The Footings for Living Well

Introduction

And yes, school is rapidly approaching, and I do some things sometimes in preaching that relate to this time of year and things kids need to be thinking about as they go to school. Now, this may be the closest thing I do in that vein, what I’m talking about tonight. Young people, there are some thoughts here for you to consider as you begin another year and live among your peers, which can be a very challenging thing. Let me give you some things to think about tonight as we look into the Proverbs tonight. The majority of the Proverbs were written by Solomon. And rightfully so, because you remember that he was endowed with great wisdom from God because that was his request of all the things he could have asked for.

And that wisdom has been preserved for us in the Proverbs. And if I might summarize what the Proverbs are all about, I think of construction, I think of the footings or foundation of a building or a house, and what the Proverbs do for us is give us the foundation or the footings of a life well lived. I find the study of the Proverbs probably the most frustrating of all the scripture because I’m big into memorization. You tell me what’s you ask me what’s going on in Philippians, I can tell you what each chapter is about. 1 Corinthians that we’re studying, I can do the same. But the Proverbs, it’s hard to follow. There are so many passages about the tongue, and we’ll be looking at some of those tonight, but they’re not all grouped together in the same chapter.

Wouldn’t that be beneficial for memorization for that to be the case? Or passages about child rearing and disciplining kids. They’re again sprinkled throughout. It’s not that they were compiled in a haphazard manner. In fact, I think there is some semblance of form to the way that they were grouped together. And that’s sort of what we’re looking at tonight in the midsection of the Proverbs. Did I say Psalms earlier? I wanted to say Proverbs. I was thinking Psalms. Did I say Psalms? We’re in Proverbs tonight. Follow the slides. I’m a little overwhelmed by this sermon anyway, because we’re going to be looking at 17 Proverbs specifically. That means this sermon has 17 points. No, it’s not going to be an hour and a half long. We’re going to look at these very quickly.

That means the memorization of the material has been difficult for me that I’m going to present to you tonight. But again, it’s sort of like a Proverbs, this sermon is, because it’s hard to get a grasp of this material. And perhaps I’ll give you a little bit of a framework tonight that will help you.

1. Two Ways in the Choices of Our Life

Light. So we will be looking at some wisdom warnings in the section of chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15, looking at 17 specific proverbs that I think are very helpful in building a proper foundation for our lives. The first will come from chapter 12, the first four Proverbs. And one of the reasons why these Proverbs may have been linked together in this section or segment is because each of them have to do with two ways that we are confronted with in regard to the choices of our life. There are two options. And you cannot sit back and say, well, I’m just not going to choose. No, you make a choice. The choice to not choose is to choose the wrong path. So there is a choice that you will make in regard to these two paths that are at your disposal in life.

And I want to look at four verses in the middle section of chapter 12. The first is verse 18. There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword. That’s one option. But the tongue of the wise brings healing. So much is said about the tongue in Proverbs, and we’re going to be looking at a few more in chapter 15. James is a book in the New Testament that’s often called the Proverbs of the New Testament. And so we shouldn’t be surprised to see what being emphasized in the book of James. Well, there’s a lot of instruction about the tongue. We should give careful attention to the things that we say, because the one who speaks rashly, what is the result, the possible result of that?

It’s like thrusts of a sword. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty intense. That’s a pretty graphic illustration, is it not? The thrust of a sword. Our words can wound or they can heal. And thus we need to give careful consideration to the tongue. The next verse, as it speaks of two ways, verse 19. Truthful lips will be established forever. But a lying tongue is only for a moment. God expects our words to be consistent with what is true and with what is right. Lying is an abomination to God. We live in a culture of liars. People will lie through their teeth if they think it benefits them. But did you notice what this passage says about the liar and its payoff? It’s only for the moment.

Speaking truth sees you through. Seeing, speaking truth, he says, will cause you to be established forever.

And how important this is. And why it’s so greatly to be appreciated by us. Because what happens here? We speak truth. We speak the ultimate truth that there is. We demand that truth be taught in the pulpit. We sing truth to one another as we’ve done tonight. This is a place where lies are not welcome. This is a place of truth. And that makes it significant and important and to be appreciated simply upon the basis of the truth that is spoken here. This is not a lie. This is not a facade. This is not a fabrication. This is truth. Next verse 20. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil. But counselors of peace have joy. Those who devise evil and trick and scheme, that’s one possible choice.

But there is a more rewarding choice out there. That’s to be one who is a unifier, a healer, or a helper. You know when you’ve made a situation better by what you’ve contributed to it, the words that you have spoken, the comfort that you have given, the encouragement that you’ve given, it causes you to feel good, doesn’t it? To walk away joyfully. Counselors of peace have joy. Finally, verse 21 in this section of two ways. These are representative. In fact, the last verse, if you look down at verse 28, though it’s not on the screen, really is the summary of this two way section. In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Verse 21. No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

Now, I want to stop and spend a second here. No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Somebody said, that’s not been my experience. What about Psalm 73? I mean, the psalmist there is bemoaning the fact that the wicked are happy and fat and the righteous are suffering. So how do we reconcile the wisdom of Proverbs 12 and verse 21 and the bemoaning of the circumstances of Asaph in Psalm 73? Again, these are maxims. These are truisms. These are things that are generally true. And here’s the point. The one who adopts the righteous course generally steers himself or herself away from trouble.

There’s another proverb, not in the Bible, but one that my mom used to parrot to me all the time, and thus I still remember it 30 something years later. Oh, she’s full of sayings. I tell people she’s got more sayings than Carter has liver pills. And so then I used to ask her when she said that, what in the world does Carter have liver pills? What does that all is that all about? But it became a saying when Carter’s liver pills were good for what ailed you. And so I always said, my mom has more sayings than Carter has liver pills. But one of the sayings that she has, and again, I don’t know what Carter’s liver pills really were used for. Some of our older ladies over here might be able to tell us.

I don’t know.

Here’s what she used to say. Nothing good ever happens after midnight. You ever heard that proverb? That’s not in the Bible, but you’ve heard a lot of people say it. And generally that’s so.

Have you ever heard about people going the wrong way on I-45? Near the woodlands. I don’t know why it happens near the woodlands, but on I-45 near the woodlands, and it usually around midnight or after, some drunk person gets on I-45 going the wrong way, head-on collision, somebody dies, and it’s usually not the person that was drunk. If there was any justice, you would think that would be that way. Well, here’s a story. Some of you may have heard in the latter stages of June of the death of Philip Lutzenkirken. Now that caught my attention when it made the news because Philip Lutzenkirken was a very talented tight end for the University of Auburn football team. Played on the national championship team with Cam Newton. He actually went to high school with the daughter of a friend of mine that I went to Florida College with.

He actually tried to date this girl. And she didn’t go out. But let me tell you what happened to Philip Lutzenkirk. He was in a Chevy Tahoe with three of his friends. He wasn’t the one driving. He was in the back seat of the Tahoe. And all of them had been drinking. They came to a T intersection and failed to stop. They went through that intersection. They went through two ditches, flipped, and the car traveled some 40 feet in the air, ending up in a churchyard, ironically. But what was tragic was that the driver was partially ejected from the vehicle and he was killed. And Philip Lutzenkirchen was totally ejected from the vehicle and he was killed. Young people in their early 20s. His blood alcohol content was measured at the scene.

2. The Fruits of Your Conduct

Young people who had no idea of what was going to befall them that night. I think that’s an illustration of this proverb in Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 21. You put yourself in harm’s way, and the odds of trouble coming your way increase. Now let’s go to chapter 13. Because here he changes from the projection of two ways to the fruits of your conduct, or what are the results of the choices that you make. And understand that whatever course you choose, there are certain results that will likely accompany those choices. Like the previous illustration of the Lutzenkirchen incident and the four people that had that tragic crash. Also in the news very recently, and of course I see sports things that happen, is the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

And if you don’t know who that is, that’s the young man who got in a wreck with Tony Stewart in a race. And because he felt like Tony Stewart had done him dirty, he got out of his car and went down into the track where the racers were coming by. And for some reason, Tony Stewart, the rear end of Tony Stewart’s car, hits Kevin Ward Jr. And drags him to his death. And it’s a tragedy. And of course, the whole NASCAR sport is, of course, affected by what happened with one of their most popular drivers, Tony Stewart. The question is, will he be charged with some kind of crime for the death of Kevin Ward Jr.? And of course, Kevin Ward Jr.’s family is all up in arms about what has happened, and all kinds of accusations are made against Tony Stewart.

There’s people coming to the defense of Tony Stewart, but it was just an accident. But let’s say, okay, it’s completely an accident. Tony Stewart has to live with this the rest of his life. He killed a man while he was driving a vehicle. And whether you do that with some intent or some malice or whether you do that happens merely as an accident. I don’t want to hit somebody with a vehicle. And I certainly don’t want to be responsible for their death. And so I don’t know how much Tony Stewart might have been at fault or might not have been at fault. If he got a little bit too close to Kevin Ward Jr. to make a point and then it ended up being a tragedy.

I don’t know. But I have this to tell you. Kevin Ward Jr. made a big mistake. You don’t walk down a track toward speeding cars, because when you do that, you are perilously close to being hit by one of those cars. The question that a lot of people have raised is why is he walking down toward those racers as they’re coming by in race cars? That’s a very dangerous decision to make. And while he didn’t deserve to die, and hopefully Tony Stewart didn’t get too close to him on purpose, the fact is you put yourself in harm’s way by some of the choices that you can make. And so let’s look at some verses that talk about the results of conduct. And again, these are grouped together, Proverbs 13 and verse 19.

Desire realized is sweet to the soul. But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. Sometimes you can’t talk the foolish person out of his foolish ways. It is an abomination to them to consider that the path they’re on is foolish and the results will be catastrophic. But when desire is realized, that is a pleasant and sweet thing. And the reason why I brought up this verse is because our desire realized well, as Christians, sweet to the soul does not begin to describe our ultimate bliss. But here’s the proverb that really got me in this whole sermon tonight, wise or unwise. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. Hey, that sounds like a New Testament verse.

Be not deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals. And that’s why I use this as a springboard for this entire lesson, because young people, I want you to pay attention to this verse. Mark it and know it as well as you know 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 33. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. The next verse. Verse 21 of Proverbs 13. Adversity pursues sinners. But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity. Much like the proverb we’re not going to quote in tonight’s lesson the way of the transgressor is hard. Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous, the result of their conduct is that they will be rewarded with prosperity. And particularly that was true in the Old Testament, where God promised the righteous that if they would be faithful and loyal to him, that they would have bountiful harvest.

But our harvest under the new covenant is not material or physical, but spiritual. And thus we’re given such blessings as the meek shall what? Inherit the herb. And so there is prosperity for the righteous. Verse 25.

3. Choose Well

But the stomach of the wicked is in want. That’s the prodigal son story summarized in Proverbs. The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in one. That’s vindication for David’s 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. This is Jesus’ beatitude corroborated. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Well, that summarizes what’s going on in chapter 13 in this segment in regard to the fruits of conduct. Now, I want to take the last two segments together, chapters 14 and 15, that have to do with choosing wisely or choosing well in our lives. There are 68 Proverbs in this section that suggest that choosing pleasing behavior to the Lord is always good.

It’s always best. Now, it doesn’t mean when you choose well and when you observe these footings of a life well lived, it doesn’t mean that you won’t experience any pain whatsoever. It doesn’t promise that you will not experience any hardship. And it doesn’t argue that when you choose wisely, that the most pleasurable result will occur immediately. Sometimes when you choose poorly, there is a pleasure payoff, however temporary it may be. It may not be the most pleasurable choice in the moment. But, as Paul would tell Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 4, if you take pains with these things and be absorbed in them, your progress will be evident to all, and you will ensure salvation, both for yourself and for those who hear you. Well, let’s look at four Proverbs in chapter 14, and then we’ll move quickly to chapter 15.

Choose well.

Beware lest you are led by the blind. The blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 14 tells us. The Corinthians were formerly led to serve idols in their pagan days before they became the Israel of God. 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 2. And we are admonished in 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 21 to examine everything carefully. Don’t be naive. Don’t be led along by others without questioning. Examine everything carefully. Hold fast to that which is good. A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil. But a fool is arrogant and careless. You know, you can’t tell a fool anything. He’s not going to listen. He’s going to proceed on the course that he wants to proceed on, and it doesn’t matter what anybody else says because he’s arrogant, because he’s careless, because he’s not the wise, cautious man who turns away from evil.

He’s motivated by an overinflated view of himself. Verse 29. He who is slow to anger has great understanding. But he who is quick tempered exalts folly. Now that is on the heels of a statement in verse 17 that we skipped over that says, a quick-tempered man acts foolishly. And that’s a segue to this verse. Burning out of control anger leads to folly. You know, you don’t make a lot of great decisions when your anger is burning out of control. Have you ever noticed when you are really hot, that sound thinking and good decisions don’t usually coincide with that. That’s when we say all the wrong things in all the wrong circumstances. That kind of anger interferes with sound judgment. Verse 30. A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.

4. Watch the Tone in Which You Say Things

This proverb extols peace and contentment in one’s approach to life, which can be very elusive. Unbridled passion. And following one’s whims can eat a person alive. Let’s move quickly to chapter 15 and notice several proverbs there. And again, these are just some things for you to consider, some proverbs for you to write down and circle and think about some more and their application to your life. Better watch the tone in which you say things. How you say things are important. There are several proverbs about the tongue in Proverbs chapter 15. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Put the filter in place before you speak. Is this gentle? You can’t buy that at Amazon. You can buy almost everything else at Amazon.

But you cannot buy the is this gentle filter that you need to put in place in regard to your words. The sacrifice of the wicked, verse 8, is an abomination to the Lord. But the prayer of the upright is his delight. We’ve been making this point lately. 1 Corinthians 13, 1 through 3 makes the point. God doesn’t want worship for worship’s sake. We must not be pleased with worship merely because that’s what it is. Because we do it, quote, in honor of God. Is our life consistent with our worship? What we profess with our lips when we’re here in this place. We have sung songs about thanksgiving tonight, some beautiful songs, I might add, Daniel. But is that reflective of a life of thanksgiving as we strive to implement the ingredients we talked about in this morning’s lesson?

Does our thankfulness carry over into our approach to everyday living? The prayer of the upright. It doesn’t mean that the person is absolutely perfect all the time, without exception. Sometimes we sin and fall short. But the general course is his uprightness. He prays out of sincerity when he makes his plea to God, and the prayer of the upright is his delight. Two more verses about our words. A man has joy in an apt answer. And how delightful is a timely word. Do you want to be known as someone who says the encouraging thing, who says the kind thing? Or do you want to be known as the one who’s always thrusting the sword? As we saw earlier, cutting people down and tearing people down with what we say.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer. But the mouth of the wicked pours forth or pours out evil things. I’ve said this before in relation to the tongue. The distance from here to here is not very far and not very long. A thought that we have can get to our tongues just that quick. The righteous takes the time. The righteous person takes the time to consider the speaking of this thought and the impact that it could have. Look, may I suggest to you something particularly that’s true that I’ve noticed in the last 10 years of my preaching that perhaps I didn’t notice as much in the last 20 years of my preaching? And it’s this. You ready for this revelation? I got your attention, you’re awake again.

People are sensitive. Did you know that?

People are very sensitive. You know, you can joke around with people. I see Thad through the window. I joke around with him all the time. And Scott, I pick on those guys. And I do that because I know that we can do that with each other, and they’ll pick on me. But you know, if you pick on somebody too much, it’s not pleasurable anymore. And all of us are sensitive to some degree. And some people are more sensitive than others. You know, you start criticizing my preaching right and left, and I’ll get a little bit sensitive. Because it’s my life’s work and vocation. Anybody can get a little sensitive. And we certainly live in sensitive times. And so we need to give consideration about the words that we speak and consider the impact of what we’re saying, because people can be very fragile.

Well, you’ve listened well. And so I want to come to the final verse. I’ve actually chosen five in chapter 15. He who neglects discipline despises himself. But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. You know, that’s what we’ve done tonight. We’ve listened to the instruction of wisdom from the Proverbs and acquired understanding about how to live our lives well. Don’t neglect discipline. You know, discipline, we look at discipline as, well, mom and dad, perhaps laid a licking on my backside. I got just a few of those when I was a kid. A little bit of seriously. Not that many, but I remember some of them. But that’s not really what this passage is talking about. Sometimes there is that kind of correcting discipline, but things that cause us to harness our lives in a positive, profitable, godly direction.

5. Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart

He who neglects discipline, despised himself. Our willingness to subject ourselves to the discipline of teaching and instruction makes us wise and profits us in our lives. Well, what is the foundation for all of this? I think the most significant proverbs that really set the table for all the Proverbs that we’ve looked at tonight. Can you guess where I’m going in the Proverbs? I probably quoted these verses more than any other in the Proverbs. Where am I going? Proverbs 3, 5, and 6. And verses 7 and 8. I like them all four together.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. You know, you’ve got to believe that it is the wisest choice. Let me go ahead and give you point number one that I wanted to make in conclusion of this. It is the wisest thing to listen to God. His instruction is what is right. It is what is best. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. It is never safe to set aside God’s wisdom or to set aside instruction and say, no, I think I’m going to go this way. I’m going to go my own way. Don’t do that. Do not lean on your own understanding. Where did that get us, by the way? Into sin and rebellion and a lost state that only God could fix.

That’s what happens when you lean on your own understanding. Instead, in all your ways, and that, what does that leave out? In all your ways, acknowledge him. And he will direct your steps. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. His instruction is right, and if I will observe it, he will see me through and reward me for my effort. He will help me, he will assist me in this journey of wanting to put together a well-constructed life upon the proper footings. He will see me through and he will reward me. And finally, my allegiance to him. It makes sense.

Conclusion

It enriches my life. Let us listen to him. That’s all I had tonight. If there’s someone in this audience who needs to respond to the invitation of our Lord and to do so by making these things the foundation and footing of a life well lived. If we can assist you in that, won’t you come as we stand and sing together?