November 6, 2019

Direction in Life #

Proverbs 14

Intro.

Ways, way

I. Upright way (2) #

Uprightness - honesty; integrity in principle or practice; conformity to rectitude and justice in social dealings.

A. Lesson of David! #

God appears to Solomon and offers whatever he wants:

1. “And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.” (1 Kings 3:6)

   Second appearance, after the Temple was built:

2. “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:” (1 Kings 9:4)

   Uprightness is not perfection, but rather, walking with God, and making things right when we mess up in life!

B. Learned #

1. Uprightness is learned, and God must be our teacher! #

1. “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalms 143:10)

C. Left - Walk in them! #

1. “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;” (Proverbs 2:13)

II. Understanding way (8) #

A. Wisdom of the prudent! #

1. Prudent is someone who is wise on a practical level. They are careful, and measure their actions.

2. “understanding his way” - He is looking ahead to his path in life.

   a) Twig on a stream - Some people just float through life like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.

   b) Canoe on a stream - One of the things I enjoyed doing, was canoeing some rapid rivers. Picking a direction.

B. Foolishness (7) #

1. “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:7)

   a) There are people, who live in foolishness.

   b) Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah, didn’t leave the presence of foolish men, and paid dearly, losing his family!

2. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5)

   They are people who will not help us, will not encourage us, but will continually drag us down into their foolishness!

   The Bible clearly gives us warning, to steer clear, and stay away from these kind of people.

C. Favor (9) #

1. “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” (Proverbs 14:9)

   I’m interested in having God’s favor on my life!

   You know what makes me tick, knowing that I will stand before God, and give an account of my life! I want HIS FAVOR!

D. Foresee (8) - “understand his way” #

Chose where you are going in life, and foresee the path.

1. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14)

III. Unique way (12, 14) #

A. Seemeth right (12) #

Individual will

What seems good to you, may not seem good to me.

Judges -

a) “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)

b) “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

They didn't hold God as their King!

Civil war broke out in Israel, and they slew one of the tribes
because of some perverse gross sins that had taken place in Israel.

Yet everything that was done, seemed right in someones eyes

c) “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

There is not righteousness without God!

d) “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12)

B. Selfish (14) #

Filled with his own way!

This is not necessarily wicked… it could be “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:”

Compromising with God, bartering, making a deal with God!

C. Sure way Psa 19:7, Psa 93:5, Ps 17:5, Heb 2:1 #

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalms 19:7)

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1)