Pastor Clark Van Wick - Proverbs 27

please be seated amen handyman well let's open our Bibles to proverbs chapter 27 proverbs chapter 27 we of course are in that third and final section of the book dealing with wisdom for leaders it began in chapter 25 and will conclude in chapter 31 and we mentioned that chapters 25 through 29 really deal with a series of parables written by Solomon that was subsequently recorded or rewritten by the men under Hezekiah the 13th king of Judah and under and Hezekiah understood how important that these wisdom parables are for leaders and this is important for each and every one of us because in a very general sense all of us are leaders mom dad co-worker as an employee and employer listen all of us are leading somebody at some time in some way shape or form so these wisdom parables for leaders really is something that is important for each and every one of our hearts now as we come to chapter 27 there are many different things that Solomon deals with in light of this aspect of leaders 18 in all if you're in fact taking notes the first thing that we're encouraged not to do is don't boast don't boast that's in verses 1 & 2 and we you and I need to be very careful not to boast about two things first of all don't boast about tomorrow look at verse 1 Deuteronomy 27 1 do not boast about tomorrow why for you do not know what a day may bring forth now obviously God is not condemning plans for the future look God's given us a brain think we should use it there's nothing wrong with looking forward to the future having a plan looking ahead three four five years kind of a thing and putting together a list of of hopes and desires or steps in the latter we might want to make in light of work or personal lives or whatever that's not the problem no we should definitely plan ahead for the future but at the same time we need to not be boastful thinking like well you know tomorrow I'm gonna do this oh really you have no idea what tomorrow holds look we might not make it home from church tonight and yet we think about tomorrow and I think ultimately we need to take that step back and while we of course make plans we look forward to the future we get our calendar out and planned dates and and events and things like that right on go for it good stuff at the same time we need to take that step back and say okay God here's what I would like to see happen but ultimately I know you're in control and you might not want to see this happen and Lord I'm okay with that you know Isaiah 55 8 and 9 God said my thoughts are not your thoughts my ways are not your ways as high as the heaven is above the earth so too are my thoughts above your thoughts in my ways above your ways look I don't know what God has in store for us tomorrow but I know he's in control of tomorrow so the point for you and the point for me is we need to take that step back and simply be okay being okay with whatever God wants to do and however God wants to do it I like how Pastor Chuck used to put it he said blessed are the flexible for they shall not break and there's a lot of truth to that so number one don't boast about tomorrow number two don't boast about yourself look at verse 2 in Proverbs 27 verse 2 it says let another man praise you and not your own mouth a stranger let them praise you and not your own limbs don't boast about yourself now we'd love to tell it people how wonderful we are don't we we love to tell everybody of our accomplishments and what's going on in fact interestingly enough these last few couple of three weeks I get a ton of Christmas letters from people all over the place and as I'm reading through these letters I'm thinking wow you are amazing my life is just absolutely terrible compared to yours and as I read through the letter all they're doing all their accomplishments the places they go the things they're doing I've vacant man but you know most of them I know so I know it's a lie it's always better when someone else brags about you then yourself why well because when we boast about ourselves we're just a little biased but it is a little tainted we might say you know we look in the mirror we think well that's not so bad I was looking through some old pictures today looking forward to my memorial I'm thinking you know I should probably pull out some of these pictures and get him ready like Pastor Tom did I thought that was a good idea you know and so they don't pick the bad ones I'm gonna pick the good ones and I was looking back at Sally and I over the last you know 37 some ideas and I'm thinking wow this was cool we went here we did that we did this and it and I'm just thinking you know it's so good when other people recognize in our lives the work that God is doing when other people brag about us when other people boast regarding us because they're gonna tell the truth you know what I'm saying back to proverbs 27 let's come to the second the next issue that Solomon deals with and that deals with the cruelty of fools the cruelty of fools look at verses 3 & 4 in verse 3 it says a stone is heavy and sand is weighty but a fools wrath is heavier than both of them now the point is what fools say and what fools do can be very heavy very hurtful very harmful so wisdom says that you and I should not respond to their wrath or literally their provocation and if we're living our life in light of wisdom as a leader whether in the family or job or school or a church wherever we're happening wherever we happen to be leading we might say we need to exercise that wisdom and not respond to their cruelty well look at verse 4 it goes on it says wrath is cruel and anger a torrent but who is able to stand before jealousy now when the fool gets jealous the idea is he can be very angry and very cruel so the rhetorical question that has asked who can stand before him or we might say who can change their mind well the answer is nobody we can't change the fools mind because he's eaten up with jealousy and the cruelty and anger that comes from him is going to keep coming from him because he's a fool so for you and for me there's really no use in trying to step in and try to change that because that needs to be a work of God in their lives we need to take that step back and pray for them and pray that God would touch their heart and really change their life well let's come to the next issue he deals with number three don't conceal love don't conceal love look at verses 5 and 6 in verse 5 it says open rebuke or correction is better than love carefully concealed faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful you know if we really love someone don't conceal the truth from them if they're really our friends if we love them dearly we are going to step up step out and rebuke them or we might say correct them because the paths are going down is the wrong path it's a dangerous path now it might wound them temporarily it might hurt their feelings it might make them feel bad but ultimately if we truly love that friend we're gonna speak the truth to them and you know as a pastor I've had to deal with this many times and you know me I have no problem speaking the truth to anybody I mean I'm just gonna tell it like it is I try to do it in love I try to do it in a compassionate way but at the same time I mean you know the truths got to be the truth you know especially as we teach the Bible because you know the Bible has a lot of unpopular teachings in it these days I don't know if you know that or not but I really appreciate the people who come up and thank me for speaking the truth for saying it like it is not soft-pedaling that are walking around it or just skipping it all together as a lot of churches do today and the same thing trickles down to our lives individually look if we really love our friends if we care for somebody we're gonna speak up we just need to make sure our heart is right our motives are pure and we do it with a spirit of love knowing that we oh well we're just as messed up as they are so be careful not to come across holier than thou we might say well let's come to the next issue I like this one it's to stay hungry the fourth issue is to stay hungry look at verse 7 it says a satisfied soul one who has plenty of food loves the honeycomb even though it's sweet and tasty he doesn't want any because he's already satisfied but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet look when you're hungry everything tastes good follow me but note carefully class at the beginning of verse seven and at the end of verse seven he mentions the soul now we of course can look at this in light of the context being food however there's a spiritual idea that's being presented to you and me because unfortunately as Christians today we get a little saturated with Chris Edom with church things we might say we come to church on Sunday we come on Wednesday maybe we're in the men's ministry Monday night maybe Thursday for the women's ministry maybe home fellowships on Friday or Saturday and maybe the this minute hey we're reading the scripture we're praying and all these things are good and great and grand and glorious but unfortunately with that comes a little bit of well I'd really don't need to hear that again well you know I've studied that book I don't need that one again or well I've heard that sermon before or well we've covered this ground previously rather than having that real hunger for the Word of God like it doesn't matter who's sharing it God's Word is where the power is God's Word is where life is and I believe it could be pointing to the importance of our hungry and thirsting for the Word of God you know Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 verse 6 blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven let's come to the next issue number 5 it deals with a lack of contentment a lack of contentment look at verse 8 it says like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who others from his place now there are those who wander from place to place they always have that mentality that the grass is greener on the other side and they're never content with where they're at with what they have or with who they're are with who they are they're always seeking they're always searching and unfortunately many people today lack contentment because they're seeking and searching in the wrong area they think well if I just had a little more of this or a little more of that well if I can get this job or that job if I can buy this house marry that spouse then somehow I'd be content somehow I would have that satisfaction in my life and there would be a an ease in my spirit you know Paul understood that true contentment came from Jesus Christ in him alone in fact in Philippians 4:11 Paul said I have learned to be content in whatever state I'm in whether I'm full or a base in other words whether I got it all or I got nothing at all I'm absolutely content why because I have eternal life I'm going to heaven and when we come to grips with that simple point now all the sudden it doesn't matter our physical condition our financial condition our family condition man there's a contentment there's just a rest and a peace that comes through the Lord well let's come to the next issue number six don't forsake friends don't forsake friends look at verses 9 and 10 in Proverbs 27 9 it says oink meant and perfume delight the heart and the sweetness of a man's friend does so by hearty counsel therefore we would say verse 10 do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend nor to go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity for better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away look it's good to have friends that live next door we might say it's good to have friends in the family of God as it were why well because oftentimes our family members our own blood relatives well they're not around maybe they've moved out of the area maybe they've passed on and went home to be with the Lord God has brought us together as the body of Christ and we develop friendships if you will and it's a glorious thing because we can count on each other it's so neat getting these Christmas cards from people who used to live here who've moved out of the area maybe another state or in a different County and getting Christmas cards giving me a little update on what's going on in their hearts and in their lives and a and one thing they're just so thankful for the friendships they've made at the barn the the relationships that have been fostered through the body of Christ just wonderful well let's come to the next issue be a wise son that's first number 7b oh hi son look at verse 11 proverbs 27 11 it says my son be wise and make my heart glad why that I may answer him who reproaches me now this is the only verse in chapters 25 through 29 where this little phrase my son is used because of course this section deals with leaders primarily so the idea here the point is that it he's his desire is that his son is wise that he does the right thing that his son acts appropriately because when somebody reproaches him or comes against him the father can stand up for him as a father as a leader of the family we might say so he's encouraging his son to be right so the father the leader of the house could stand up and come against those who reproach or rebuke him number eight here's a good one the eighth issue he deals with it we're to hide from evil were to hide from evil look at verse 12 it says a prudent man foresees evil and hides himself the simple pass on and are punished we saw the same thing back in proverbs 22:3 and the point is powerful the wisest thing we can do in dealing with the world and the things of the world that of course our evil or wicked is to hide from them or we might say avoid them man just turn your back to them because if we don't according to the end of verse 12 there's going to be punishment look if we think listen gang if we think we can do evil be partakers of evil we call it sin if we think we can just do what we want when we want and not experience any consequences to it well we're a fool there's no wisdom in that romans 2 6 says God will render to each man according to his deeds galatians 6:7 says we're going to reap what we sow so for us this is a an important point for us to really recognize how the importance of what it means to do the right thing because if we don't pay day one day now the next issue deals with collateral collateral or surety look at verse 13 it says take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger and hold it in a pledge when he is surety for a seductress in other words if you're gonna lend something money or anything to a stranger or to a seductress make sure you get plenty of collateral plenty of surety because you have no idea if they're gonna pay you back at all number 10 the next issue deals with flattery flattery look at verse 14 he who blesses his friend with a loud voice rising early in the morning it will be counted a curse to him now he's not talking about those who get up real early and wake up the whole household though that certainly is a curse to some no doubt he's just I try to be quiet when I get up in the morning but you know I for some reason I always drop something I clang the pan a glass tips over the more quiet I try to be the the louder I am and Sally comes out what's going on out here you know and I'm sorry I tried to be quiet and it's I'm a curse you know in the morning well but that's not what he's talking about here he's talking about someone with flattering lips someone who praises you with a loud voice so other people can hear them flatter you because ultimately they're only doing that to get something from you and we need to be very careful that's why I liked my mom when she was alive she always flattered me and she wanted nothing in return she always came up and told me how wonderful I was and what a blessing I am and how sweet I I mean I loved her I missed that I don't get that anymore it's usually I call you know Clark you really missed up on that point at one point and you could do much better next time okay fine so be careful with the flattering lips number 11 the 11th issue deals us something I know nothing about it's the contentious woman look at verses 15 and 16 it says a continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike whoever restrains her restrains the wind and Graf's oil with his right hand now obviously know can restrain the wind and if you pour oil in your hand it's not going to stay there it's impossible to grasp oil in your hand it all goes out and it just leaves a little oily residue so since you can't restrain the rent wind and you can't hold oil in your hand neither can you change a contentious or quarrelsome woman now as I mentioned I know nothing about this issue but I can say this I think the point is be very careful who you marry because you're not gonna change them they're gonna be who they are I'll be doing something and Sally goes Clark I go I've been doing this for almost 40 years I am a change what do you mean you know what I'm saying I'm still as messed up that was then she goes when are you going to you know this is what I wear I'm sorry I just have to wipe my hands on my pants I can't get dressed up the point is whoever your future spouse may be look far past the physical to the spiritual because the physical will change or so I'm told and you just need to make sure that the spouse you marry loves Jesus more than they love you you know that's one thing I love so much about Sally she loves Jesus more than she loves me I love Jesus more than I love her which is perfect because we're putting Christ first in our lives in our relationship not only individually that has one flesh ensure we have our ups and downs we have our differences on various things and you know we discuss things vibrantly once in a while okay we yell and scream just kidding only I do but the point is when you put Christ first in your heart and in your life man everything else just simply falls naturally into place well let's come to the next issue number 12 a very familiar verse it involves iron in iron sharpening iron look at verse 17 it says as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friends you know we can have one of two effects on people when we deal with them we can either build them up or tear them down we can sharpen them or dole them we might say so I think the point for us is to be very careful when we deal with other people's make sure that our words are edifying make sure the things we say build up not tear down that we're sharpening them and not doling them let's come to the next issue the next point is to be diligent to be diligent look at verse 18 it says whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit so he who waits on his master will be honored so when we're diligent and faithful in serving our master there's going to be a blessing there's going to be a reward there's going to be fruit we might say and boy what a picture that paints because as we are diligent and faithful to serve Jesus Christ as we put him first in our life there's going to be fruit man he's gonna bear much fruit read John chapter 15 well let's come to the next issue the fourteenth issue and that deals with the heart the heart lagaa verse 19 it says as in water face reveals face so a man's heart reveals the man look when we look into a still body of water we can see the reflection of our face and the point is whatever is in our heart is who we truly are we can put on a good show externally we can say the right words we can do the right things we could even go to the right places but the real question is what's in our heart because that's who we really are and ultimately that's what God looks at for Samuel 16:7 says God doesn't see man the way man sees man for man looks at the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart God knows what's in our heart he knows what's in your heart right now he knows what you're thinking and you better knock it off so for you and for me this becomes an important in fact jesus said in Matthew 12:34 he said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks you know that time when you blow up at somebody when you kind of come unglued and and you say something to go away that's literally what's in our art and this is something to guard against well let's come to the next issue in verse 20 and that is to be satisfied to be satisfied look at verse 20 it says hell and destruction are never full in other words there's plenty of room for people who've turned from God so the eyes of a man are never satisfied the point here is pretty simple when the eyes of man are focused on the world or the things of the world to bring satisfaction to to satisfy that hunger of the soul well hell and destruction are never full they'll never be satisfied now this becomes significant because all of us are created with a hunger an emptiness in fact in Ecclesiastes 3:11 the Bible says that God has put eternity in our hearts so there's an eternal void in our heart and our spirit in Romans chapter 8 verse 20 the Bible says that we are created in futility or emptyness so apparently all of us were created with a hunger a thirst in our heart in our life and unfortunately we try to satisfy that hunger we try to quench that thirst with the world and the things of the world with our eyes we would say as we look to something or some one to bring that satisfaction when the truth of the matter is you can have everything this world has to offer you can have every relationship you've ever wanted and all the money you could ever pile up but none of that will bring satisfaction none of that will quench the hunger of the soul you know Jesus in John chapter 6 verse 35 he said I am the bread of life he who comes to me shall never hunger he who believes in Me shall never thirst only Jesus Christ precious family can quench that thirst can satisfy the hunger that's in each and every one of our hearts and what an important point that is well let's come to the next thing he deals with number 16 to be careful of praise be careful of praise look at verse 21 it says the refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold and a man is valued by what others say of him now the refiners pot typically produces two things as the refiner puts that raw ore in the furnace and heats it up the dross the impurities come to the top and the precious metal settles below so the refiners pot pot produces two things dross or impurities and that which is precious precious metal we might say and apparently so too does the praise of others it can either produce pride or humility so I think there's a caution for all of us here look when someone praises us it's easy to say well obviously you have great discernment and wisdom my friend obviously God has revealed to you this truth of how wonderful I am that's pride there's also false pride to when someone praises you you say well it's only God working through me it's really not me it's God working through me look I understand that there's a false humility in that I think when someone praises us immediately we should say well praise the Lord praise the Lord you know our glory goes to gracias adios I'm in Austin amen man all praise goes to the Lord Baruch Hashem a bit here okay that's Hebrew so for you and for me when anybody praises us we need to take a step back and think about it for just a moment and recognize what Paul said in Romans 7:18 when he said in me that is in my flesh there dwells no good thing and if nothing good is in me certainly nothing good could ever come from me so if anything good happens and it happens to leak out of us all glory goes to God number 17 let's come to the next issue and that involves grinding a fool grinding a fool you say oh yes look at verse 22 proverbs 27 look at verse 22 it says though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pedestal along with crushing grain yet his foolishness will not depart from him now the mortar is the bowl the pedestal is that which they used to grind the grain so you would put grain in this bowl the pedestal and the ore in the mortar and the pedestal would be the the implement that they would grind the grain and if the idea here is pretty simple no matter how hard you grind on a fool he's gonna still be foolish and I think it goes back to the point we made earlier about a fool no matter how much we come against them no matter how much we try to say things to them it's got to be a work of the Spirit in their heart and I think there's a balance in this for our lives because we certainly want to help people and when we somebody somebody acting foolish we want to come along and help them and encourage them and try to point them in the right direction and if God opens the door for that right on so be it but understand that what they're doing is a foolish thing so clearly they're fools so don't expect them to immediately make a u-turn and head in the other direction when you were talking to them because ultimately like it had to be for all of our lives it's got to be a work of God's Spirit that touches their life and changes their heart you know we might be able to change their mind for a short period of time but we can never change their heart and so that's got to be God working in their life so yes we if God opens the door we talked to him we we confront them we try to help them and point them in the right direction but if it doesn't work hey don't feel bad because they're a fool but don't stop praying either continue to pray that God touches their heart and changes their life well let's come to the final thing that we want to deal with in our text and that is to be diligent to be diligent once again he deals with this issue in verses 23 through 27 take a look proverbs 27 23 it says be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herd please hold all my calls for riches are not forever nor does a crown endure to all generations when the hay is removed in the tender grass shows itself and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in the Lambs will provide your clothing and the goats the price of a field you shall have enough goat's milk for your food and the food of your household and the nourishment of your maid servants in other words be diligent take care of what God has entrusted to you because it might not be there forever when it is removed when it is taken away but when we're faithful and diligent to be good stewards of what God's entrusted to us apparently the Lord will continue to provide for us Philippians 4:19 says my God shall provide all your need according to his riches and glory so apparently there's a cause-and-effect relationship going on when we're faithful when we're diligent to take care of what God has entrusted to us maybe our family maybe our jobs maybe our homes our cars whatever it may be God's given all that to us so when we are good stewards of that the idea is there's going to be a blessing in the end you know that's what Jesus said by the way Matthew 25 in beginning of verse 23 and on with the parable of the talents where the rich man was heading out of town he gave five to one two to another and one to another and when he came back the guy with five talents said hey look I've doubled your talents well done good and faithful servant much will be given to you the guy he had two talents he doubled it oh well done good and faithful servant to much is given much will be you know much of much as given to them rather and then the man who only had the one talent he hid it he didn't invest it it didn't take to the bank for interest he said here's your talent back and he said you wicked an evil servant and so I think for us there's this idea to be diligent in what God's entrusted to us and the byproduct will result in more Lord we're so grateful for these few minutes that you've given us that we can just take a look at some of these incredible parables Lord these bits of wisdom for all of us Lord in our hearts and in our lives and Lord we're just so grateful for your word Lord it's so simple but so powerful so practical well it's so personal for each and every one of us and I pray that as we continue just to spend some time reading these parables on our own just pondering the depth of what they mean for our own lives that Lord you would give us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to understand all that you have for us we pray and we ask it in Jesus name Amen amen shall we all stand together if you're here today and if you need prayer for anything at all be sure to come on up after service the pastor's the brothers and the sisters will be up front to pray with you to pray for you and well just minister to any needs you might have and I pray that God would bless each and every one of your hearts watch over you keep you bless you strengthen you and don't forget tomorrow pastor Nick is gonna be having a night of worship be sure to come on out for that and just sing Christmas songs I guess not worship Christmas songs and in both in worship of course so that'll be tomorrow night god bless you guys I love you have a great rest of the week in Jesus you [Music] joyful joyful [Music] hard time for like opening to us [Music] driver [Music] Smith [Music] all your words to favor glory Oh [Music] nation points to see praise resound answer three choices birth of Christ the King Shepherd's kneel before the infant trumpets up and as we try hurts our lives in joining [Music] rejoice rejoice you [Music] we just beat [Music] that's what we celebrate this time god bless you all I prefer you have a wonderful rest of your week I look forward to see you again Sunday morning [Music] you

Channel: Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship

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Keywords: Bible Study, Clark Van Wick, Pastor Clark Van Wick, CCBF, Calvary Chapel, Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship, The Holy Bible, Temecula, The Old Testament, The book of Proverbs

Id: tLTbp2A78Vc

Length: 42min 43sec (2563 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 23 2019