Today’s Sermon in based on Proverbs 6. In the NIV they are written as follows. Today Pastor Andrew will be speaking of the Wisdom of Christ in Proverbs 6
Part One
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbo.r,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
Part two
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Avoid Laziness and Learn to work hard (vv 1-11)
- Learn your finances skills. Do whatever you can to free yourself from the obligation of co-signing a loan.
- a. Go—to the point of exhaustion— and give your neighbor no rest!
b. Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
c. be like a gazelle and bird fleeing entrapment! - Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
2. Learn the value of a good work ethic. - see the work of the ant, that works hard without being ordered to do so.
- 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
- 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
- 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
3. Do not be lazy! Don’t just let the world pass you by. Learn the value of a dollar.
Avoid Division! Learn to love Unity Vv.12-19
- Do not sow discord.
- Don’t be a wicked person. Everything about them plans evil.
- haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. - Those six things all point the the culminating factor…. one who sows discords in the community.
- Why does God hate discord so much?
Both of these things point us to the wisdom of Christ.
John 17:3-5 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Jesus finished his work, his hard work among the people, bringing unity to them. This is how we see the Wisdom of Christ in Proverbs 6. Through hard work, Jesus showed how despite our differences, we can be one body by showcasing what brings us together. When we do the work of Christ we showcase that unity of spirit. That bond of peace granted to us as believers. This shows us putting the gospel first.
