May 9 | A Faithful Man

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 20:6, “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?”

Lesson 9 | A Faithful Man

As a pastor for the last 16 years I’ve had the privilege of meeting hundreds of people as they’ve come and joined our church.  Some of the people I’ve had the honor to serve are very faithful and sincerely dedicated to God.  However, the vast amount of people I’ve come across have major issues with being faithful- not only in the church but also in their lives.

Some of the people I’ve witnessed first hand not be faithful have also been the same ones to make bold commitments and give lauding compliments.  However, over time they become faithless and break their word.  It doesn’t matter what excuses they make, the bottom line is the same- they broke their commitment to both God and man. 

King Solomon as the leader of Israel most likely had people all the time proclaim their love and allegiance to him but fail to keep their word.  Hence, God leading him to write this proverb ending in a question mark because I believe he is basically saying, “I keep having people say they love me and break their word, does anyone know where I can find a faithful person?”

In turn, here are some ways you can be found faithful, (1) Only say what you mean, don’t use flattering words if you don’t mean them, (2) Be sure to only commit to things you can and will do, (3) Don’t lie or break your word, (4) Let your actions speak louder than your words, and (5) Seek forgiveness any time you break your word and let people down.

I challenge you to be the kind of person that when your job, spouse, family or church calls out, “Who is faithful?”  You can respond, “I am” and prove it. 

Reflection | Are you considered faithful be people around you?   

Action | (1) Search your heart and repent of any times you were faithless. (2) Ask God to develop the spiritual fruit of “faithfulness” in you, Galatians 5:22. (3) Lastly, don’t just proclaim your love and faithfulness- prove it! 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17, John 6:1-21, Psalm 106:13-31, & Proverbs 14:32-33. Click here to read online. 

May 8 | Alcohol Abuse

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

Lesson 8 | Alcohol Abuse

The saddest day of my life thus far was when I lost my sister to drinking and driving.  She hit a pole driving over 70mph, split the car in two, and flew through the roof.  The people at the bar said they tried to stop her from driving but she insisted and paid the price with her life.  She left behind two children. 

“There are approximately 80,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year in the United States.  This makes excessive alcohol use the 3^rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation.  Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 2.3 million years of potential life lost annually, or an average of about 30 years of potential life lost for each death.  In 2006, there were more than 1.2 million emergency room visits and 2.7 million physician office visits due to excessive drinking.  The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2006 were estimated at $223.5 billion,” excerpt from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though it is acceptable for the law abiding believer to drink alcohol in moderation (Deut. 14:26, Psalm 104:15, & Romans 14:1-7), the cost of being a drunkard can cost people their lives, harm others, and damn their souls for eternity, Galatians 5:21.  Therefore, King Solomon in the above Proverb gives the clear warning concerning wine, beer, and all alcohol- do not be led astray by it!

Today, just like in the times of Solomon and Jesus, alcohol is common at weddings, special events, and everyday meals and social gatherings.  However, the person who chooses to use their freedom to enjoy this substance must do so with a clear understanding of the dangers of alcohol. 

Therefore, here are some guidelines I believe can help insure your safety in regards to alcohol, (1) Never drink if its against the law (underage, while working, etc), (2) Never drink if you are prone to alcoholism or binge drinking, (3) Never drink if your doctor says it is negatively affecting your health, (4) Never drink if your conscience is grieved by the Holy Spirit, (5) Never drink if alcohol leads you to commit other sins (perversion, violence, etc.), (6) Never drink and get drunk, and lastly, (7) If you do drink legally do so in such a way that if Jesus was with you, like at the wedding in Cana, He would be pleased by your self-control, 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Reflection | What are your thoughts regarding alcohol?   

Action | (1) Are you able to drink and not sin against God… or do you choose to abstain?  (2) Repent of any times you may have abused alcohol and ask God to give you a biblical understanding of the sin of drunkenness, Proverbs 23:29-35. (3) Lastly, whatever you do in eating or drinking, do it as unto the Lord with holiness! 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalm 106:1-12, & Proverbs 14:30-31. Click here to read online. 

May 7 | The Lord’s Purpose

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Lesson 7 | The Lord’s Purpose

Have you ever wondered how God works with man’s free will choices and still remains in control of everything?  Meaning, if God knows our end from the beginning how does He actually allow us to make our own decisions and not make us His fatalistic robots?  Because if God ultimately already knows what were going to do, doesn’t that remove our ability to act freely?

Many great theologians have spent their entire scholarly lives trying to understand the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will.  God’s sovereignty means, “God can do whatever pleases Him whenever it pleases Him,” Psalm 115:3.  For example, by God’s sovereignty He chose Jacob over Esau, Israel over Egypt, and the Jews over Gentiles, Romans 9-11.  However, by our free will we decide whether to be under God’s curses or blessings (Deut. 28), have life or death (Deut. 30:19), and whether we accept of reject Jesus’ salvation, James 4:8.  Free will means, “to be able to choice 'a' or not 'a' without any outside influence,” Joshua 24:15.

I believe King Solomon in the above proverb gives the simple solution to understanding the supposed problem between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will.  Simply, “Man freely chooses his plans in his heart and God freely chooses what purpose He will accomplish with man and the choices he makes.”  Meaning, “man is free to make his own choices, but God determines the consequences- whether they be bad or good.”

For example, you may be freely making plans to move to a new house on Grey Street, however, for God’s purpose to come to pass He may close the door and make available another house on Brown Street.  Thus, your plans were changed by God’s sovereignty to fulfill his bigger purpose and plan, but yet it was still in line with your freedom to choose.

Therefore, we as Christians shouldn’t say, “Well, there is no sense in trying to do anything, because whatever God wants to come to pass will happen- I’ll just sit here and wait.”  And we also shouldn’t say, “God is not involved in my everyday decisions- I make my own fate and destiny.”   However, the Christian should say what James wrote in James 4:15, “…If it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that.”

The Christian can be confident that God has given them freedom of choice- we are not His robots.  At the same, we should always be submitted to God’s bigger plans and purposes in our lives.  Just because God knows everything that will happen and is working it out for His glory doesn't mean He didn’t give mankind the ability to make their own choices.  Therefore, we should make the right choices when it is in our power to act and trust God when it is in His power to act.     

Reflection | Are you willing to both freely make your plans and trust God’s purpose?   

Action | (1) What plans are you making in this season of your life? (2) Are you willing to let God’s will be done? (3) Lastly, whenever your plans change, trust that God is in control working all things for His good and yours.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalm 105:37-45, & Proverbs 14:28-29. Click here to read online. 

May 6 | A Friend That Sticks Closer Than a Brother

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 18:24, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Lesson 6 | A Friend That Sticks Closer Than a Brother

Friends can either bring you down or lift you up.  What kind of friends do you want?  Do you want the kind of friends that are only looking out for themselves and when times get tough they are no where to be found?  Or do you want a friend that sticks closer to you than a brother?

Often times the above proverb is only used as an analogy for Jesus- that He is our true friend that sticks closer than a brother, John 15:13.  Though it is true that Jesus is our friend that sticks closer than a brother, He is not the only friend we can have in life that is loyal.

King Solomon is specifically referring to earthly friends that can be very close to you in life and love you like a brother/sister (sibling) and there are other kinds of friends who can be unfaithful and cause you great harm.  Thus, for me this proverb brings to mind the “circle of friends” lesson I was taught a while ago by a great pastor.

Imagine a circle with four smaller circles on the inside.  As each inner circle gets closer to the center it gets smaller.  The first and biggest circle of friendship is called, “acquaintances.”  These are the kind of friends you may meet on the job, your gym, facebook, or at church but don’t really have a relationship with them.  Now imagine the next circle of friendship is called, “companions.”  These are the kind of friends you occasionally share your life together with but aren’t really close to.  

The next smaller circle is, “close friends.”  These are the kind of friends that you regularly spend time with.  When you have a success or failure they are the first ones you call.  And lastly, the smallest circle of friendship in the center is called, “intimate friends.”  These are the kind of friends that are like a brother/sister to you.  You may only have 1 or 2 at a time and most people only have a few in their entire life because it takes so long to develop this kind of friendship.

The powerful lesson from the “circle of friends” is to know who each friend is in your life and to make sure they’re in the right circle.  If you have a “close friend” that is continually unreliable and untrustworthy the best thing to do is place them either in the “acquaintance or companion circle” because they will only let you down when you really need them.

Also, sometimes people in your life change circles because of growing older, changing interests, and availability.  The best thing you can do is give them the “gift of goodbye.”  Which is basically giving them “permission” to not be as involved in your life moving forward as they once were.

In conclusion, everyone needs good friends.  Therefore, make sure you choose the right kind of friends and have them in the right place in your life.  At the same time, remember to be the best kind of friend you can be in other’s circle of friendship!

Reflection | Are you a reliable friend?   

Action | (1) Do you have a friend that is as close to you as a sibling? (2) Are you someone else’s inanimate friend? (3) Lastly, ask God to make you a reliable friend.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Ruth 2:1-4:22, John 4:43-54, Psalm 105:16-36, & Proverbs 14:26-27. Click here to read online.