mouth.
Prov. 24:26  "Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips."
Prov. 12:19  "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Prov. 14:25  "A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful."
The liar may gain status for a bit, but the honest man with truthful lips is the one who endures.  The truthful man saves lives and his answer is like a kiss on the lips.  The righteous mouth is an honest mouth.

A righteous mouth is also graceful.
Prov. 15:26  "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure." 
Prov. 16:24  "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." 
If grace is unmerited favor then gracious words are kind, gentle words spoken to someone even if they aren't owed.  Even if they deserve worse.  These are words that bring people back together, rather than extending the fight.  These are words that heal and bring "sweetness to the soul".  These are words that a righteous mouth utters.

A righteous mouth is also kind.
Prov. 12:18  "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." 
Prov. 15:4  "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
Instead of striking again with the sword, our tongues should bring healing to the situation.  Our tongues can be like the tree of life or they can break someone's spirit.  Guess which is righteous?  Before we speak, we need to consider what is kind.
A righteous mouth is righteous because it is thoughtful.
Prov. 10:32  "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse."
Prov. 15:23  "To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!" 
Prov. 15:28  "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." 
If we take a moment to think, we know what is acceptable to say.  Of course, it isn't only what is said, but how it is phrased and even when it is said that makes it good or not.  The apt answer, not just correct but apt, brings joy.  The word spoken in the correct time is good.  A kind of silly example is Prov. 27:14  "Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing."  This man is bestowing a blessing, which is good and kind, but he is doing it at the wrong time.  That early morning blessing might as well be a curse as far at the recipient is concerned.  (This reminds me of when Dad used to call me just to chat at 7:00 a.m. on mornings after I had to close Publix and hadn't gotten to sleep until 2:00 a.m.  While I was happy Dad wanted to chat, I wasn't so happy at the timing and eventually unplugged my phone before going to bed.)  Also, the righteous man ponders, takes the time to think, before answering questions.  He knows his answers could affect another's life, and so he doesn't answer flippantly or too quickly.  He thinks before he speaks. 
 
Finally, the righteous mouth teaches others wisdom.
Prov. 10:11  "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
Prov. 10:20-21  "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense."
Prov. 25:12  "Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear." 
Prov. 10:31  "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off." 

The mouth of the wise righteous man is a fountain of life, is choice silver, is like a gold ring, and brings forth wisdom.  There is value (gold, silver) to what he says.  It will help you live better.  It teaches wisdom.  This is how a person with a righteous mouth uses his mouth.
 
So I can use my mouth to help people, to teach wisdom, and to be kind, or I can use it to hurt others, to cause division and strife.  It takes effort to control, but I can maintain a righteous mouth.
Prov. 11:11  "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown."
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Israel's exodus from Egypt is one of the most significant events in the Bible and references to it recur throughout the Psalms and the prophets. Thus, it surprised me to learn that the New Testament uses the word, "exodus" only three times. Joseph commanded the Israelites to carry his bones from Egypt at their exodus (Heb 11:22). The other two references encourage us on to our triumph.

Translations often obscure a depth of meaning the author intended to convey. In Luke's account of the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus "of his exodus which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Lk 9:31). Most translations replace "exodus" with "departure" or "decease." With the use of exodus, Luke injected into the three-way conversation all the triumph of Jehovah God over the gods of Egypt, all the power of His emancipation of Israel from slavery to be His people, all the hope of a way opened through the sea all the way to the Promised Land.  Of course, we understand that through the cross and the resurrection, Jesus did triumph over all the forces of evil and did set us free from sin and death—the true exodus by which Israel's fades to insignificance.

Peter reminds his readers of basic truths to stir them up because he knows his death approaches and so that "at any time after my exodus you will be able to call these things to mind." (2Pet 1:15). Inasmuch as the very next thing Peter mentions is the mount of transfiguration, it seems probable that he intended a connection to the Lord's exodus triumph. In the last sentence before he spoke of his personal exodus, Peter exclaimed that just as the way was blasted through the Red Sea for Israel so also the way is prepared for us. "For as long as you practice these things … the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." (2Pet 1:10-11). So heaven is not a wish or a dream. If we abound in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly kindness and love the way to the Promised Land is as sure as the resurrection of Jesus and formed by the same power.

Thus, in speaking of his own imminent death as his exodus, Peter connects Jesus' triumphant exodus from this sinful world to our own sure hope of that same exodus.

"Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. "(2Pet 1:1-11).
 

Today's post is by guest writer Warren Berkley.

Revenge is never sweet. It is an inherently unhealthy habit forbidden by God in 1 Thess. 5:15 and other passages. We all know that. But let’s elaborate on the history of revenge.

Revenge has never:
…produced authentic justice
…healed anyone
…promoted righteousness
…converted a sinner
…glorified God
…built a church
…made a marriage better
…raised a child
…earned an honest living
…or sent anyone to heaven

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right: “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
 
Warren Berkley
Berksblog.net

Today's post is a continuing study of Proverbs by guest writer, Lucas Ward.

In studying what Proverbs teaches about wealth it is important to remember what was said about proverbs in the first lesson:  these are general statements that are generally true.  They are not absolute in ever case.  Having said that, Proverbs does have a lot to say about wealth.  There are at least 58 individual passages in the book that deal with wealth.

First we should note that wealth is a blessing from God for righteousness. 
Prov. 13:22  "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous."
Prov. 22:4  "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life."
Obviously, this isn't true in every instance.  Paul died destitute in prison.  Generally speaking, though, if a man is righteous and lives in terms of being a good steward of the blessings God has granted him, he will have something to pass on to his children and grandchildren.  Because he is righteous he is not a drunkard or glutton.  He doesn't waste his income on loose women.  Instead he takes care of what God has bestowed upon him and builds wealth.  We may never obtain Bill Gates' level, but we can be comfortably well-to-do.  In general.

A second point about wealth is that if it was obtained through wickedness, it is not a blessing.
Prov. 10:2  "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death." 
Prov. 21:6  "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death." 
Prov. 22:16  "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty."
Wealth obtained in this way becomes a burden dragging us down rather than a blessing.

Just like Jesus and Paul, Solomon notes several dangers of wealth.  The first is that wealth can lead to a false sense of security.
Prov. 18:10-11  "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.  A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination."

The rich man trusts in his wealth to protect him.  His wealth is his strong city, rather than the name of the Lord.  All to often we can come to rely on our wealth protect us rather than relying on God.  As the next verse shows, it is our righteousness before Him that will deliver us, not our wealth.
Prov. 11:4  "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." 

Wealth can also lead to an inflated ego:
Prov. 28:11  "A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out." 
Prov. 11:7  "When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too."
The rich man thinks he is wise just because he is rich.  He thinks his wealth makes him better than others.  However, he dies like everyone else.  His inflated ego does him no good then.

Sometimes being wealthy can put you in physical danger:
Prov. 13:8  "The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat." 
Have you ever noticed that really, truly wealthy people rarely go anywhere without guards?  They are in constant danger from everything from annoying time-wasters to kidnappers demanding a ransom.  Solomon notes that the poor man hears no threat.  The wealthy is at risk because he is wealthy.

A final danger of wealth is that of false friends.
Prov. 19:4  "Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend."
Prov. 19:6-7  "Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.  All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them."
 
Everyone loves the man who gives gifts, but do they really love him or the gifts he gives?  The new friends that wealth brings are often phony.  We can leave the discussion of the dangers of wealth with these two passages:
Prov. 23:4-5  "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.  When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven."
Prov. 30:7-9  "Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:  Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."
                                
Despite all the warnings, Solomon also gives some practical advice on how to obtain wealth.
Prov. 13:11  "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it."
I once heard that about two thirds of all lottery winners are bankrupt within three years of winning the jackpot.  The wealth that lasts is the wealth built up slowly, over years, while one learns from his mistakes and learns how to hold on to it.  Building wealth takes time.  It also takes work.
Prov. 12:11  Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 
Prov. 12:24  The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. 
Prov. 12:27  Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth. 
Prov. 13:4  The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 
Prov. 14:23  In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 
If you are busy doing what you are supposed to be doing you will always have enough to eat, but if you are chasing get-rich-quick schemes, you'll get into trouble.  It is the diligent who will rule, who will obtain wealth, who will be richly supplied.  The profit is in the work, talk is cheap.

If you want to become wealthy, listen to and learn from those who have already done it.
Prov. 13:18  "Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored." 
Prov. 24:3-4  "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
It is by wisdom and knowledge that wealth is built.  Ignoring instruction leads to poverty. 

Also, work must be done in its proper order if the best results are to be achieved.
Prov. 24:27  Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. 
If you spend all spring building your house, you will find yourself in the middle of summer with nothing planted in the fields.  You just missed an entire year's harvest because you worked out of order.  This surely can be applied to almost any endeavor.  Take a moment to think about it and do the jobs in the appropriate order to maximize results.

One thing Solomon said about building wealth was especially interesting.  If you want to build wealth, be generous.
Prov. 14:21  Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. 
Prov. 19:17  Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. 
Prov. 28:8  Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor. 
Prov. 28:22  A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 
Blessed are the generous.  Being generous is like making a loan to God.  You know that will be repaid.  The purpose of wealth is to be generous, and, in general, the stingy never obtain wealth. 

The final bit of practical advice Solomon gives regarding wealth building is to never be a pledge for others.  In other words, never cosign anything.  [Now, don't go off on a tangent or I won't sign your check!]
Prov. 22:26-27  "Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.  If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?"
The reason they need a cosigner is because they can't pay.  Eventually, you are forced to take over the debt and then the repo man is coming after your stuff.   At least four times Solomon warns against this practice.
 
Finally, after giving practical advice for obtaining wealth, Solomon makes sure to tell us that there are more important things than wealth.
Prov. 15:16-17  "Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it."
Prov. 20:15  "There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel."
Prov. 22:1-2  "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.  The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all." 
Prov. 28:6  "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways."

Fear of the Lord, love, knowledge, a good name, and integrity are all more important than wealth.  Those are the issues we should be focusing on, and if the Lord blesses us in the meantime, great. 

Matt. 6:20-21  "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
 
 Lucas Ward

"Before “Friends,” Harry Pickup Jr. used to grab a couple of the talented students and go somewhere to sing & play to promote Florida College. Dene was sometimes one of those. Then the Public Relations department formed a permanent group that toured just like the Chorus always had. They adopted the name, “Friends” from a song popular at the time (lyrics in the title above)  that continues to voice our feelings about what makes FC special.

That got me to thinking, What is a friend? Sometimes people say they have a lot of friends, I wonder whether they have ever considered the various kinds of friends. A wise man once said that a man is lucky to have two or three friends in a lifetime.

In the sense of the Proverb (18:24, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother,”) that is probably true. That Jonathan and David trust, loyalty, and die-for-you commitment comes seldom. The one you know who would drop everything and come to your cry, means everything.

But there are other true friends. People that you can pick up with after a decade or more separation and feel as at-home with as yesterday; we have a few more of those. People we remember fondly and long for, though we may not expect to see them again this side of heaven. People that you can talk about most anything with, or just sit quietly and be comfortable.

Then there are the friends that put their feet under your table and you put yours under theirs more than once. Breaking bread together forms a bond.

“Workplace acquaintances” one called them. You may not share anything with them anywhere else and even feel a bit awkward if you meet them elsewhere, but you share personal things and help one another on the job. Or, these may be PTA friends, or golfing buddies, or Rotary or Music club.

How many other types of friends are there?

Which kind do you mean when you sing, “I’ll be a Friend to Jesus?”
 
 
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ​Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. ​No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  (John 15:12-15).
 
Keith Ward

This is the continuation of a series begun by guest writer, Lucas Ward, in January.  Due to the two month hiatus caused by my broken computer and waiting for the part in the midst of a worldwide shutdown, you might wish to familiarize yourself with the earlier posts.  If so, just go to the right sidebar and click on the appropriate month.  The earlier posts appeared on January 15, February 17 and March 16.

It seems to me that a logical first step on the road to learning to be wise is to remove the foolishness from our lives.  So I have collected quite a bit of what Proverbs teaches about "the fool" so that we can learn what to remove from our lives and what to avoid in the future.  

The Mouth of the Fool.
Prov. 10:8  "The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin."
Prov. 10:14  "The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near." 
The foolish person talks incessantly.  He never learns anything because he won't shut up long enough to listen.  The wise person, on the other hand, receives, or listens to, commandments.  He lays up knowledge.  The fool who babbles eventually brings ruin because he has no knowledge.  Because he would never be quiet.
Prov. 18:2  "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." 
Have you ever met someone who never listened to what you said but rather just waited for you to finish so he could talk?  Solomon says that kind of person is a fool.  He never learns because he never listens.  He is more interested in what he is about to say.
Prov. 14:3  "By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them." 
Prov. 18:6  "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating." 
Prov. 18:7  "A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul." 
A fool is constantly in trouble because of his foolish mouth.  He receives official punishment (a rod for his back from the king) and street justice (walk into a fight).  His mouth brings him to ruin because, as a fool he can't control it and doesn't know what to say if he could control it.  If we want to avoid foolishness, we must learn to control our mouths (a proverbs lesson on that later).
 
Flaunting Folly.
Prov. 10:23  "Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding."
Prov. 13:16  "Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly." 
Prov. 14:16  "One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless." 
Prov. 17:12  "Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly."
The fool refuses to think, and just acts, often with disastrous results.  He is reckless and careless and more dangerous than a she-bear separated from her cubs.  What's worse?  He laughs about the trouble he causes and wears his foolishness like a crown.   Obviously, the answer here is to think before we act.  To consider how our actions affect others (the definition of being considerate).   The prudent acts with knowledge and the wise is cautious, and that should be what we are aiming for.
 
Refuses Teaching.
Prov. 12:15  "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." 
Prov. 15:5  "A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent." 
Prov. 17:24  "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth." 
Prov. 18:2  "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." 
There are many more passages about the fool's refusal to listen, but since we just discussed the need to listen in the previous lesson, I'm only touching on it here.  A wise man becomes wise by listening to instruction and the fool marks himself as a fool by refusing to hear teaching.  The fool thinks he is right and refuses advice.  He won't listen to his father, he is daydreaming during class and doesn't care to understand.  If we don't want to be foolish, we need to listen to the wise and consider their teachings.  It is the only way to grow.
 
Vexation of:
Prov. 12:16  "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult." 
Prov. 20:3  "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling." 
Prov. 27:3  "A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both."
Personally, I hate Proverbs 12:16.  It hits a little too close to home.  When I am vexed, people know about it.  Solomon calls that the mark of a fool.  The prudent ignores the insult.  The honorable man keeps aloof from strife.  This is definitely one of the things I need to work on to become more wise.  To know when to ignore the insult, to avoid strife, to let things be.  The more we improve ourselves at this, the better are those around us because the fool's provocation is heavier than stones or sand and weighs down everyone near him. 
 
The first step to learning wisdom is to understand Solomon's description of fools and to try to remove that foolishness from our lives.  The less we act the fool, the greater our chance at becoming wise.
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is part 2 of the continuing series on Proverbs by Lucas Ward.

In the previous lessons we have learned that the pursuit of wisdom is important and ranks with all the Christian virtues as something a Christian should be looking to grow.  After all, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Prov. 4:7.  Of course, James tells us to pray for wisdom (1:5) and Solomon continues to urge us to seek it out:  “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.” Prov. 4:5.  So, I should be actively seeking wisdom.  Ok, but how?  How do I gain in wisdom?  Let's see what Proverbs says about this.
[A word of warning, most of these Proverbs posts are very scripture heavy as I allow Solomon to teach us.  I add just enough to tie the passages together and make them real for our modern lives.]

Prov. 10:8  “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”
Prov. 10:14  “The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.”
Prov. 18:15  “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
From these it seems that one basic characteristic of the wise is that they are willing to listen and learn from others.  They seek out new knowledge and store it up. 

Prov. 19:20  “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”
A wise man is willing to listen and learn and here we are instructed to listen and accept instruction in order to be wise.  If I want to be wise I must be willing to listen to the teachings of those wiser than I, but I can't listen blankly.  This isn't daydreaming in class, but time spent thinking about the advice and instruction I've received. 

Prov. 2:1-5  "My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
 
Look at how Solomon describes the search for wisdom.  Receive, treasure up, make ear attentive, inclining heart, call out, raise voice, seek and search.  This is effort.  This is work.  This is dedication to achieving a goal.  Solomon continues his urgings:
Prov. 4:13  “Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” 
Prov. 22:17  “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge”
Prov. 23:12  “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.”
 
Don't just idly listen; keep hold of the instruction and don't let go.  Then, apply your heart to knowledge and instruction.  That word "apply" was a very old Hebrew word that had come to mean a lot of different things. Originally it just meant "go" or "come".  Every other meaning it subsequently acquired was action oriented.  So, when I apply my heart to teaching, I'm taking action with my heart regarding that teaching.  I'm changing myself to better fit the teaching and thereby acquire wisdom. 
 
Of course, this isn't always pleasant.  One of the greatest challenges to accepting the instruction of others is the notion that "I can figure it out by myself!"  I want to be self-sufficient and don't want to rely on anyone else.  Solomon makes quick work of that idea:
Prov. 14:12  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 
Prov. 16:25  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 
Prov. 28:26  “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Notice that 14:12 and 16:25 are word for word copies.  Solomon (or rather the Holy Spirit through Solomon) thought that idea was so important he repeated it verbatim later in his book.  If I try to figure everything out for myself, I'll wind up dead.  Trusting in my own ideas proves me a fool.  Instead I should walk in wisdom, or the instruction I've been gathering.  This idea of needing others to help us learn and grow is found in the New Testament especially in Titus as the older women are told to teach the younger.  In Galatians 6 we are taught to help instruct those who have fallen away back in to the light.  No matter how gentle we are, some will always refuse to listen.  These are fools and will come to a bad end:
Prov. 15:12  “A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.” 
Prov. 9:7  “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.”
Prov. 13:18  “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.”
Prov. 15:5  “A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.”
Prov. 29:1  “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” 
 
Even the instruction of the wise is sometimes a bit painful:
Prov. 10:17  “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.”
The instruction heeded is also referred to as reproof.  To be reproved is to be chided, to be told you are wrong.  This is never fun, but the wise one listens and grows while the fool rejects it.
Prov. 12:1  “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
Prov. 15:31  "The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence."
Prov. 27:6  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
Again and again, listening to reproof and loving discipline are part of growing wisdom.  The wise also knows that a true friend will wound you to make you better while your enemy flatters you enormously. 

So, I need to be willing to listen to instruction even when it hurts.  I need to think about, to apply myself to that teaching.  What other practical advice does Solomon give for obtaining wisdom?
First, choose your companions with care:
Prov. 14:7  “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” 
Prov. 13:20  “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Sometimes foolish people are fun to hang out with, but you will never learn much from them.  If you want to become wise, seek out those who are wise and spend as much time as possible with them. 
 
Second, and finally, seek out counselors:
Prov. 11:14  “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Prov. 15:22  “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Prov. 20:18  “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”
Prov. 24:6  “for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Solomon, in preparing his son to be king, speaks of war, but the principle holds to any activity.  Do you want to start teaching Bible classes?  Find someone who has done it and discuss it with them.   Are you a new parent, unsure of what to do?  Look around and find several successful parents and get their advice.  Do you want to start a new business?  Write a novel?  Further your education?  Find counselors who know about those things and talk to them.  This wisdom isn't just related to our spiritual lives, but will help us be successful in all aspects of our lives.  But for it to work, we have to be willing to listen.
 
Prov. 4:10-13  "Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." 
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
 
The year we moved here, 1985, lightning struck a huge oak at the west end of our five acres. Sure that it would die, we planted two pecan trees nearer the house but still far enough away to provide shade late in the day when the sunlight tended to come in under the live oaks in our yard. Florida sun is brutal.
 
The oak tree survived and is now over 13ft around, about 4 ½ ft in diameter. It lost a limb and has a huge dead spot the size of an adult that goes up at least 20ft and which has partially scarred over with thick bark. But, in the right light one can see right through the tree as the opposite side has a smaller damaged area.
 
Most of us have been struck by sin, far more damaging than lightning. We have dead places in our hearts because we have covered the sin with callouses just as the tree grew bark to cover and strengthen the edges of the dead area. We pretend they are not there and if no one knows, well it is not so bad. I just pulled a chunk of dead wood out of the tree with my hand. Sin-dead areas of our hearts that are hidden still rot. Secret sins, acts we deny are sin, actions and thoughts we pretend are "just the way we are" and "I am doing my best" rot and putrefy.
 
God promised through Ezekiel, "“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. " (Ezek 36:26). Anyone who has been through open heart surgery will tell you that it is painful. But those who have received a new heart must also take anti-rejection drugs the remainder of their lives. Spiritually, it is hard to confront the sins we hide from everyone. Some of these have become part of who we are! Repentance involves ripping out who we are and what we do and becoming a new man. Also, we must take anti-rejection doses of scripture, prayer and the exercise of self-control for the remainder of our lives. The body of our flesh tries to reject the new heart.
 
Do not be satisfied with covering over the scars of sin-struck lives. Become a new person.
 
"for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death no more hath dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he lives, he lives unto God. Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: " (Rom 6:7-12).
 
Keith Ward