Wisdom, Prosperity, or Foolishness Text: Proverbs 16:1-33
The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. 3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. 4 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. 5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. 6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. 7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. 9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. 10 Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. 11 Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work.12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. 14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it.15 In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. 21 The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 26 The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. 27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. 28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. 30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. 31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
A Few Quotes: A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. A bulldog can whip a skunk, but sometimes it’s not worth it. A clean house is a sign of a misspent life. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. A closed mouth gathers no feet. A diplomat is one who thinks twice before saying nothing. A friend in need is a pest. A husband is someone who takes out the trash and gives the impression he just cleaned the whole house. A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t. A teacher’s job is to take a room full of live wires and make sure they are well grounded. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity. Being young is a fault that diminishes daily. Blessed is he that can laugh at himself, he will never cease to be amused. Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. - Ben Franklin
Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Human responsibility is always subject to God’s absolute sovereignty. Our own plans will come to fruition only if God allows.
James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Proverbs 16:2 NLT People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
I Corinthians 4:4NLT My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
Unto Paul human assessments of him didn’t matter, he was only concerned about what the Lord thought.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.
We must get affirmation from God about our plans. Confirmation from God is always a definite go ahead. (walk in peace)
Proverbs 16:4-5 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. 5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
God’s creative piece ( the very ones God places His DNA in, rebells). The proud in heart, those who do their own thing, and go their own way, He will have final say.
Proverbs 16:6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Exodus 15:13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.
By God’s mercy and truth, He covers our sins, and because of this, sinners are inclined to turn toward Him. ( There’s nothing better than righteousness.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
It’s hard to fight righteousness. However, persecution can still come. II Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.
Go back to Proverbs 15:16 from last week, Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Again, God’s sovereign plans will override the plans of men.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
I Corinthians 3:19-20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Proverbs 16:10 Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
This word “Divination” doesn’t imply any occultic practice, but it literally is a decision from divine wisdom, in the words of the king who represented God. The king was under a mandate to seek out and speak God’s wisdom.
I Kings 3: 9-12 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
Proverbs 16:11 Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work.
God detest dishonesty. Deut. 25:13-16 “You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. 14 You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. 15 You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God.
Proverbs 16:12-13 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right.
Good principles and actions preserve and even exalt a society, their absence shames a society.
Proverbs 16:14-15 NLT The anger of the king is a deadly threat;the wise will try to appease it. 15 When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain.
Kings are powerful, so people are wise to avoid their anger and gain their favor.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
You can have gold and silver and stay stupid, but if you have understanding you will be wise. Wisdom and good judgement lead to wealth, but wealth cannot buy wisdom.
Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
This plain road represents the habitual course of the righteous, and as long as you stay on this road you will stay safe.
Psalm 91:1NLT Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Who’s safety for? Those who stay on the path.
Proverbs 16:18-20 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
Spiritual pride is ‘one’ who resist God, and stubbornly relies on their own strength.
Vs.20...And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
Proverbs 16: 21-23 The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.
Honeyed words reflect intelligence, judiciousness and discernment in speech. The advice from the understanding brings blessings. (wellspring of life.) Fools can’t be corrected, but the wise are always learning.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Pleasant words will heal the mind,soul and body.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Man’s way at best, brings death.
Proverbs 16:26 The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.
Labor is hard and many times it’s grievous, but necessary, even for the lazy.
II Thess. 3: 10-12 NLT Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
The ungodly literally digs a pit for his neighbor as a hunter would for prey.
Proverbs 16:28-30NLT A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. 29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
Scoundrels, troublemakers and violent people all disrupt relationships, creating trouble with their harmful actions.
Proverbs 16:31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. (The word godly is the key.)
Godly people grow in wisdom as they grow older, so their gray hair is a crown.
Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Patience and self control are far more valuable than brute force.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
People in OT days threw dice or drew sticks, but God controlled the outcome. (God’s in control).
KIDS IN CHURCH 3-year-old Reese : 'Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A little boy was overheard praying: 'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One particular four-year-old prayed, 'And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, 'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?' One bright little girl replied, 'Because people are sleeping.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. 'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, ' Ryan , you be Jesus !' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. 'Daddy, what happened to him?' the son asked. 'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, 'Did God throw him back down?' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A wife invited some people to dinner.. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, 'Would you like to say the blessing?' 'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied. 'Just say what you hear Mommy say,' the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, 'Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
