October 28, 2020

Wise Life Lessons #

Proverbs 23:1-8

As we wade into a new chapter, instead of each verse being it’s own proverb, these proverbs are spread out over a couple of verses. Many of the verses go together. Some Bibles indicate paragraph breaks, many do not. Alternatively, you can look for the end of a sentence.

I. Prudence (1-3) (Contentment) #

A. Consider the situation (1) #

i. Who you are – ruler = superior - #

ii. What is going on… why are you dining there? #

“Wining and Dining” – to entertain someone with lavish meals, typically in order to gain their favor in some way, either personally or professionally.
To sway someone through kind treatment.

B. Contain yourself (2) #

i. Don’t be a glutton - “knife to thy throat” - Discipline #

ii. Don’t be fooled by the lavish treatment. #

Many times people who ‘wine and dine’ have to cover up something, causing them to have to wine and dine people to gain sway.
Buying people… it is corruption at the most basic level.

C. Covetousness (3) – “be not desirous” #

i. As you sit to such a meal, you could be deceived into believing that riches provide peace, happiness, and contentment…. #

ii. Peace, happiness, and contentment do not come from riches, or physical possessions. #

Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Contentment is LEARNED -

1Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Contentment is possible with only necessities

Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus is all I need!

II. Perspective (4-5) #

A. Goal – Drive, Desire Man’s Wisdom (4) #

i. Labor not to be rich! - Incredible statement! #

The goal of most people, is to be rich, be a millionaire… have lots of money.
Isn’t that the idea promoted by Hollywood

1Tim. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

B. More, #

Mexican fisherman story

C. Perception… what you see (5) #

i. Many people are so busy in their life, chasing wealth which keeps fleeing from them. They tend to lose what they have, chasing something they cannot catch… #

ii. It is DECEPTIVE! - Eyes will deceive you! #

Which half circle is bigger???? Green, or orange?

#

III. Perversion (6-8) (Corruption) #

Pervert – to turn from truth, to distort from it’s true use, turn from the right, corrupt

A. Corrupt Person - Evil eye (6) used 3x’s (Pro 23:6, 28:22, Mar 7:22) #

i. Evil eye is a corrupt person! #

Matt. 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

ii. Someone who doesn’t follow God… that is all tied to the heart! #

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

iii. He may say all the right things! #

B. Corrupt intentions - Not your friend (7) #

i. Because he has an evil eye, he is corrupt! #

ii. He cannot be trusted. #

That is why we are warned not to eat his bread!
Friendship and fellowship with a person like that, will corrupt you!

C. Corruption - Lose your sweet words (8) #

i. It will make you sick! #

ii. It will corrupt your speech! - #

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”