September 9, 2020

Proverbs of Life #

Proverbs 21

Introduction

We have the six miscellaneous verses left in Proverbs 21 that I couldn’t put into a category. So we will cover several things and try to get through all of them this evening. These could all be thrown into a very general category of Life. How to live life.

I. Choosing a Right spirit (attitude) or spouse (9, 19) #

NOTE:

For the men, IF you are single, and looking for a spouse, this counsel is for you.
IF you are a married man, 1. YOU have the right spirit, 2 Pray your wife has the right spirit.
For the ladies, I want you to look at it this way, “Choosing a spirit” – Choosing who you are. - God can help you be a better person, God can help you have a sweet spirit.

Prov. 21:9 ¶ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Prov. 25:24 ¶ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Prov. 21:19 ¶ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Brawling = The act of quarreling
Commitment is implied here, in a marriage union

A. Warning to Men - #

1. Corner of the housetop – flat roof, exposed to the elements or even servants quarters #

- Better off to be exposed to weather than be married to a woman that is quarrelsome.
- Homeless… dwell in the wilderness
True Beauty is more than skin deep.
- 1 Peter 3:1-4 -
- Meekness is not weakness! Meek – mild of temper; not easily provoked, or irritated; patient under injuries; not vain, or haughty, or resentful forbearing; submissive
Harry Ironside, an old time preacher said:
- “Happy will be the family where relationships follow the lovely order of God's Word. If the husband treats the wife kindly, and the wife is adorned by a meek and quiet spirit, the children are likely to be in godly subjection; the home will be a sweet foretaste of that eternal one for which we wait. But where a brawling woman seeks to rule and will not be content unless she has things her own way, the home is most unpleasant.”
If the wife is not right with God, it doesn’t give the husband excuse to not be right with God. If the husband is not right with God, it is not an excuse for the wife to be wrong.
Perfect marriage, both are seeking to honor the LORD.

B. Wisdom for the Woman – have a sweet spirit! #

1. Strive for it, work at it, pray for it! #

James 3:14-16, 17-18

2. IT IS POSSIBLE! #

II. Choosing Compassion (Pro 21:13) #

Prov. 21:13 ¶ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

A. Poor #

1. If you have not visited a 3^rd^ world country, you do not know what poverty is. #

Anyone who has visited poor countries, knows exactly what I’m talking about.
We have poor people, but the level of their poverty, and the access they have to help, is greater in America than anywhere else in the world!
- Why do you think people are flooding our borders, trying to get into our country?
- Why are people not flooding into China, Russia, or other countries? - God has blessed our country

There is opportunity in this country like no other place on God’s green earth today.

B. Compassion #

1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Jesus taught compassion (the good Samaritan)
We should be compassionate people!
When you are surrounded by poverty, it is easy to close up your ears to it… we should not do it.
Doesn’t mean we should just give to every person with their hand out… we need to be sensitive to God

III. Choosing peace (Pro 21:14, 23, 24) #

A. Gifts #

Prov. 21:14 ¶ A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

1. It is natural to react to anger, with anger, fight fire with fire. #

Clearly this is not God’s way.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

2. Defense: #

Pro 21:31 – The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

B. Guarding #

Prov. 21:23 ¶ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Arguments, Gossip, Complaining, Coverup, tempting,
How our tongues are occupied! They run more quickly than our feet, and carry less, though much mischief sometimes comes from their babble. They are sharper than razors, some of them, and cut deeper than swords, and kindle fire enough to set the world in a blaze.

C. Grace #

Prov. 21:24 ¶ Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.