October 23, 2019
What Kind of a Person are you? #
Proverbs 12:1-4
Intro.
The word most used in this Proverb is man. This can apply to both man and woman. As the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:11 - Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,"
I. Wise Man (1-4) #
Not a wise guy.
A. Loves Instruction! (1) #
There is no greater instruction, than the instruction contained in the Word of God!
That is the purpose of the Book of Proverbs!
“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;” (Proverbs 1:2)
a) God wants us to know instruction!
b) Instruction manual! - Importance of the manual!
(1) BIBLE acronym- **[B]{.underline}**asic
**[I]{.underline}**nstruction **[B]{.underline}**efore
**[L]{.underline}**eaving **[E]{.underline}**arth
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(1) How to live righteously... How to praise the Lord, how to dwell
together in unity... so when we arrive in Heaven, we won't be
quite a so shocked!
"Loveth instruction" - Learn to love it!
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)
c) Only time instruction is used in the NT!
B. Seeks the Lord’s Favour (2) #
Who are you living for?
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:6)
“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” (Colossians 3:22)
a) Are you pleasing others? Are you pleasing self? Are you pleasing God? (Matt 6:24)
C. Firmly rooted (3) “root of righteousness shall not be moved” #
Rooted in Christ
a) We should be anchored in Christ!
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" (Heb 6:19)
1. Rooted in the Word #
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psa 1:1–3)
a) Trees, don’t move! - Their roots run deep
b) A tree that is well rooted, and close to the water of life, will give fruit!
Rooted Unmoveable
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
c) Those that are firmly rooted, are not going to fall away!
d) Great respect to the [faithful]{.underline} saints, and continue to be unmoveable… their “root of righteousness shall not be moved.”
D. Virtuous woman (4) #
This obviously doesn’t apply to men!
Virtuous is only used 3x in the Bible, and each time it is applied specifically to a woman.
Ruth’s Testimony
“And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” (Ruth 3:11)
a) Chose God over the World
b) Worker - Worked in the fields, Worked in providing for her mother in law.
Crown to her Husband (Proverbs 12:4) -
c) Don’t EVER undermine the importance in your role!
d) Every husband realizes the value that his wife is to him!
Proverbs 31:10 - Value!
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
(Proverbs 31:10)
e) The rest of Proverbs 31 is dedicated to expressing the value, blessing, She is trusted, works hard, is not lazy, is not selfish, her work is to aid in the success of her husband, she is a huge help, blessing, and of great value!
II. Wicked Man (5-8) #
A. Liar - (5) Devil is father of lies… (John 8) #
Lying is sin!
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Jn 8:44)
a) Christians should be truthful!
World pushes towards deceit!
b) The world will constantly be pushing to deceive, cover up, lie, not to be honest.
c) Christians should be honest!
B. Lazy (6) #
These are those that are too lazy to work, they look for easy opportunity to take what is not theirs.
a) Worker at a store… playing on their phone.
Idleness becomes a real problem of sin.
b) John Bunyan - An idle man’s brain is the devil’s workshop.
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“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezk 16:49
a) The ruin of most men dates from some idle moment. - Hillard
Christians should be workers, not lazy people looking for the easy way out. Entertain me society!a) Entertainment in moderation is fine, but we expect to be entertained all the time!
b) Come to church, and have an entertain me mindset…
c) Church should be one of the highest forms of education, not entertainment.
III. Working Man (9-12) #
A. Production, than prideful (9) #
Some people are so absorbed with self image, that they can’t get anything done.
Our job is not to lift ourself up.
Society has become something that concerns itself with self exaltation!
That is pride, that is the sin that Satan fell from.
B. Considers his beast (10) #
In the Bible times, much of the difficult work was done by beasts
A foolish man, would not consider the life of his beast. A righteous man, would look out, and not over work his mule, or oxen.
His compassionate spirit is shown even in the way he handles those that work for him.
C. Reaps, Satisfied (11-12) #
When you work, you will be rewarded!
It is more than a reward, it is Satisfaction!
a) Marketing has caused us not to be satisfied!
(1) Gotta have the new...
b) Money drives marketing!
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” (2 Peter 3:11)