September 30, 2020

Looking ahead – Two Trails #

Watch out! Watch where you are going! Be Careful!

Proverbs 22:3

Introduction

This verse sums up what we will look at this evening. Simply put, watch where you are going! When you have kids, you are always looking out for them. Watching where they are going, and what is going on. How many times have you kept your child from running into something or someone because they were not watching where they were going! Spiritually we need to be on watching where we are going, and where we will end up.

I. Prudent Man (3) #

Prov. 22:3 ¶ A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

A. Seeing Man #

1. Foreseeth – able to see in advance #

• This often just comes with experience in life.

• Learning things to watch for…

  • When young people are warned about friends

2. Evil - #

• We need to define evil… some would say that David was foolish for going after Goliath… as this verse states, he should have hide himself…
• There are good reasons to stand for truth, right, and God – Shadrack, Mishack, Abednego.
• Evil as in bad influence, bad consequences
• Evil actions have punishable consequences… We will look at the examples of this in the next part.

3. Hideth - #

• Guard himself

B. Simple man #

1. Keep on going! #

• There are warning signs, Parents, Pastor, Preaching…. They ignore those!

2. Punishment! - This person is headed through the school of hard knocks! #

II. Problematic Man #

A. Straying (Froward) man (5) #

1. Wandering off the path #

• When you stray from the path that God would have you to take… you can expect to get caught up!
• Thorns, briars, stickers, snares… all the stuff that you get caught up in.
• Lured off the path by friends, allure, curiosity...

2. Keep his soul, far from them #

• When you are careful about your life, careful about following the Word of God…

Psa. 119:105 ¶ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

B. Sinful man (8) #

1. Soweth iniquity #

• Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

2. Vanity – emptiness! Sin never satisfies! #

3. Rod of anger – demanding in anger… also fails. #

C. Slothful Man (13) #

• This man excuses himself at the rumor of a lion!

D. Scorning (Apostate) Man (14) #

Deut 32:15-19

1. Those who completely disregard God and His Word #

2. Some have heard, and disregard the Word of God #

3. Others dismiss the idea of God… #

III. Prosperous man (29) #

A. Sharp (Diligent)Man (29) #

1. Joseph was probably one of the most diligent men in the OT! #

• Nobody rose to the top more than Joseph did!

• He was wronged, time and time again, and yet, he stayed diligent

  • Started as a slave….
  • Don’t excuse your diligence because you have been wronged!
  • Prison… and forgotten
  • Finally, stood before the king!

B. Spiritual Man (4) #

1. Humility – modest estimate of one’s own worth… #

• Don’t ever become too big for your own good!

2. Fear of the LORD - #

• Don’t ever give up on following God!
• Obedience to God has to be priority one!

3. Reward – riches, honor, life #

• God is the only one who can provide true riches
• Matt. 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: