Sunday, August 22, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 12:5-10, the focus was on seeking righteousness and speaking wisely. Solomon wrote that the thoughts of the righteous are right. He also said that the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The Hebrew word for thoughts means thoughts, devices, plans, or purposes. Hence, this word also takes into account motives and actions. Righteous means to be vindicated by God, and a person can become righteous by turning to the Lord and trusting in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. The wicked tear others down by their words, but the upright and righteous lift them up. By the wrong use of our words, we can do much harm, but God will overthrow the wicked and exalt the house of the righteous. Psalms 7:8-10 says, "The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart." Proverbs 10:2 says, "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."
Solomon wrote that the wise would be recognized for their wisdom. However, those who follow Christ must do so with patience and wait for His good timing concerning that acknowledgement. In Proverbs 12:9, Solomon used a complex analogy between the wise and the perverse. He said that the one who is perverted and wicked, yet has a servant, is better than the one who honors him or herself and lacks bread. In trying to understand this verse, a person must consider what Solomon has really said. He was not suggesting that the way around wickedness is to have a servant. The key thought in this verse is that of honoring oneself. Solomon was saying that we should never lead our own chorus of praise, but instead, we should let others honor us for our goodness before the Lord. By exalting ourselves, we are the bigger fool, and we become guilty of thinking we are something when we are not. Having made that point, Solomon then emphasized that greater still is our foolishness if we cannot even meet our own basic needs. I Corinthians 10:12 says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
In Proverbs 12:10, Solomon made another comparison between the righteous and unrighteous. He said that the righteous are merciful and forgiving but that the wicked only know cruelty. It is important to understand that the righteous do right and know right because they are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The key to living a spirit-filled, god-honoring life is to submit oneself to the Spirit's leadership. Those without Christ do not have the Holy Spirit, so they cannot possibly discern between right and wrong. I Corinthians 2:14 says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." In conclusion, Solomon has taught throughout that a righteous life leads to greater happiness. Therefore, in the coming weeks, trust more of your life to Christ and try to be the person He would have you be.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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