Proverbs 6 Lazy Content

The Proverbial sluggard… are you Lazy or Content?

If the Apostle Paul had “followed his heart” and “pursued his dreams” he would have ministered exclusively to the Jews and missed his calling to the Gentiles.

This is just one of countless examples where conventional worldly wisdom has entered into the church and distorted our understanding and values. The modern church teaches things Jesus actually taught against. Things the apostles and early church would have found both foreign & carnal.

Modern Christians pursue self-focused ambitions by either twisting the scriptures away from their intended meanings or through plain ignorance of what their bible teaches.

We are told “God will give you the desires of your heart” and “without a dream, people will fail” or “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord…” all in an attempt to place God’s seal of approval on our flesh driven pursuits, but what do the scriptures REALLY say?

Christians who are content with what they have are accused of lacking ambition, while those who openly pursue materialism are praised and celebrated.

In tonight’s installment of ‘Thru the Bible’ we examined Proverbs 6 which contains many truths and instructions, but the one that stood out among the rest was the teaching on the sluggard. So we dove into that topic – taking a 30,000’ view of scripture in order to seek out the whole counsel of God’s word on the topic and the results expanded our teaching to include the topics of laziness, ambition, contentment, needs, desires, pursuits, dreams, materialism, God’s will & the kingdom of God.

The findings may surprise you! At very least we arrived at a more informed grasp of God’s thoughts on these issues which for a true follower of Christ is a win regardless!

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Response Good Works

The Response of Good Works

We covered several things in this message but predominantly we addressed our response to oppressions & trials.

James encourages us towards patience and good works, but words like these are not typically embraced by modern Christians. Even our T-shirts represent sentiments which the Apostles and the early church would have never believed came from a child of God. Things such as “don’t test the Jesus in me” and “I’m forgiven… not perfect!” or “the Jesus in me is about to beat up the devil in you”.

While in most cases I don’t honestly believe they mean these things seriously, they reveal a heart that is NOT in submission to Christ. Plain and simple!

I am not at all convinced that most modern Christians take their need to suffer insults and injury from the world and count it a privilege, rather than a means for justified retribution. But James nevertheless encourages patience and good works as does Peter. Additionally Paul takes it further in his letter to the Philippians by telling us that to count all opposition an honor to suffer for Christ.

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Rejoice Wife Youth

Rejoice with the wife of your Youth

This Proverb is actually quite explicit in terms of solid advice regarding sex and the blessings of the same if enjoyed in the sanctity of marriage.

The advice of course extends to virtually all other arenas of life as well, but is targeted by David towards the weakness of his son Solomon – which was women.

This not only offers sound wisdom, but also demonstrates it by revealing that David knew his son and spoke into his world words of instruction and wisdom which were highly tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of his son!

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Friendship world hostility

Friendship with the world is hostility towards God

James has been building up to a point where he can confront these Jewish believers in their sin.

In chapter 3 he told them that if they were self seeking, envious with bitter jealousy then they were a child in the faith and carnal with character that is both unproven and unapproved.

So when James begins chapter 4 he starts with the statement that is essentially saying…
“All of these things being true you tell me where are all of your fights and Wars and jealousies and outbursts coming from?”

Of course he points out that their friendship with the world is violence towards God.

Furthermore, if they – even as Christians – are determined to maintain that worldly alliance, they are making themselves God’s enemy!

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Clog Spout Life

Don’t clog the Spout where the Life comes out!

Proverbs 4 has everything to do with the heart. Its receptivity, its hunger, its trust, its purity, its treasures & how well it is guarded!

We established a very clear line between the teachings of this chapter (especially the later part), the teachings of James and the words of Jesus in Matthew 12 & Mark 11. Taken all together these teach a very well rounded lesson on the heart, the importance of treasuring God’s word and guarding the heart, trust and our words.

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