Straightforward

Greetings everyone. Let’s pick the Bible Study up in Proverbs 29:1. It says in Chapter 29 and verse 1:

1 He, that being often reproved and hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Now this reproof can come from studying God’s word. It can come from a sermon. It can come from a minister. It can come from the wife, the husband. It can come from any direction from anybody. We can learn from circumstances and situations if we’re seeking to learn. And so quite often we will be corrected or we will be instructed or we will be admonished from someone or by a circumstance that we hadn’t even planned on. Sometimes it is something we expect—and sometimes it can be sustained and prolonged—by a boss or other examples that we could mention—a teacher, a parent, a friend.

But what it’s getting at here in Proverbs 29:1 is the attitude that we have when we’re being corrected. And quite often the Bible, in order to make the point, God will inspire it to be written and connected with a farm analogy or with some aspect of creation, animals, or other things. And many of you know that if you are trying to work, let’s say with a horse, and you start to neck rein him to the right and he stiffens his neck up and will not go in that direction, then you’ve got a problem. Or maybe you have mules that are pulling the wagon or you have some kind of beast of burden that’s supposed to go in a particular direction and they will set their feet or they will stiffen their neck and they will not turn, they will not respond, they will not be led. And so there’s what He’s talking about here regarding human beings.

And it could be a situation where we have taken correction very well and we have responded and we have changed. And then one day, it just hits us wrong or we’re not in the best of attitudes or we allow personal feelings to get in the way, and we receive some correction or some instruction or some admonition, and we just simply “bow up.” We resist it. We simply get a stiff neck. In other words, we won’t be moved, we won’t be led, we won’t be directed. But rather we simply rebel and we will not change even though we should, and even though it could be coming directly from God or from His word. We’re not going to respond. Well, it turns out, when we get in that state that we could be in trouble and be in trouble quickly. Notice it says here:

1 He, that being often reproved—

Notice the word often. It’s not just a matter of being occasionally reproved. Sometimes we’re given directions quite often, and if we let that start to weigh on us, start to irritate us, start saying, “Well, you know, we’re just getting admonished or instructed or corrected too much. I’ve had enough of it. I’m not going to take it anymore. That did it. Don’t give me anymore direction,” when really the person is in a position to do that, and we’re in a position to receive it.

It’s not a matter of people picking on us. It’s not a matter of people badgering us. It’s not a matter of people bullying us. It’s a matter of someone giving us direction or correction, and they have the authority to do so. And we should receive it and weigh it and try to understand it, and if it’s right, implement it and put it to practice. If it’s not right, get clarification on it.

In situations like that, even though it might come often, if we are not teachable, if we are not receptive, if we are not responsive and grow and overcome and change as a result of it, but we plant our feet and harden our neck and will not obey God or will not respond to His direction or to someone that He’s using to correct us, then we can be destroyed and be destroyed suddenly and be destroyed without remedy. No stopping it. No turning it around. No softening it. Just a horrible result and quickly. It could lead to death even. It could lead to trouble. We could be heading in the wrong direction and if we don’t respond to the correction, we could just smash into a brick wall, so to speak. When if we had responded to the correction, we would have avoided that. It could be a spiritual brick wall as well as a physical one, or even both.

So the point in Proverbs 29:1—and I’m taking some time with it because it’s a very, very important principle to everyone who wants to live His life as a Christian and to apply these principles in a practical Christian way—if that’s the case, then Proverbs 29:1 is very, very important. So we need to weigh it out and think about our attitude toward direction and correction and reproof, and receiving it often. If we need correction and we need it often, then we ought to be thankful that it comes often so we can overcome and change and get rid of the things we ought to get rid of and replace them with the things that we ought to replace them with. Then we’ll grow, we’ll be happier, we’ll be at peace.

So let’s make sure that we’re teachable. Let’s make sure that we’re responsive. Let’s make sure that we’re pliable and resilient and we can be formed like clay in the great master potter’s hands, fashioned and molded and shaped into the vessel, the tool, the instrument He wants us to be in His service. Let’s make sure we don’t harden our neck because that could lead to destruction coming suddenly and without remedy.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:—

Why? Well, because the righteous rule with justice. They lead with equity. They love those that they are responsible for. They provide for them. They look after them, and so everyone prospers and everyone is happy.

2 —but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.

Or groan. Why is that? Well, because the wicked are unjust. They lay heavy burdens on those that they are to be leading. They don’t care for their welfare. They don’t look after their needs. They abuse and misuse them, and so then people just suffer and they groan and they moan and it’s a miserable situation. So leadership is very, very important to the one leading and also to those that are being led.

3 Whoso loves wisdom rejoices his father:—

Or makes his father rejoice. Because someone who is wise, a child who is developing wisdom and can develop it early, really, is going to get wonderful results. They’re going to be happy. They’re going to make other people happy. They’re going to succeed. And so that makes the parent, the father, really, really happy. Something to rejoice over.

3 —but he that keeps company with harlots spends his substance.

Wastes his wealth. Not only the son’s wealth, but the father’s wealth because sin destroys. Sin wastes. And committing adultery and fornication with prostitutes will waste the life of the person. Doing that will waste the health, the wealth, the time. It’s a dead–end street and I do mean dead, and it will lead to that. Diseases, failure, loss of job, loss of money, loss of health. And it can create havoc in a family. It brings sadness to everyone involved and especially the one who is sinning, but also to those who love the one who is sinning. So we need to make sure that we don’t go down that route. We don’t want to go down that road. We don’t even want to start thinking about going down that way.

We need to avoid pornography, avoid rotten movies, avoid reading rotten magazines and books, and avoid people that are corrupt and immoral, and steer clear of all of that and then we will not end up in that wretched condition.

4 The king by judgment—

or justice

4 —establishes the land:—

He makes decisions that are wise and therefore good projects are instituted with good results for the good of the kingdom or for the good of the family or the community or the church. Stability and a solid course is started on, and if that solid course is followed living God’s way of life, following God’s law, following where Jesus Christ leads, then, once again, there’ll be tremendous abundance and happiness, both spiritually and physically. And even when there’s trouble and even when there’s trials and tests, there will be strength and help from God and from each other to get through those trials and tests and learn the lessons that we’re supposed to learn. That’s what judgment and justice lead us to. But notice the other side of the coin:

4 —but he that receives gifts—

Or bribes, is a better translation.

4 —overthrows the land.

See, bribes pervert judgment. Bribes corrupt character. bribe is given because the person wants something and wants something that is selfish and that is bad. A bribe is similar to blackmail, really, because one bribe leads to another bribe. And the person receiving the bribe gives something away so he can get that bribe and get more bribes. He compromises, he appeases, he takes shortcuts, he pollutes and dilutes God’s law and God’s way in order to get those bribes. And it’s a cycle that is a downward spiral that leads to destruction. Like it says here, “He that receives bribes overthrows the land.” The budgets will go up, justice will go down, degeneration and dissipation sets in throughout the reign of this kind of ruler, king, leader, president, head of family, or captain of industry. We want to avoid ever compromising on that point.

We have to do the right thing and not be pulled off by a temptation of a bribe or money or a position, and then compromise our position and compromise those that we’re responsible for and their positions. That’s the warning in verse 4.

5 A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

It might sound good and feel good to be flattered, but you’ve got to be careful because there’s a hook, there’s a catch, there’s an ulterior motive every single time somebody starts flattering somebody else. There are two things to keep in mind here. We ought not be flattering other people. That’s vanity and it’s deceptive and it’s based on lies. And we ought not be entertaining flattery. We ought not be seeking it. We ought not receive it. We ought not like it. We ought not want it because flattery simply sets us up for a fall every single time.

Now, we must not confuse flattery with proper compliments, with proper encouragement. That’s good if we are sincere in giving somebody encouragement, giving somebody a compliment or receiving encouragement, or receiving compliments. That’s Christianity in action. That’s love. Love unexpressed is not love.

But flattery is a different thing. Flattery has an ulterior motive. It’s based on deception. It’s based on selfishness and it’s based on lies. And it’s overdone, and it’s just too much in terms of praise, and too much in terms of receiving praise. And when that takes place, there’s going to be trouble. So be alert, be aware of that. Don’t be taken in by it, because you’ll suffer if you allow flattery to come your way and you take it in and you become a part of that process. The one who’s flattering you is simply spreading a net for you. Don’t fall in that net and don’t spread that net for others.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare:—

Or a better translation: By transgression, an evil man is snared. Sin does snare us. Sin is a trap. Sin has a penalty that will come with it every single time. There’s never an exception. When we obey God’s laws, there’s never an exception, we will be blessed. When we break God’s laws, and that’s what sin is—I John 3:4 tells us: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” —and when we break God’s law, there will always be a penalty. There is never an exception to that. Repentance of sin will either wipe out that penalty or reduce that penalty, but there’s going to have to be deep repentance for that to happen. And there still could be a lesson to learn that could be painful.

But anytime there is a transgression of an evil man, there’s going to be a trap, there’s going to be a price to pay and it’s going to be very painful. So the thing to do is: Let’s not be evil and let’s not be transgressing God’s law. And if we have done that, let’s repent and repent deeply so God will forgive us.

But notice the other side of the coin, and what a positive other side of the equation:

6 —but the righteous—

Those that obey God’s laws. Remember the scripture, Psalms 119:172: “All your commandments are righteousness.” God’s law is the personification of righteousness. And so when we’re trying to do things the right way and we’re trying to please God and become more and more like Jesus Christ, and we’re trying to more fully keep the Ten Commandments, both in the spirit and in the letter, the result will always be happiness, will always be joy, will always be peace of mind. And we will find ourselves just bursting out in singing and in rejoicing. Things go better and better and better. The righteous sing and rejoice. The evil are caught in a snare. Those are the choices, those are the results. God wants us to choose the right way and enjoy the results, and He’ll help us do that.

7 The righteous consider the cause of the poor: but the wicked regard not to know it.

Or does not understand such knowledge. In other words, a righteous individual—one who’s trying to serve God and keep His commandments—loves the Lord His God with all His heart, mind, and soul, and he loves his neighbor as himself. In other words, he thinks of other people. He puts God first and he thinks of other people including the poor. And so if he has any way he can help the poor and the poor are trying to do their part, then he’ll do what he can to help them—sometimes just a helping hand, sometimes it’s an encouraging word, sometimes just getting some food for them.

But his attitude is one of caring and considering those in need and the poor, if they're trying to do their part—not be a bum, not be a leech, not be someone who just doesn’t do anything, is lazy and expects handouts. Helping them could be trying to encourage them to get busy and work. But sometimes an individual is doing all they can do and they’re falling short of their needs, and we might have a way to help them temporarily in that situation and prime the pump. Well then, we consider them. Look how God considers us, and all of us are poor spiritually and poor in other ways and yet God has mercy on us when He sees the right attitude.

But the wicked don’t care. They don’t even have the ability—or else they reject the ability out of non-interest—to even think about others in need. They’re only thinking about themselves. They’re only interested in what they can get. And when it comes to helping somebody else, in little ways or even big ways, they have no intention of doing that. And they don’t even cultivate an awareness or an ability to understand that. And you know what? They suffer deeply from that. Because if we don’t help others, how can we expect others to help us and how can we expect God to help us? And the wicked will find that out in a very, very painful way—that principle of you don’t regard others, then you will not be regarded in your needs.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

Another translation even is more graphic. It says: Scornful men inflame a city. In other words, leaders of a family, leaders of a community, leaders of a congregation, leaders of a company, leaders of a city—they’re responsible for looking after that city, looking after those that they are to be providing for and looking after and protecting. And if they are scorners, if they are cynical, if they are self-absorbed and they don’t care anything about others and about their duties, they’re not going to look after that city. They’re going to make choices and implement decisions and bring about programs that are going to get that city in such dire straits that it’ll be like setting it on fire and it might even catch fire, so to speak. The goods and services go down, and the taxes go up and go into the pockets of the scornful, and the city is brought into a trap and into a snare.

Nations are overthrown, coups d’état are brought about because of what verse 8 says. You get a few despots in power and they bring all of the power into their circle, the money and the military. And they don’t care about the nation or the people. That goes on for a while and the people rise up, and you know what? Then you hear in the news that they’ve been overthrown, and quite often, the city is set aflame.

But look what happens when people in positions of authority are wise and responsible.

8 —wise men turn away wrath.

They see a need and they fill that need. They see a void and they fill that void with the right person or with the right program. They have plans and they have strategic ideas that are for the welfare of the family, the community, the company, the church, the nation. And they implement those plans and turn away destruction and wrath and bring in prosperity and peace. It’s about wisdom, as we’ve talked about a lot going through this book of Proverbs.

9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,—

Whether the fool, is a good translation.

9 —rage or laugh, there is no rest.

You know, a wise man can try to reach a fool by any means at his disposal. He can talk softly, he can talk loudly. He can be humorous or he can be sober. He can reach out or he can listen. No matter what he tries, a foolish man will not hear wisdom. They don’t want to be given wisdom. They don’t want to be given instruction. They don’t want to go the right way and do the right thing and be the right individual. They like being foolish. They like wallowing in stupidity and in lawlessness and satiating their own appetites. And so whatever the wise man tries to do, there’s still not going to be any result with the fool.

And another consideration here in verse 9 is, whether the fool responds with rage or whether the fool responds with laughter or whether the fool responds with silence, there’s still not going to be a restful result. There’s also that possibility of the meaning in verse 9.

But basically the fundamental point is this: Even though you try to help a fool—and we should try to help them sometime, and occasionally they’ll repent from being a fool—don’t be disappointed and don’t be surprised if they just continue on being a fool until God gets their attention. And don’t be surprised if their response is one of something we didn’t expect—maybe a rage or maybe a laughter—but still not changing and not getting any results. And don’t be disappointed if no matter what you try, it still doesn’t get any results with a foolish man. Don’t waste too much of your time trying it, that’s what verse 9 is telling us. That’s the lesson there.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright:—

You know why? Because they feel guilty. They’re jealous. They see the upright as a threat. The upright stand in their way for carrying out their bloody ideas and their bloody actions, and so they hate the upright. They don’t want to see people doing the right thing or hear people saying the right thing, or see a right result (They want to do the wrong thing and they want to do evil things. Their attitude is satanic. It is destructive and it’s negative), and they hate that.

Sometimes you’ve probably been made fun of because of trying to do the right thing. Sometimes your kids in school have been called goodie-two-shoes because they’re trying to stay clean and they’re trying to maintain a good attitude and set a good example in their conduct, in their actions. This will cause other people to like them, or cause other people to respect them, but it’ll also cause some people to be jealous of them or to make fun of them or to undercut them, or to even hate them. Well, don’t let that stop you, and make sure you help them understand that they shouldn’t let that stop them. Because even though others might make fun and persecute because of you trying to do the right thing, God is pleased and God is happy and God will bless you, and that’s what really counts.

Notice the other side of this equation, verse 10:

10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

Or a better translation: Seek his well being. Will be there for him, will back him up and will stand by him and will help in any way they can—those that are upright. And the just will recognize that and appreciate those that are upright.

11 A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.

A fool vents all his feelings. Just blurts it out and, you know, vents his spleen and when he starts blowing out all of this stuff that he has inside, he ends up looking like a fool because he is. And he becomes obnoxious and he becomes repugnant and repulsive.

But a wise man will not do that. He will be silent. He will hold his information and he will not speak his full mind until the time is right. There’s a time to speak up and a time to be quiet, and there’s a time to tell only certain things and a time to tell more things and a time to tell all. So a wise man has that understanding of appropriate timing, that understanding of proper conduct and protocol. But a fool doesn’t. No matter where he is, no matter who he is around, the tendency is no savvy at all, just vent it all out, and end up creating chaos sometimes, confusion all the time, and looking ridiculous and foolish every time. So we need to take heart and remember what verse 11 says and avoid that.

12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Why is that? Well, because they follow the example of the one in charge. Now, there’ll be some occasionally that will see that that’s not right and they won’t do that. But as a principle and as a general trend, those who are under a leader tend to take on the proclivities and take on the attitude and the ways of the leader. That’s what we ought to do as far as Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, and that’s what we ought to do when we have a good leader.

We still have individuality, but we begin to learn from the leader. We begin to kind of take on some characteristics of the leader. And that’s good if the leader is taking on the characteristics of God. Then it’s a good cycle. But when it is a wicked ruler, one that hearkens to lies, then he will develop a corrupt administration, a corrupt team as a general rule with few exceptions.

And so it’s important for the leader not to hearken to lies, and it’s important for those who are being led by him not to hearken to lies and become wicked like he is.

We’ll stop there and begin the next Bible Study with Proverbs 29:13.

This is Charles Bryce with the Enduring Church of God.