May 24 | Trusted Wounds

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Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Lesson 24 | Trusted Wounds

If you were in a bad place with God and headed towards hell would you want a godly friend to tell you?  And if you were so self-deceived and truly convinced that you were right but were actually wrong in God’s eyes and the only way God could open your eyes would be to use a friend to hurt your feelings would you trust those wounds?  I pray your answer to both questions is, “yes.”

Often times we believe that God values our “feelings” above all else.  Meaning, we can sometimes think that our feelings are the most important thing to God.  However, this is not true, there are many things that God values over our feelings.  For example, God treasures His Gospel over our feelings.  He would rather the Gospel be preached and we feel harassed, and mocked then for us to remain silent and feel respected (just read Acts and study the life of Paul to see what the first disciples suffered emotionally to preach God’s Word), 1 Corinthians 4:9-13.

Also, God values righteousness more than our feelings.  The Bible teaches us that God is like a Father who would rather discipline us through emotional trials so we might live more righteous lives than to allows us to feel good with an undisciplined soul.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “… the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”  Both words “discipline and chasten” by very nature infer discomfort and temporary displeasure.  Ofcourse, God is not an abusive, pain loving, moral monster- He is a loving Father that only uses discomfort and temporary pain as a “last resort.”

On the other hand, kisses, warm fuzzies, and “good feelings” can be deceptive.  Take for example Judas; he didn’t really love Jesus when he gave him a kiss.  The kiss was a signal to the Roman soldiers to identify Jesus, it meant nothing of value to Judas, otherwise he wouldn’t have betrayed Jesus.  However, when Jesus openly rebuked Peter and called him, “Satan” He did so in genuine love, Matthew 16:23. The temporary public embarrassment and wound to Peter’s feelings showed that Jesus loved Peter enough to hurt his feelings because He didn’t want him to perish.

Therefore, in your friendships aim to be the kind of friend that speaks the truth in the love like Jesus- even if it hurts feelings.  And be open to corrections from your godly friends- even if your feelings get hurt.  For it is far better to have your feelings hurt and be right with God than to be kissed and feel good headed for eternal destruction. 

Reflection | Do you believe trusted wounds from a friend are a good thing? 

Action | (1) Repent for the times you may have been corrected by a godly person but were offended because your feelings were hurt. (2) Ask God to give you good friends who care enough about your well being to tell you the truth even if it emotionally hurts.  (3) Lastly, be the kind of friend who shares the truth in love.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23, John 13:31-14:14, Psalm 119:17-32, &Proverbs 15:31-32. Click here to read online. 

May 23 | Better Open Rebuke

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 27:5, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

Lesson 23 | Better Open Rebuke

Today in the American culture “moral relativism” is the new trend.  Moral relativism is a philosophy that believes, “All moral truths are relative to each person’s beliefs.  And since there is not absolute right or wrong, everyone is to be tolerant or supporting of each person’s own moral standard.”  The famous quote from moral relativists is, “What’s right for you is right for you, but it may not be right for me.”

As a result, this kind of thinking has led to people in popular society being tolerant and supporting of every kind of belief system except the belief system that states there is a moral standard.  In other words, the moral relativist has tolerance for every person’s belief, except the person that believes moral relativism is wrong.

First, moral relativism is a self-contradictory way of thinking because for relativists to make the statement, “there are no moral absolutes,” is itself a moral absolute statement.  Meaning, the relativist believes their perspective on there being no absolute moral truth is absolute.

Second, no one really lives as a moral relativist (besides a few criminally insane people).  Meaning, there are no sane rational people that believe it is okay for a mother to eat her child if she believes it will give her “good luck.”  Every relativist draws their own lines and make objective statements like, “its never okay for a mother to eat her child.”  Thus, moral relativists tend to make a box (or system) of moral standards to live by that are unchanging and then inside that box they will allow each person to do what’s right in their own eyes.  For example, the sane relativist will not allow people to rape and molest children according to their beliefs but they will be tolerant of those who believe in same sex marriage, sex changes, and the like.  Thus, even for the moral relativist, not all beliefs are treated equally. 

Lastly, God is not a moral relativist- He is a divine Lawgiver.  Therefore, according to King Solomon it is better to rebuke people openly when they break the laws of God then to try to support them in their sins in the name of “tolerance.”  As a result, hidden love is a love that is not trusting and genuine enough to believe that correction is a necessity to true love.  No one would respect a parent that didn’t correct his or her child.  Nor would anyone value a friendship where the friend didn’t warn them of impending danger.  Therefore hidden love is morally useless and extremely dangerous. 

In closing, true disciples of Christ should be willing to rebuke and correct others in love when they see people breaking God’s commands, 2 Timothy 4:2.  True love demands that we share moral correction with people around us.    

Reflection | Do you love people enough to let them know when they are wrong?

Action | (1) Ask God to reveal any times in your life when you acted with “hidden love,” i.e., you didn’t share God’s moral standard. (2) Make a decision to let God lead you to preach His Word to people around you. (3) Lastly, pray that those you rebuke will listen and follow God’s commands.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39, John 13:1-30, Psalm 119:1-16, &Proverbs 15:29-30. Click here to read online. 

May 22 | The Fool and Their Vomit

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”

Lesson 22 | The Fool and Their Vomit

Have you ever watched a dog eat its own vomit?  I have and it’s totally disgusting. The dog ate it up and didn’t seem to mind at all that it was its own puke.

King Solomon in the above proverb is making the comparison between a fool and a dog that eats it own vomit.  The fool’s folly is comparable to the disgusting nature of puke.  And as the dog returns to eat its own puke the fool is seen as someone who will repeat the same disgusting act over and over again without feeling any sense of shame because like the dog, the fool in their very nature is disgusting. 

Peter uses this same Proverb in 2 Peter 2:22 but also adds the pig as an example of the fool in sin, “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”  In other words, just like how the dog feels no shame in eating its own vomit, the washed pig feels no wrong in returning to its mire (mud and feces).

The lesson is simple, “don’t be like a fool who keeps repeating their folly.”  Yes it is true that God will forgive all your sin and be patient with you.  However, do not use the grace of God as a license to continue in sin.  Whenever you sin your heart should be always willing to never do it again.  True repentance that brings forgiveness comes with humility to change.  Otherwise, you become like that dog who continues to eats it own puke and never feels any shame. 

Therefore, make a decision today to not continue in any sin or folly.  Ask God to deliver you from all temptation (vomit). You can live righteous because when you were born again you were made righteous! 

Reflection | Do you like to repeat your sins, i.e., “eat your own vomit?” 

Action | (1) Identify any sins that you continue to do. (2) Ask the Lord to set you free from the habit of all sins. (3) Lastly, allow the Holy Spirit to keep you from eating your own vomit, i.e., “repeating your same sins over and over again.”

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11, John 12:20-50, Psalm 118:19-29, &Proverbs 15:27-28.  Click here to read online.

May 21 | Two Kinds of Fools

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 25:28, “4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”

Lesson 21 | Two Kinds of Fools

Hmmmmm… Did you catch the supposed contradiction in the two proverbs noted above?  If you didn’t, please slowly read them again.  Now do you see it?  Did King Solomon make a mistake and somehow let these verses into his book?  Or were the translators not paying attention and accidently wrote the proverb in two different ways?

Either way, many critics read these two proverbs and say, “Aha, the Bible does contradict itself!  In one proverb it says, “to not answer a fool” and the other “to answer a fool.”  Which one is it?” The simple answer is, “both.”  Let me explain. 

First, King Solomon didn’t make a mistake and the Holy Spirit wasn’t sleeping when these two proverbs were written.  The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”  Therefore, these two proverbs are both inspired and useful.

Second, and more to the point, there is no contradiction.  Thus, the best question to ask isn’t “How should I answer a fool?”  But rather, “What kind of fool am I talking to?”  Meaning, King Solomon is giving two different approaches because there are two different kinds of fools in life. 

In verse four he is referring to the kind of fool that is not willing to listen and will only mock and ridicule whatever you say.  Thus, when dealing with a “mocking-not-listening-kind-of-fool” don’t even waste your time answering them because they will never listen.  However, in verse five he is referring to the kind of fool that is ignorant and unlearned but willing to listen.  In turn, if you are dealing with an “ignorant-ready-to-listen-fool” then give them a response in wisdom to reveal their folly in hopes they will repent.

Therefore, the main lesson from these proverbs is to ask the Lord when dealing with people in their foolishness- “what kind of fool are they?”  And then answer or not answer accordingly!

Reflection | Do you see different kinds of foolish people in your life? 

Action | (1) Ask God to always keep you from folly. (2) Identify the kind of foolish people you encounter in life.  (3) Lastly, be led by the Holy Spirit to respond in wisdom to people in their folly.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13, John 11:55-12:19, Psalm 118:1-18, & Proverbs 15:24-26. Click here to read online. 

May 20 | Lack of Self Control

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 25:28, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

Lesson 20 | Lack of Self Control

I’ll never forget the first time I really understood this proverb.  I was talking to an older friend who was giving me counsel after I had been in an argument with another pastor.  In my hurt and frustration I asked him, “Why is it I feel so drained and overwhelmed with all this emotion?”

He then responded back with this proverb and explained to me that when I lacked self-control by losing my temper in my disagreement with the other pastor I became an easy target for the enemy.  Since my emotional guard was down it was easy for the devil to come steal my peace and bring confusion.

My biggest temptation is to lose control of my temper.  For others it is hard for them to control their sex drive.  Some find it difficult to control their eating and spending habits.  And some people cannot control their thoughts and words.  As a result, in Christianity we often think that though God’s grace saved us its now up to us to obey God’s commands and do what’s right in our own efforts.  However, without God’s grace we cannot please God and obey any of His commands.

Therefore, the answer to lack of self-control isn’t to build up the self and try to have more self-discipline.  The opposite is actually true.  Jesus commanded us to “deny ourselves” (Luke 9:23) and Paul said to count the old sinful self as “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).  As a result, the only way we can have true self-control is to yield our self to the control (guidance) of the Holy Spirit and let Him lead us.

When we are full of God’s Spirit and led by His Word we will always be able to keep our self in control, 2 Timothy 1:7.  Plus, the Bible actually says that “self-control” is one of the fruits (manifestations) of the Holy Spirit and should be in every believer’s life, Galatians 5:23.  Thus, we should always be able to resist emotional invasion from the enemy because God guards the walls of our heart!

Reflection | Do you walk in self-control, led by God’s Spirit? 

Action | (1) Repent for the times you have lacked self-control. (2) Ask God to develop in you the fruit of self-control by His Spirit.  (3) Lastly, if you ever notice your emotional walls are coming down, repent and ask God to build them back up!  

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25, John 11:1-54, Psalm 117:1-2, &Proverbs 15:22-23. Click here to read online. 

May 19 | Feed Your Enemy

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 25:19, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”

Lesson 19 | Feed Your Enemy

Some people have the impression that God was “mean” in the Old Testament and “nice” in the New Testament.  However, Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Therefore, the same Jesus that said, “love your enemy” in Matthew 5:44 is the same one who inspired King Solomon in the Old Testament to write the above proverb.

God has always been kind to sinners who are His enemies.  God said in Ezekiel 33:11. “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”  Therefore, as Christ’s followers we shouldn’t treat people the way they treat us, but rather we should treat all people the way we want to be treated.

The same is true with our enemies.  If we see them suffering we should offer them our help because it is not right to delight in their suffering.  For example, imagine if one of your co-workers who dislikes you forgets their wallet at home.  Buy them lunch and say it's a gift they don’t have to repay.  By treating your enemy like this you are showing yourself to be a child of God because God sends rain to both the just and the unjust, Matthew 5:45.

Ofcourse, there are times in which God judges the wicked and commands us to protect the innocent from evildoers, Psalms 2 & Romans 13:1-5.  At the same time, the kind of enemy we can love and reach out to are the ones who we share life with and are able to possibly affect for the good.

Therefore, make a decision today to be kind to your enemies as God in times past has been kind to you! 

Reflection | Would you give your enemy something to eat if they were hungry? 

Action | (1) Ask God to show you who are the people in your life that don’t like you. (2) Go out of your way to do something nice for them.  (3) Lastly, pray that your act of kindness will be used by God to do something good in their lives.  

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44, John 10:22-42, Psalm 116:1-19, &Proverbs 15:20-21. Click here to read online. 

May 18 | Unfaithful People

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 25:19, “Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.”

Lesson 18 | Unfaithful People

Have you ever had a broken tooth or an injured foot?  Or in general have you ever suffered injury in your physical body to the point where you couldn’t do what you would normally be able to do?  I have many times! 

My worst injury happened while snowboarding and trying to catch “big air.”  I was heading down the hill around 20-25mph and hit a jump and went about 10-12 feet in the air and landed with all of my 230lbs directly on my shoulder.  I had never felt pain like that before because I could hardly move my arm. 

I remember coming home and my wife was so upset that I as a father of two at that time and 34yrs old would put myself in that kind of situation.  Literally for two months every time I tried to lift my arm excoriating pain would shoot through my whole body.  Thankfully after getting it checked out I only had minor tears that could heal on their own without any surgery.  But it seemed to take forever to get my full strength back.   

The lesson I learned from the injury (besides not trying to catch big air) was how to use one arm to do all my everyday functions- like putting on my pants, playing with my kids, and driving a car.  However, at certain times out of habit, I would forget my arm was injured and I would try to use it for a task and instantly the pain would come and remind to not use that arm.

The same is true with people who are unfaithful and are apart of your life.  When you need them to be there in troubling times instead of helping and making the situation better they cause pain and make things worse.  Unfaithful people hurt people that depend on them, period.    

Do you know any people like that?  That in times of trouble you try to count on them, but they only cause pain?  Have you ever been that kind of person that when someone was counting on you- you let them down and gave them tremendous pain?

Take some time today to first evaluate your life and see if you have ever been unfaithful to others in times of trouble and caused them pain.  And then recognize the people that can’t be relied upon in your times of hardship because they only make things worse.

The solution to unfaithfulness is simple- first, for those who are unfaithful stop causing people hurt and start being dependable.  Second, stop relying on unfaithful people in times of trouble.  Instead find a good friend to lean on in your times of trouble!      

Reflection | What kind of person are you; faithful or unfaithful? 

Action | (1) Ask God to show you the kind of person you are for others in their troubling times. (2) Repent of any unfaithfulness you might have had in the past.  (3) Lastly, ask God to make you a faithful person and to have wisdom to choose the right people to depend on in your times of trouble.  

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29, John 10:1-21, Psalm 115:1-18, &Proverbs 15:18-19. Click here to read online.