Introduction: Making A Name
In the mid-1800s, Texas rancher Samuel Augustus Maverick refused to brand his cattle. When neighboring cowboys came upon a calf without a brand, they called it a “maverick.” The word entered the English language and came to refer to a person who takes an independent stand and refuses to conform.
Other names have become words that describe a person’s character and behavior: Judas and Benedict Arnold both mean “traitor.” An Einstein is a genius, while a Solomon is a wise man.
Few of our names will become part of a language, but they signify who we are and how we have lived—today and for generations to come. Solomon said, “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. . . . He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:7,9).
When we think of someone we know and admire, the words we associate with that person’s name are usually the character traits we’d like to have as well. Honesty, generosity, and love often head the list. We see these in our Lord Jesus Christ, who allows us as Christians to bear His name.
Today, the Lord wants to work in us to make our name one that points to Him.
Source: David C. McCasland, ODB.org
Thesis: Treasures Of Wickedness Profit Nothing, But Righteousness Delivers From Death.
I. Wisdom Compared to Folly 1-3
A. The Wisdom/Folly Of A Family Man 1
1 ¶ The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
1. Proverbs 10.1 begins the second section of the book of Proberbs.
a. If you have the kind of Bible that is furnished with paragraph markers, you will notice that there are fourteen paragraph markers in the fifteen verses we are going to consider tonight.
b. Normally, that would mean there are fourteen paragraphs and fourteen points to this sermon.
c. Catch your breath!
d. I am just letting you know that we will be looking at short pity, semi-unrelated sentences for quite a while (through chapter 25)
2. Let us look at our family man:
a. He is the son of his father AND mother.
i. Some would say that if our family man turns out well, it is because he had a good father.
ii. Some would say that if our family man turns out poorly, it is because he had a bad mother.
iii. That is NOT the interpretation of verse 1.
b. Rather we should look at Mom and Dad as a unit.
i. A wise son is a joy to both.
ii. A foolish son is a grief to both.
3. Let us move from the family man with this last thought.
a. Good family men come from:
i. Good two parent homes
ii. Good single parent homes
iii. Bad two parent homes.
iv. Bad single parent homes.
b. Bad family men:
i. Good two parent homes
ii. Good single parent homes
iii. Bad two parent homes.
iv. Bad single parent homes.
c. What are you trying to say?
i. Sometimes, whether or not a child grows into a good man or a bad man is in spite of rather than because of his parents.
ii. We all know of siblings who are polar opposites (one good – one bad) but they have the same parents.
B. The Wisdom/Folly Of A Businessman 2
2 ¶ Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.
1. Over and over in this book and in THE BOOK, God warns against the treasures of the wicked.
a. Solomon warned his children against running to shed innocent blood.
b. Solomon warned his children against throwing their lot in with the wicked.
c. Solomon warned his children against having a heart that devised evil.
2. On the other hand
a. Solomon encouraged his children in the way of righteousness – no death.
b. Solomon encouraged his children in the way of righteousness – much treasure.
c. Solomon encouraged his children in the way of righteousness – no death.
d. Both the wise and the foolish die
i. The foolish leaves his wealth to others.
ii. The wise dispenses and disperses his wealth will yet living.
C. The Wisdom/Folly Of A Spiritual Man 3
3 The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
1. When I read this verse, my mind immediately jumped to the Psalms – in particular a Psalm of David.
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”
—Psalms 37:25
2. There is no way for me to prove what I am about to suggest to you.
a. Wouldn’t it be one of the coolest things in the world if King David’s psalm was the inspiration for this verse?
b. It would mean King David taught it to King Solomon who in turn taught it to King Rehobaom and God the Holy Spirit taught it to us!
D. The Comparison Is Clear:
1. The wise man is a wise man by choice.
2. The foolish man is foolish by choice.
II. Industry Compared to Laziness 4-5
A. The Slacker 4
4 ¶ He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
1. No matter what industry you find yourself in you will generally find two kinds of people:
a. Those you can count on no matter what – the gatherer
b. Those you cannot count on at all – the slacker
2. What does King Solomon say about the slacker?
a. The slacker will become/stay poor.
b. The slacer will be a son who causes shame.
B. The Gatherer 5
5 ¶ He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
1. What does King Solomon say about the gatherer?
a. The gatherer will become rich.
b. You don’t need the trappings of weath to be rich.
c. People who go to bed hungry at night thing we are rich because we not only eat, we eat whatever we want.
2. The gatherer is a wise son
a. Do we break our arms patting ourselves on the back just because we have a job and can keep the lights on?
b. Isn’t that kind of an oxymoron?
c. Beginning with Adam, God commanded us to WORK
i. Before the Fall
“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”
—Genesis 2:15
ii. After the Fall
“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."”
—Genesis 3:19
C. The Comparison Is Clear
1. Industry equals a full belly.
2. Laziness equals a belly ache and a heartache.
D. Application To The Church
Illustration
III. Anamnesis Compared to Amnesia 6-8
6 ¶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 ¶ The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
8 ¶ The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.
A. The Name Of The Righteous Is Written In Stone 6a, 7a, 8a
1. The head of the righteous is blessed 6a
2. The memory of the righteous is blessed 7a
3. Why? The righteous receive the LORD’s commands 8a
B. The Name Of The Wicked Is Not 6b,7b,,8b
1. The wicked is covered by violence . 6b
2. The name of the wicked rot. 7b
3. The rock headed man with a mouthful of rocks will not prosper. 8b
C. The Comparison Is Clear:
1. The righteous are blessed.
2. The wicked are condemned.
IV. Integrity Compared to Corruption 9-11
9 ¶ He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 ¶ He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.
11 ¶ The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
A. The Honorable
1. Are secure 9a
2. Are a well of life 11a
B. The Corrupt
1. Have perverted ways 9b
2. Cause trouble 10a
3. Notice 10b and 8b are the same – what is that thing about repetition?
4. Notice 11b and 6b are the same.
a. King Solomon is steering his children away from violence.
b. King Solomon does not want his children to be babblers.
C. The Comparison Is Clear:
1. The king’s children are raised to be honorable.
2. The king’s children are raised not to be corrupt.
3. Are we not children of The King?
Illustration
V. Hatred Compared to Love 12-15
12 ¶ Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
13 ¶ Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
14 ¶ Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 ¶ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
A. Love
1. Covers all sins 12b
2. Love and wisdom go hand in hand 13a
3. Wise and loving people are knowledgeable 14a
4. Wise people take care of their wealth 15a
B. Hatred
1. Stirs up strife 12a
2. The foolish hate correction and lacking understanding 13b
3. The foolish run their mouths to point of destruction 14b
4. No matter how much instruction – some people will be poor 15b
C. The Comparison Is Clear:
1. God created us to love Him and love others.
2. God wants us to hate sin and the devil
VI. Conclusion
