In Proverbs 6, we see a description of those foolish and ungodly things that the follower of Jesus should not do! Abiding in Christ means producing fruits of righteousness and resisting those things which displease God and that which He hates.
Main Text: Proverbs 6
Introduction:
Read John 15:1-11. By abiding in Christ, we will be empowered to not only do the things He would have us do: to bear spiritual fruit...
Making disciples who make disciples
Walking according to His expectations
Helping us avoid doing those things that we ought not do.
1. Avoid taking on the debt of others.
Proverbs 6:1-5 - My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
A. The Bible clearly teaches to avoid becoming indebted to anyone.
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
B. Don’t let your words turn into a snare.
C. Do whatever it takes to get out of this situation.
E. We can get ourselves into trouble by thinking we are helping sometimes.
2. Avoid laziness.
Proverbs 6:6-11 - Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
A. “Consider the ant” – Be a self-starter!
B. Get up and get busy or there will be consequences.
C. Laziness leads to poverty.
D. There is a ton of Proverbs that deals with laziness, and we will look at some of them in more depth in the coming weeks but the NT is also clear that there is a built-in punishment for those who refuse to work.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
3. Avoid Dishonesty.
Proverbs 6:12-15 - A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
A. Some strong language used to describe dishonest people: “worthless” and “wicked”.
B. “Winks, signals and points” indicates an arrogant person going all in with their deception.
C. “Sowing discord” refers to stirring up trouble between people.
D. Paul warns the Church in Rome about such people: (SLIDE) Romans 16:17-18
E. Dishonest people will suffer severe consequences if they don’t repent.
4. Avoid the things that the Lord hates.
Proverbs 6:16-19
Conclusion/Pastor’s Challenge:
1. To please God, start with abiding in Him.
2. Learn what it is that the Lord expects us to do and not to do.
3. Understand that your obedience to Christ has implications, not just for you, but for all those who come in contact with you.
