2/17/12 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
2/17/12 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Friday, February 17, 2012
Proverbs 10:19-32 Key Verse: 10:29
“The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. “
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your word that is a light unto my path and a healing balm to my soul. Thank you for being there and comforting my heart. You have blessed me so much, but the greatest blessing is knowing you and meditating on your truth and your love. I pray that you help my kids to have a vine and branch relationship with you. My Steve and James have a vine and branch relationship with you. Please help us to develop into a ministry that has knowing Jesus and 1:1 Bible study and shepherding at its core and with all members experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus gives. Please help us to accept one word of God through this passage. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
1. Fools and wickedness (19-26).
Verses 19-26, “1Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. 22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it. 23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. 24 What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. 25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. 26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them. “
Let’s face it, according to the Bible, fools lack wisdom. Their ignorance leads to wickedness. Fools multiply sins with their words. They find pleasure in evil. Fools are overtaken by the punishment they fear. When the storms of life come, they are swept away. Unless fools repent and seek God, they will die in their foolishness.
I thank God for calling me out of my foolishness. I was a fool without Jesus. I consistently chose the foolish way, that was leading me to fruitlessness and eternal destruction. My foolish ways were also ruining my health. I would have died decades before my time, if Jesus had not intervened. I really had no solid wisdom to share with anyone. I lacked self-confidence and I knew that I nothing of importance to share with anyone. Maybe that is why I stammered from 1971-1987. but God had mercy on me.
But Jesus came to me and taught me his wisdom. Through Bible study and many lessons in life and through inner suffering, Jesus taught me his wisdom. After 26 years in Jesus I feel that I am just scratching the surface in knowing Jesus’ wisdom. but the limited amount I have been given has really been a blessing to my life and my heart. Jesus gave me his eternal truth and this truth guides my mind, my heart and my steps. I need to dig deep and find God’s wisdom and live by it. This takes a concerted effort, but I must do it. I also pray for the young people of this nation, not to settle for foolishness , but go for the gold, and find God’s wisdom that will lead them out of foolishness and into the life of God.
2. The righteous (27-32).
Verses 27-32 read, “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. 29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. 30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. 31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. 32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”
Godly wisdom is much more than pithy sayings. It forms the spiritual and moral character in a person. It leads to righteousness. In contrast to a fool, a righteous person has hope and joy. He stands firm in the storms of life. He speaks the fruit of wisdom. All of this is possible because he fears the Lord and follows his ways. We must fear God and allow his word to change and direct how we think and live.
I need to let the truth of God take deep root in my heart and change me from within. I need to allow the wisdom of God to make me into a new creation and let it guide my paths. I can trust the wisdom of God, to do its transforming power in me. As the song says, “God is good all the time. All the time God is good.” Trust the Lord and be blessed. The fear of the Lord, has added years to my life. I used to poison my body with vices. I used to work in the specialty chemical company full of chemical fumes. I was always stressed with an unhealthy stress. But God has given peace and health. God has given me hope. I have hope for my kids and ministry. Because of Jesus I can take deep root in the land, in DeKalb, in our ministry, at the hospital. But mostly deep root in Jesus. And like I said previously, Jesus has taught me what to say and how to say it so that I can be a blessing to others. All these do not make me righteous , but they are the fruit of righteousness.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be truly wise by fearing you and following your ways.
One Word: Thank you Lord, for leading me along the paths of the righteous.
Interact with us using Facebook