Sunday, July 4, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 11:1-3, Solomon wrote about three different concepts, and through them, we gained more insight into godly wisdom. The first pertained to being honest and to not trying to cheat others. God is not pleased when we cheat others or even try to cheat others. To make his point, Solomon used the illustration of a false balance. The image was of someone weighing out goods for someone else. On older scales, the person selling the goods would put a weight on one side of the scale and the goods on the other. As the goods were added to the tray, they would bring the scale to where the weight and the goods would be at the same level. Through this real life application, Solomon taught that God is not pleased when we use a weight that says one value when it is really a weight of lesser value. When we use a false balance, we cheat those around us, and that brings displeasure to our Lord. We can cheat employers by not doing our required work. We can cheat others out of money by attaching phony claims to items that we sell. We can cheat by doing as Solomon wrote and use false balances. The Bible teaches that the intentional cheater will not profit. Psalms 15:1-3 says, "LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour." God is not pleased when we cheat, but He is satisfied when we deal fairly with others.
The second teaching from this lesson dealt with a prideful heart. God is not pleased when we lift ourselves up and are boastful, so Solomon wrote that shame comes when we become too prideful. Psalms 138:6 says, "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." Proverbs 16:19 says, "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." In considering God's view on a prideful heart, it is significant to note that pride can have two meanings, one that is good and one that is not so good. Lifting yourself up in your own eyes is bad. However, we should take pride in how we conduct your lives. The third standard from this lesson taught that we should be people of integrity and that we should try to live right. Integrity comes from the Hebrew word that means completeness, fullness, innocence, and simplicity. Thus, part of having integrity is to be mature and live a simple, innocent life. I Kings 9:4-5 says, "And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel." Psalms 25:21 says, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee."
In this lesson, we learned that the first steps to true wisdom are to not cheat others, to not have too much of the wrong kind of pride, and to be a person of integrity. These three concepts are good to live by. Therefore, as you go through the coming week, reflect on the truths of God's Word and try to order your life accordingly.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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