Wise Perspectives Series

Wise Perspectives

(Proverbs 29:12-17, 26)

1. A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter Amanda to answer the phone. And kids view the world differently sometimes. Literally. She answered the phone obediently, "Hello, this is Amanda. Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."

[source: atimetolaugh.org].

2. Children have interesting perspectives for sure. Little children cover their eyes and think they are invisible because no one can see them. Your perspective on life and society greatly affect the way you view and live life.

Main Idea: Wise perspectives incubate wise actions.

I. A Wise Perspective on LEADERSHIP (12,14, 16, 26)

A. A ruler’s CABINET will determine whether his administration is conscientious or CORRUPT (12, 16).

1. “Courtiers adjust themselves to the prince—when they see that deception and court flattery win the day, they learn how the game is played.” (Ross)

2. Like the Michiah situation

3. Corrupt government sets a tone (16); if the higher ups circumvent the law, there is nothing wrong with the rest of us doing the same.

4. Peter Drucker’s principle about getting good folks and giving them freedom.

B. A GOOD King demonstrates character by concern for the poor (14).

• Justice evidences itself when we do what is right for those who cannot compensate us in any way.

C. Some expect a ruler to do what only GOD can do (26).

II A Wise Perspective on Our SHARED Humanity (13).

A. We are all made of the SAME stuff and not that different from one another.

1. The contrast between the poor and the heartless oppressor.

2. The oppressor fails to recognize the intelligence (light) and human dignity of the one being oppressed.

3. Interesting: when people oppress, abuse, or take advantage of someone, they tell themselves that the person deserved it. That’s how we live with our wrongs.

4. I’ve seen it play out many times in marriages, parent/child relationships, church conflicts, conflicts at work, broken friendships, and obviously politics.

5. Our conscience reroutes things so that we can consider our wrong-doing as reasonable and justified. We quickly build a case to ourselves.

Romans 2:15, “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”

B. We are part of a new humanity because we are in CHRIST, but we still share the human condition with others.

C. Choosing to remember our shared humanity should make us COMPASSIONATE.

1. Jean-Paul Sartre (sar-truh) said that “hell is other people.” Terrible anit-social!

2. Most children begin developing empathy at ages 4 and 5. Until then, they view others from own viewpoint. Some people never develop empathy as they should.

3. The next step is to develop empathy for people not like us; differing age groups, race, economic class, nationality – we tend to be tribal.

4. Hitler convinced many that the Jews were on a lower level of humanity, white supremacists, Muslims view non-Muslims as second-rate human beings.

5. This is part of sinful human nature, nothing new to us. We all do it to some degree. But disciples of Jesus Christ are called to be different by God through this proverb.

6. We need to remember that our political, theological, and sociological opponents are just as human as we and are not to degrade them, but we simply disagree.

7. Acts 10:34, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality...”

D. Being human is a privilege; it may make our sins more understandable, but it does not EXCUSE them.

III. A Wise Perspective on DISCIPLINING Our Children (15, 17)

A. Discipline is mostly about STRUCTURE (routine) and CONSEQUENCES.

According to WebMD, “Family routines can reduce the chances of a child showing symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and other behavior disorders. According to one study, low levels of family routine are tied to oppositional defiant disorder, in which children are hostile and resentful. Researchers say that problem behavior is more common among children who don't have consistent morning routines, mealtimes, bedtime, and homework time.”

Routines are good for us in many ways, and improve our level of happiness, health, sleep, and lower stress.

People without routines, IMO, are given to drama, conflict, and instability.

B. These texts imply two TYPES of discipline.

1. CORRECTIONAL discipline to correct behavior (15)

2. DIRECTIONAL discipline with a view toward adulthood (17)