Skip to content Trusting God: Wisdom from Proverbs 15–16 Sep 8 · 17 min ...more
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Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
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The Power and Importance of Our Words 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we continue our journey through Proverbs with chapters 15 and 16 today. Verse 20 of chapter 16, He who heeds the word wisely0:22 will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Now I tell you what, that's a great summary for the entire book of Proverbs. That's what it's all about, trusting God and yielding0:33 to him in every aspect of our lives. Verse 1 chapter 15, a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Common sense. Right?0:46 Have you noticed we've talked about this before, but have you noticed how often Proverbs talks about our words, our mouth, our our lips? You know, Proverbs has a lot to say about our words because0:58 that is so much a part of life, and it it can either make life easy for us or it can make it difficult for us. About 25 percent of the book of Proverbs is focused on our words and how we use1:10 them. Now in these 2 chapters, out of the 66 verses, in these 2 chapters, 15 verses deal directly with what comes out of our mouths. There no other single topic1:22 is highlighted more. So what does that tell us? Well, it tells us that our words matter. And I had to learn that the hard way. As a child my father used to tell me, son, your mouth is is gonna get you into1:34 more trouble. And it did, but through the word of God and the spirit of God working in me and on me, it's changed me. My word still calls1:45 trouble, Alright? But it causes trouble for the forces of darkness, and I choose my words very carefully and intentionally. Verse 2, chapter1:57 15. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. You know when we use knowledge in the right way, others benefit from2:09 it. The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good. Nothing is beyond the observation and the knowledge of God. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks2:21 the spirit. Here it is again. The power to build up or tear down is found in our words. Use them carefully. A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who receives correction2:33 is prudent. This is a a straightforward truth that reminds me of something an, an older colleague of mine used to say to, to members of2:45 the legislature when I was in the legislature. He he he said, I can explain it to you, but I can't make you understand it. You know, some people just don't want to know. Verse 6. In the house of2:57 the righteous, there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble. Now notice the different words here. Treasure versus revenue or income, which denotes more value. Which is of more value?3:10 Prosperity. Prosperity. Wealth is more than income. Verse 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. I mean, look at this. The Lord rejects what the3:22 wicked gives, but grants what the righteous request. Look also at Proverbs 15 29. The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. Back to verse 10. Harsh discipline3:34 is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die. Now here's a warning. Okay? Here's a warning. If you are a child of God and you stray, expect3:46 God to discipline you. You see, he loves us too much to just let us go. Verse 13, a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart, the the spirit is broken.3:58 You know, we can break our own spirit by dwelling on life's challenges and problems rather than focusing on the lord and focusing on god and his word. Worry only4:09 increases anxiety, which leads to a sad heart and a broken spirit. So how do we keep from falling into the pit of despair? Here it is. Remember this. Write it down.4:21 Praise, praise God. Prayer, pray to god, plan. Let god speak to you and and be focused on solving problems, and then perform. Carry it4:33 out. You know, when we sit and just think and worry and have anxiety, it's a waste of time. Praise god. Praise him in advance for the for the solution, for the4:45 answer that's gonna come. Pray and ask for it, and then as the lord gives it to you, plan. Make a plan and then execute that plan. Alright. This, I I tell you, this is a this was a4:57 life changing revelation for me. Whether I had a merry heart or a sad heart, a sullen heart was my choice. Alright? A merry heart is not the product of external5:09 circumstances. It's the result of an internal disposition, and that comes when we focus on the Lord. Verse 15, all the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.5:21 Attitude. The state of the heart governs our outward condition, not the other way around. Alright? Just because you have a lot of stuff is not gonna make you happy, but if you're happy, you'll be happy with a5:33 little bit. It's not our environment that determines our well-being as much as our internal well-being determines our environment. And this is not positive thinking. Alright? I I know that there's a lot5:45 of that out there, and and then there's a lot of truth in it, But we need to tap into the source of hope, and that is Jesus Christ. And when we're rooted in him, abiding in him5:57 and in his word, it's not just it's not hype. It's reality. Verse 16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a6:08 fatted calf with hatred. You know, again, things will not make you content. Peanut butter and peace are better than t bone and tumult. Alright? Verse 18. A wrathful man stirs up6:20 strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention. So don't be hot headed. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. Wow. What a6:32 fool. Despising your own mother. Unfortunately, there's a lot of that today. Verse 22, without counsel plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. So6:44 seek counsel, godly counsel. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season. How good it is. Again, the power of our words. 27.6:55 He was greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. You see, greed has ruined many reputations, destroyed numerous careers, and wrecked many lives. So seek 1st the kingdom of7:07 God and his righteousness, and all the things we need will be added to us. It all falls in place. Seek 1st the kingdom of God. Verse 28. The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked7:20 pours forth evil. Caution is the fruit of wisdom. You you don't have to say everything you think. Think. Think. Prayerfully consider what comes7:31 across your lips. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy. What gives light, what builds up, rejoices the heart and makes the bones healthy. Our diet7:43 of information and me and what we meditate upon affects our health. Right? This is this is born out of study after study. Anxious? If you're anxious, are you anxious?7:56 Turn off the TV and turn to the word of God. You don't I've I've been in many homes, and people have the, the news on 24 7 just running constantly. I I don't even have aA Merry Heart and the Attitude That Governs Life 8:07 television. We have a television, but it's not connected to anything other than, when we watch a movie once a week. I I don't I read the news. I don't watch it constantly. I can find out what's8:19 happening. I just check and read the news. I don't have to be inundated with negativity. Meditate on that which is good. I'm not saying bury your head in the sand. What I'm saying is that we8:31 need to filter everything that's happening in the world around us through the lens of scripture and through scripture. That's what gives us hope. If not, we're gonna be anxious. We're gonna be stressed, and that's8:43 not the way God wants you to live. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. You know, fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, which leads8:55 to humility. If we fear Lord, we're gonna walk humbly before Him, and that leads to honor. Alright. Chapter 16, the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the9:06 tongue is from the Lord. A man makes his plan his plans, but the execution of those plans fulfill the purposes of9:18 god. Look at, verse 9 of chapter 16. A man's heart plans his way, but the lord directs his steps. Now this does not mean we're not to plan, that we're to kick back and say, oh, I'm gonna see what god does.9:30 It means we are to plan, being diligent in in being good stewards of our time, our talent, and our treasures that the Lord has entrusted to us, but9:42 doing so with a submissive and obedient heart to the Lord. I mean, Paul's a great example of this. He planned his missionary trip when the Holy Spirit redirected him. He didn't argue with God.9:54 He aligned his plans with the unfolding plans of God. Now it's important to plan. I'm a planner. I believe in planning. But it's also important to allow the 1 who planned and10:06 created everything to direct our steps. There's been times, I mean, I plan out my day, in usually in 15 to 30 minute increments.10:18 And my schedule is pretty pretty bull booked. Alright? It's pretty full from from before the sun comes up until the sun goes down. But sometimes the10:29 lord redirects. My plans get pushed aside, and he has something else. And I've learned to anticipate god stepping in and directing my steps because the outcome is10:41 gonna be better. It's gonna give me opportunities that I did not foresee. And so I'm constantly looking when something changes. Alright, god. What are you doing? What's unfolding here? What do I need to be10:53 prepared for? Verse 2, all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the lord weighs the spirit. God knows our hearts better than we do. So we should ask him to show us those things that he11:05 knows. Commit your works to the lord and your thoughts will be established. You know, rely on god for success in your lawful purposes. Roll your burden onto the11:16 lord. Verse 5, everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the lord. Though they join forces, none none will go unpunished. While the proud in heart, which reject the11:28 truth of god, may be great in number and unified in their defiance of god, they are no match for him. Alright? So choose wisely. Alright? Think about11:40 this in all in terms of all the things that are happening in our culture today. Choose wisely which side you will stand on. K? God will not be mocked.11:52 Truth will prevail. Now might not be today, might not be tomorrow, but it will prevail. So do you want to be on the right side of history? If so, stand on the word of12:04 God and walk in the ways of God. Verse 6, in mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity and by the fear of the lord, 1 departs from evil. There is no atonement without12:16 mercy and truth. You see, god is both. There is no need for mercy without truth. It is the truth that makes us free to experience the mercy of12:28 God. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Obey God. Don't worry about people. God will take care of them. Verse 8, better is a little with12:40 righteousness than vast revenues without justice. Why? Because there is peace and there is contentment contentment with what God gives without fear of guilt.12:52 I mean, there's there's peace in that. Just just enjoy what god has given. Be thankful for what he has provided. Verse 12, it is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne13:04 is established by righteousness. A corrupt government undermines its own power. The government should punish evil and promote good, leading to prosperity13:16 and peace that benefits all. Alright? That is not a partisan statement because it's true for both republican and democrats. A government that departs, I don't care what the label is, a government13:27 that departs from biblical truth, right, is promoting lawlessness and cutting its own undercutting its own authority and ability. And and and just a a13:39 statement on that, our focus should not be on politics per se. Right? We we kind of conflate, politics,13:51 electoral politics with policies. Our alignment should be with policies. And if it didn't matter what the party is. It it depends on what the policy is. Are they aligning withPlanning Our Way While Submitting to God's Direction 14:03 biblical truth or not? Now I know that there's a radical increasingly a radical difference between parties, but if if the party departs from truth, I depart from the party.14:15 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. You know, pride will bring you down. Verse 20. He who heeds the word wisely will find good and whoever trusts in the Lord,14:27 whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. See, he who wisely considers the word of God will find good, and he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed. Verse 21. The wise in heart14:39 will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. It it matters how we say things. Alright? Look at at verse 24. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.14:51 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. You know, we can think it is right. We can even be convinced our way is right, but we need to evaluateStanding on Truth, Righteousness, and Biblical Principles 15:03 our ways according to the word of God, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate us. He who is slow to anger, verse 32, is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who15:15 takes a city. That's talking about a warrior, a mighty man. But controlling our emotions and our spirit is a great achievement that requires tremendous discipline just like a warrior.15:28 Verse 33. The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the lord. You know, god is not a god of chance. He is a god of design. And and even that which is done counter to his purposes,15:40 he can and does repurpose for his glory. He is sovereign. Father, we thank you. We thank you that you are sovereign. But, lord, we thank you that you give us a free will to choose whether we15:52 will come in alignment with you and we will accept your grace and your mercy as we embrace your truth. And, lord and and and we're blessed by that when we just trust you.Trusting the Lord and the Sovereignty of God 16:04 And I thank you, lord, that you've not left us to navigate this world on our own, but you've given us the word. You've given us the direction, and we thank you for that. And once again,16:15 we pray that the Holy Spirit would illuminate your word. Help us to know how to apply it to our lives in this world in which we live that we might be changed and that, lord, we might reflect your glory to a watching16:27 world. If we pray and ask this in Jesus' name, amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.16:37 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you16:49 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Power and Importance of Our Words8:00 A Merry Heart and the Attitude That Governs Life14:00 Planning Our Way While Submitting to God's Direction15:00 Standing on Truth, Righteousness, and Biblical Principles16:00 Trusting the Lord and the Sovereignty of God
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