Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
July 28, 2004
Proverbs 14
:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the
foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
For some people, every where they go they leave it better than they found
it. For others, every where they’ve been
is a little dirtier and dingier.
Are you building people up or tearing them down? How do you treat the
people in your family?
What if you could tape record everything that comes out of your mouth – how
many things would be positive and edifying, how many things would be critical?
A woman has a huge role in building up her family.
Does your husband see you as his biggest fan or his biggest critic?
How about your kids?
Illustration
LITTLE TEDDY STODDARD
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs.
Thompson. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very
first day of school, she told the children a lie.
Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them
all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped
in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn’t
play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he
constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point
where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a
broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big “F” at the top of his
papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each
child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last. However, when she
reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise: Teddy’s first grade teacher
wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and
has good manners...he is a joy to be around.” His second grade teacher wrote,
“Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is
troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a
struggle.” His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on
him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest and his
home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.” Teddy’s fourth
grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in
school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.” By now,
Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt
even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in
beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His
present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a
grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.
Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with
some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the
bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, “Mrs.
Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.” After the children left
she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading,
and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him,
his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he
responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children
the same, Teddy became one her “teacher’s pets.”
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that
she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by
before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high
school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in
his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that
while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it,
and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured
Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in
his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he
explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little
further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher
he ever had.
But now his name was a little longer-the letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that
spring. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married. He explained
that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs.
Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did.
And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones
missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered
his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other,
and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you Mrs. Thompson for
believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me
that I could make a difference.”
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, “Teddy,
you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a
difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”
Don’t tear down the house – build it up.
:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean…
Lesson
Messy, hard work
This is not a verse to use as an excuse for making messes.
The ox was one of the chief working animals – the tractor of the ancient
world. But an ox also made a mess in its stall.
We say, “A messy desk is a sign of genius”.
Perhaps.
Progress makes a mess.
You can play it safe and not get messy or dirty, but you won’t get anything
done.
:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his
way
Think about the consequences of your actions.
(Prov 14:8 NLT) The wise look ahead to
see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves.
:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Lesson
What seems right
Lots of things seem right to us – but some of those things that seem good
lead to hell.
(Jer 6:16 KJV) Thus saith the
LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the
good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they
said, We will not walk therein.
(Mat 7:13-14 NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the
gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go
in by it. {14} "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Illustration
Pat Boone was interviewed shortly after Elvis’s untimely death. He said, “I
cared a lot for Elvis. But he went in
the wrong direction. Ironically, we met
for the last time when I was going to do a show back east and he was going to
Vegas. He said to me, ‘Say, Pat, where
are you going?’ I told him where I was
going and how I looked forward to being involved in some kind of Christian
ministry. He said, ‘Hey, I’m going to Vegas.
Pat, as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been going in the wrong
direction.’ I answered, ‘Elvis, that just depends on where you’re coming from.’”
The gospel – follow after Jesus.
:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful
(Prov 14:13 NLT) Laughter can
conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains.
:15 The simple believeth every word…
Lesson
Gullibility
Sometimes Christians are the most gullible people.
Have you heard the story about the fellow that went out on a date with a
cute girl he found in a bar and woke up in a tub full of ice in a hotel room in
Dallas? There was a note taped to the wall saying
that he had his kidneys removed and he needed to call an ambulance. Watch out for those cute pickups in the bar …
oh … it was a hoax. Just like the
warnings about HIV infected needles at the gas pump.
When you get an e-mail warning you about some new possible threat to life
on this planet, please do your homework and find out if it’s true before
passing it on to everyone in your address book.
:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour…
Simple statement of fact.
:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of
the lips tendeth only to penury.
Lesson
Talk is cheap
It’s better to work than just sitting around talking.
There are people who talk about doing things for the Lord and others who
actually do things.
Pay attention when people talk a lot about all the things they’re going to
do. Pay attention to what they actually
accomplish.
:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but
envy the rottenness of the bones.
Your emotions affect your physical well-being.
Some people even listen to comedy tapes as part of their healing process.
:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his
Maker
God is the maker of the poor. Honor God by reaching out to the ones that
God has made.
:32 …but the righteous hath hope in his death.
For the Christian, we have the hope of heaven.
:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a
reproach to any people.
What makes America
great?
Is it democracy? Is it free enterprise?
Our forefathers founded this nation under God on principles of
righteousness.
Russia –
they’re learning democracy and free enterprise from us, but they’re also
learning all our wickedness as well – gambling, pornography, drugs.
Proverbs 15
:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous
words stir up anger.
Choosing your words
You can pour water on the fire or gasoline.
:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life…
I think about what has happened to stand-up comedy. Today everything has to be perverse. It’s fun to listen to a comedian who doesn’t
have a foul mouth.
:5 …but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Illustration
A man was on the golf practice course, when the club pro, Maury, brought an
important-looking man out for a lesson.
Maury watched the guy swing several times and started making suggestions
for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own versions of
what was wrong and how to correct it.
After a few minutes of this interference, Maury began nodding his head
in agreement. At the end of the lesson,
the man paid Maury, congratulated him on his expertise as a teacher and left in
an obviously pleased frame of mind.
The observer was so astonished by the performance, that
he had to ask, “Why did you go along with him?”
“Son,” the old pro said with a grin as he carefully pocketed his fee, “I
learned long ago that it’s a waste of time to sell answers to a man who wants
to buy echoes.”
:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto
the LORD
Several things are called “an abomination” to the Lord in Proverbs. Try looking them up some time as homework.
(Prov 3:32 KJV) For the froward
is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
(Prov 6:16-18 KJV) These six things doth
the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: {17} A proud look, a
lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, {18} An heart that deviseth
wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
(Prov 11:1 KJV) A false balance is
abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
(Prov 11:20 KJV) They that are of
a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their
way are his delight.
(Prov 12:22 KJV) Lying lips are
abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
(Prov 15:8 KJV) The sacrifice of the
wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his
delight.
(Prov 15:9 KJV) The way of the wicked is
an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after
righteousness.
(Prov 15:26 KJV) The thoughts of
the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are
pleasant words.
(Prov 16:5 KJV) Every one that is proud
in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join
in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
(Prov 17:15 KJV) He that
justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the
just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
(Prov 20:10 KJV) Divers weights,
and divers measures, both of them are alike
abomination to the LORD.
(Prov 20:23 KJV) Divers weights
are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
We ought to think about staying away from these things, huh?
:10 Correction is grievous …
Lesson
Discipline
(Heb 12:11
KJV) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto
them which are exercised thereby.
Discipline is tough (grievous) until you learn to grow through it and be
“exercised” by it.
:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how
much more then the hearts of the children of men?
If even hell and destruction are in God’s presence, don’t you think He
knows our hearts?
:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he
that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
It’s not that all the days of the afflicted are really evil, but that
there’s this mentality we can take on from time to time of being an “afflicted”
person.
Lesson
Depression
Elijah was depressed. It looked as if the world were falling apart. He tried to run away from his problems.
(1 Ki 19:10 KJV) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts:
for the children of Israel
have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets
with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it
away.
If we’re not careful, we can tend to look at things through the colored
glasses of our moods.
Sometimes our perspective is a little off.
And it’s during those times that everything looks bad to us.
Illustration:
There was a farmer whose neighbor was absolutely negative, no matter what. If
it was raining, the farmer would say to his neighbor, “Boy, look at it rain,
God’s sort of washing everything clean.” “Yeah, but if it keeps up it’s gonna flood.” Then the sun would come out and he’d say, “If
it keeps that up, it’s gonna
just scorch the crops.” The farmer thought, “What am I gonna
do to win this guy?” So he trained his dog to walk on water. He didn’t tell his
neighbor, he just took him duck hunting. Boom! Boom! They brought these ducks
out of the sky, and said to his dog, “Go get ‘em.” The
dog went across, picked them up, and hopped back in the boat, nothing wet—just
his paws. The farmer said, “What do you think of that?” The neighbor said, “He
can’t swim, can he?”
How do we change our perspective?
How do we change our heart?
Worship God – choose to bless Him.
(Psa 103:1 KJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Be careful what you let your mind spend time on.
(Phil 4:6-9 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brethren, whatever
things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever
things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate
on these things. {9} The things which you learned and
received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with
you.
:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is …
Take inventory of what you have.
We often think if we just had a little more of this or that that we’d be
happy.
It’s the heart things that are best.
:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife
Some people seem to be angry at everything.
Some people are always stirring up trouble.
Stay away.
:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but
in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Lesson
Ask for advice
Illustration
The folly of human nature is neatly summed up by the case of the middle-aged
school teacher who invested her life savings in a business enterprise which had
been elaborately explained to her by a swindler.
When her investment disappeared and the wonderful dream was shattered, she
went to the office of the Better Business Bureau. “Why on earth,” they asked,
“didn’t you come to us first? Didn’t you
know about the Better Business Bureau?”
“Oh, yes,” said the lady sadly, “I’ve always known about you. But I didn’t
come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it.”
But be sure to weigh out all the counsel you get as well - Rehoboam asked
for advice from various counsellors but took the wrong advice.
:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own
house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
gifts – bribes
Lesson
The danger of greed
Greed will destroy the family.
Illustration
The March 1988 Rotarian tells
about a bounty of $5,000 offered for each wolf captured alive. It turned Sam and Jed into fortune
hunters. Day and night they scoured the
mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey. Exhausted one night, they fell asleep
dreaming of their potential fortune.
Suddenly, Sam awoke to see that they were surrounded by about 50 wolves
with flaming eyes and bared teeth. He
nudged his friend and said, “Jed, wake up!
We’re rich!”
--
Gary C. Payne, Reidsville, North Carolina. Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 1.
:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer…
Take time to respond. Think before
you answer.
:30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart…
(Prov 15:30 NASB) Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts
fat on the bones.
:33 before honour is humility.
Lesson
First learn humility
(Prov 15:33 ICB) Respect for the
Lord will teach you wisdom. If you want to be honored, you must not be proud.
(Prov 15:33 NLT) Fear of the LORD
teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.
Before you can be honored, you need to learn humility.
The way “up” is to go “down”.
(Mark 9:35
KJV) And he sat down, and called the
twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be
first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.