Sunday, August 8, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 11:23-31, we studied about having the right motives, about being generous with our possessions, and about avoiding an unwise lifestyle. Solomon wrote that those who are righteous want good things to happen while those who are not do not care. He said that the desires of the righteous are only good and that the expectations of the wicked lead to wrath. Desire comes from the Hebrew word that means thing desired or object of desire. Expectation comes from the Hebrew word that means hope or grounds for hope. Wrath comes from the Hebrew word that means outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, or arrogance. We should pattern our desires after good, not evil. Psalms 37:7-9 says, "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth." In the end, the wicked will not stand because the Lord will bring them down. Only those who seek to live right will prosper.
In Proverbs 11:24-28, Solomon wrote about generously helping others. Matthew Henry reiterated those thoughts in his commentary by writing, "Both in temporal and spiritual things, God commonly deals with his people according to the measure by which they deal with their brethren. We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage." When we share what God has given us, it will come back to us, and we will have the Lord's blessings upon our life. When we try to help others, God will make sure that there are those who try to help us. Solomon said that we would be watered when we seek to water others. Many people trust in their riches, but they instead should put their hope and trust in Him. Withholding for ourselves, hoarding this world's riches, and ignoring the needs of others will only lead to poverty. Concerning right living, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 11:29-31 that people looking for trouble usually find it. A nice breeze on a hot day can bring satisfaction. However, a gale force wind in a hurricane or tornado can bring destruction, turmoil, and disaster. When we seek trouble and mischief, we open ourselves up to the full fury of a highly destructive wind. We are wiser when we order our lives around God's Word. Solomon wrote that our life would then be complete and at peace. The wicked and sinful, on the other hand, do not have peace. Their lives are filled with trouble and turmoil.
To conclude this chapter, Solomon wrote that the soul winner is wise. Consequently, part of living wisely and intelligently in this life is to share our faith in Christ with others. James 5:19-20 says, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Throughout Proverbs 11, we have seen that living right is important. Therefore, as you go through the coming weeks, reflect on all the truths of this chapter and try to be the person that God would have you be.
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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