Do we shy away from Christian service? As the Lord’s workers we should desire to glorify Him. Christian service is not about selecting the comfortable positions and the hopeful fields; it is best to make no selection, but to yield our own will to the will of God altogether.
‘Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.’
‘There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.’
‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’
The present troubles demonstrate the foolishness of believing that you can have morality without Christianity. Spurgeon here refers to the crisis around Overend, Gurney and Company (‘the bankers’ bank’), which collapsed in 1866. How history repeats itself. ‘All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.’
‘I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.’
Gossip has been defined as idle talk or compulsive news-mongering, including the spreading of groundless rumour. Do we indulge in it? To see the ugliness of it and its effect upon the church ought surely to make us think, and put us off. We must neither speak gossip, nor listen to it.
People may be brilliant and accomplished in several fields of learning and skill, yet unreceptive and unaware when it comes to the purpose of life and reconciliation with God. Here are miniature parables of Solomon that appeal to us all to be open to God. As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so … Continued
Full chapter _____________ Proverbs 18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and … Continued
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the … Continued
You May Be Also Interested in… Series of Studies: Wisdom for LifeSermon: Wisdom or Folly? For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:32-33) The deeper things of life … Continued
“Buy the truth” urges Solomon – a search for the explanation and meaning of life, and a relationship with the Lord. Don’t sell it, as many do, for a godless life. Here is how the heart is given to God, and how eyes are opened.
A sequence of verses showing how to steer oneself toward consideration of others, use ‘unbreachable barriers’ to avoid sin, maintain diligence in all things, avoid giving superficial counsel, register and convey disapproval of wrong, and treasure family devotion and the means of grace.
This group of verses unfolds five ‘companions’ of biblical truth as we search and apply it to life. Fascinating illustrations press home lessons on the need of: diligence, purity (in doctrine and methods), reality (especially the call to service), humility, and diplomacy (or sensitivity).
Through four striking illustrations Solomon considers spiritual ‘skills’: a noble building showing the three stages of spiritual life, warfare showing strategies for resisting Satan, the uninitiated builder or soldier showing hopeless consequences, and the need for constant exercise of spiritual skills.
Starting with a brief comment on the ‘rod’ in Proverbs, and what it does not mean, here is a remarkable 20-verse topic showing how Satan first makes sin desirable, promotes it through bad company, weakens thirst for regular teaching, then tightens sin’s grip on us.
– earthly and personal desires that is. Beginning with the need to curb determination to have one’s way, Solomon deals with anger, longings in general, and the ‘evil eye’ of coveting. He powerfully emphasises the need to observe God’s sacred boundaries in life.
The first proverb in this group announces the theme – the believer’s reputation for shining integrity (and its works), showing that it encompasses a true view of self (humility), principled living, keeping personal spiritual independence, and other precious elements. With examples of typical failure.
Here are eight consecutive graphic proverbs presenting distinctive aspects of sanctification: the need for a plan, the special guarding of appetites and words, fleeing pride, fearing indolence, being outgoing, keeping utmost sincerity in worship, applying Truth, and being ever-correctable. These powerful helps explored.
Bandits raiding the trade routes of the biblical world paid a price in wounds and death at the hands of militia. Solomon applies their lifestyle to the spiritual cost of disdaining the Lord. Here are the blessings lost by neglect, or gained by coming to Christ.
Twelve verses track the fallen state of mankind, revealing strikingly different and often surprising aspects of our lost condition. It stirs our sympathy, prayers and witness, and, of course, our gratitude for salvation. We see also the vast differences between being lost or saved.
Here are six influences to be resisted: things that intoxicate (not only alcohol), peace and acceptance, the love of strife, the love of comfort and convenience, untested dreams and plans, and inner self-justification. Here also are the biblical ways of defeating them.
Our title identifies the theme running through this group of twelve proverbs (clearly so in eight of them). Here are twelve distinctive and vital counsels for Christian fellowship, all of them curing defects and enabling deeper ties of respect and love between the Lord’s people.
Remarkable and profound verses show the necessity of being wholly submitted to the Lord in all departments of the spiritual journey – including the direction of life, self-examination, advance in holiness, pride-abatement, and persecution. Almost every verse couples a human action with a divine response.
Profound verses tell how to keep a calm mental, emotional state with joy in the Lord (no matter what). Here are the duties of appreciation, joy and gratitude even alongside woes, the need for food for the soul, and for simplicity, love, and self-control.
The most brilliant of men and women may be altogether disconnected when it comes to spiritual awareness or concern. Here are Solomon’s jolting miniature parables designed to draw us from indifference to God and the soul, and bring us to know Christ the Lord.
While God’s forgiveness and spiritual life are free, the questions asked by buyers of large acquisitions may be asked when seeking a religion. Who made it? Does it have a Saviour? Does it work? Will it last? How will I be affected? What are the alternatives? etc
Proverbs is often called (by modern writers) a book of ‘sundry moral maxims’, a description that obscures the depths and purpose of its remarkable miniature parables. This address showed the plot of Proverbs, the cast, the themes and some prime examples of spiritual application evident to traditional expounders.
A remarkable group of proverbs teach that spiritual joy must be deepened by the individual believer taking the rights steps here enumerated. They also show that joy needs spiritual priorities, restraint over material things, fellowship, control of anger, and worthy not trivial meat for the mind. Here is spiritual happiness!
