Proverbs 22 - Friends

October 7, 2020

Friends #

Proverbs 22:9

Introduction

The friends we have and make, in life tell a lot about us. The Bible has a lot to say about friendship, we will not cover it all in a single lesson. We will simply touch a few points on the subject.

Verse 9 could easily fit into a financial category about generosity and giving, it also fits into a friendship category. Giving to others, and befriending the poor. That is something that Jesus did in his earthly ministry. It is usually the poor that need friends, and the help that we can offer. People who are rich, often have more friends than they know what to do with, and half of their friends are not really friends, but fleas looking for what they can get.

I. Being Friendly (9, 11) #

A. To the Poor (9) #

1. ‘bountiful eye’ #

  • While this verse would easily fit into a financial category, it also fits into a friend category…
  • Giving, is a trait of a charitable person.

2. Physically giving… be a blessing! #

Prov. 18:24 ¶ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

3. Spiritually giving… #

    • Jesus found us as beggars in need of salvation, with absolutely nothing… he blessed us with the greatest gift ever… SALVATION!
  • Jesus said, “I am the bread of life…” - If we have partaken of that bread of life, we need to give of that bread to the poor and needy, who are lost.

B. To the Pure (11) #

1. Purity of heart, is golden! #

    • Your friends should be people who value purity over pleasure. Purity over prosperity, purity over popularity.
    • Purity is going to be more concerned with doing what is right over anything else!

2. What you love, will pure out your mouth… #

    • You know why people cuss, and speak bad…
    • Their heart is polluted with wickedness from this world!
    • “pureness of heart” – Looking on the inside, not on the outside.
    • People concerned with righteousness, speak correctly, and gracefully, … the king notices.

II. Casting out friends (10) #

A. Casting out #

1. Scorner – a scoffer; a derider; in Scripture, one who scoffs at religion, its ordinances and teachers, and who makes a mock of sin and the judgments and threatenings of God against sinners. #

  • Sunday night we covered a ‘critical spirit’.
  • They would be a scorner! Someone who despises authority, and doesn’t want to listen to anything.

2. Contention, strife, reproach #

  • Contention – controversy, quarreling, in fighting
  • strife – exertion or contention for superiority
  • reproach – blame, charge with severe language

3. Sowing discord… planting seeds of doubt, that will cause strife, contention. #

  • There is a time to cut off friends.

B. Casting out is not friendly #

1. We are not talking about a simple thing, we are talking about throwing them out. #

  • When Paul said to toss the man out in 1 Corinthians, he was harsh in his wording.
  • They were to view the man as a heathen!

2. Causes the division to cease! #

Psa. 133:1 ¶ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

C. Scorner will drag you down! #

1. The contention, strife and reproach, will continue in your life! #

III. Warning about Friends (24-25) Wrathful man #

A. Angry man (24) #

1. Speech driven by anger #

  • How many things have been said in anger!

  • Their anger, bitterness, and venom spews from their lips, and poisons all those around them.

  • Some peoples hatred is so out of control, they cannot speak peaceably about someone.

2. Anger often driven by pride #

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

3. Anger brings strife & sin #

Prov. 29:22 ¶ An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

  • Cain murdered his brother out of anger Gen 4
  • Saul throw a javelin at his own son Jonathon out of anger 1 Sam 20
  • James 1:19 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

B. Learn (25) #

1. You will pickup his ways #

  • Birds of a feather flock together.

2. Get a snare to your soul! #

  • Being controlled by anger, will be a snare to you!
  • Prov. 14:17 ¶ He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Tags: Preaching Outlines Proverbs Friends Wrath Anger Friendly