Proverbial Wisdom

INTRO.- Quips and quotes.

- We could learn a lot from crayons ... some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors ... but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

- I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

- It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.

- The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. Mark Twain

- Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.

- The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. Mark Twain

- If you’re not lighting any candles, don’t complain about the dark.

- My mind works like lightning...one brilliant flash and it is gone!

- You are not fully dressed until you wear a smile.

- God heals, and the doctors take the fee. Ben Franklin

- Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of. Ben Franklin

- There never was a good war or a bad peace. Ben Franklin

- Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln

- If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. Milton Berle

- We all love a good loser – if it isn’t us.

- Sometimes a smile happens in a flash, but the memory of it often lasts forever.

- Don’t forget that appreciation is always appreciated.

- Air travel is wonderful. It lets you pass motorists at a safe distance.

- The average shopping cart will hold one kid and a week’s wages.

- Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

- Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Mark Twain

- Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!

- Man cannot live by chocolate alone - but woman can!

- People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.

- Insanity is heredity (or hereditary) — you get it from your kids.

- The secret of dealing successfully with a child is not to be its parent.

1- Pleasantness – 16:21, 24

2- Perversity – 16:28

3- Patience – 16:32

I. PLEASANTNESS

16:21 “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.”

Wise people are discerning. They think before they do and definitely think before they speak. The wise person speaks pleasant words that promote instruction.

I think pleasant words promote instruction more than unpleasant words.

ILL.- I remember attending a revival one time, probably 34-35 years ago, somewhere around 1970. The preacher preached in a machine gun fashion, as fast and as hard as he could. By the time he was finished with his sermon I was worn out and I vowed I was not going back another night. Fortunately for me, it was not my church that was having the revival, otherwise I would have had to attend whether I wanted to or not.

I doubt seriously that preacher made many friends and influenced many people. Bless his heart, he may have meant well and had good things to say, but I couldn’t tell you a word he said. HIS PREACHING MODE OR DELIVERY WAS SO HARD OR HARSH THAT IT TURNED ME OFF.

I’ve always heard it said that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. And, of course, there is the other side of the coin and that is, we certainly don’t want to sugar coat the gospel or water it down.

I think we preachers must speak the truth, but we must also speak the truth in love and in a way that promotes hearing, instruction and surrender.

I have heard that people today don’t want to be preached “down to” like some preachers of old used to do. People want to be helped, not told off. They don’t want to hear all bad news. They want to hear some good news that will help them in life.

The delivery of a sermon can make a difference. If a preacher comes across as being harsh and uncaring, he will not be nearly as effective as one who gives the impression that he loves his people and cares about their hurts.

How we speak to one another makes a difference as well. If a person speaks to others in a negative or nasty tone, or in a demeaning way, they can turn people off in a hurry. However, if we speak words that encourage, compliment and build people we will have a better chance of drawing them to Christ.

ILL.- For example, I remember having a preacher for a revival meeting in a church many years ago. We called on people during the daytime with the idea of encouraging them to make decisions for Christ. I let the evangelist do most of the talking, which was sometimes a mistake. One particular case the preacher/evangelist literally told a man that he was going to hell. That man certainly did not attend our revival meeting. And I think that preacher used the wrong approach entirely.