Bragging On Jesus

This is part three of our series of devotions from Proverbs 17 and today we are looking at the always controversial subject of money. Is it okay for followers of Christ to be rich? Is it okay to have nice things? Is it okay to want to work hard and make more money? These are all questions I have personally wrestled with in my journey with Christ and thankfully, Proverbs 17 provides us with some clear advice regarding our pocket books. In this devotional, I will share five quick observations with you about money and its role in our obedience to God from Proverbs 17.#1 - Hard work is nothing to be ashamed of.A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers. -Proverbs 17:2 (CSB)Here we see that the prudent servant will share in the inheritance before the disgraced son. This is one of many verses throughout the Proverbs and scriptures as a whole that encourages us to be people who work. There is no place for retirement (as most Americans would define it) in the Biblical worldview. We must work unto the Lord in all that we do. Work is good as long as we remember that it is not God.#2 - Money is powerful, how will you use it?A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds. - Proverbs 17:8 (CSB)We all know that the one with money tends to have the power. As an American I must be aware that I am rich. I may not feel rich when I compare myself with other Americans, but in global terms I am in the top 10% wealthiest on the planet. That is a sobering and wild thought. The question is how will I use it? Will I seek to buy the latest phone and keep up with those around me? Or will I invest my money in important Kingdom work and share with the less fortunate around me and throughout the world? The choice is mine. The choice is yours. Money carries with it power and we all get to decide how and for whom we will use that power.#3 - Wisdom is worth more than money.Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom? - Proverbs 17:16 (CSB)We’ve all seen the lottery winner who blows it all. Without wisdom money just makes you a dangerous fool. If you want to improve your quality of life and the impact you make on others, search for wisdom instead of money. The one who has wisdom without money will be far better off than the foolish rich man in the end.

#4 - Dave Ramsey would be proud.One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend. - Proverbs 17:18 (CSB)Long before Financial Peace University, Proverbs 17 told us not to cosign on a loan for our family and friends. It never works out well and as Dave Ramsey says it makes Thanksgiving dinner taste different when the person across the table owes you money. I know you are trying to help by cosigning with someone you love, but the best way to love somebody is to tell them the truth when they can’t afford something. Don’t buy stuff you can’t afford and don’t aid others in buying stuff they can’t afford. Just because the bank will loan you the money doesn’t mean you should take the money.The wise have the self control necessary to live within their means while fools look for shortcuts to get what they can’t afford.#5 - If you must be bought, be bought by Christ.A wicked person secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice. - Proverbs 17:23 (CSB)Money has tainted many good men (and women). Don’t allow your principles and values to be bought. Turn down money that goes against your conscience. Why? Because if you are in Christ you have already been bought and there isn’t room for two masters.

For a full transcript go to braggingonjesus.com

This is the second in our series of devotions from the 17th chapter of Proverbs. I have titled this devotion, “Don’t be a dolt... people are your legacy” and as with the first devotion this comes from a collection of various verses in the chapter.Oh, how we must pity fools or as we are calling them for this series “dolts” based upon a reading of verse 21 in the message paraphrase. In these selected verses today we see perhaps the most relevant of all the devotions in this short series. We rarely think of legacy. This is probably due to the fact that to think of one's legacy is to think of one's death. It seems that for most, legacy or the mark that will be left behind after us isn’t thought of until it's too late. Legacy is not something that is built overnight - legacy comes from a lifetime of action. By the time we are faced with the question, “What will people remember of me when I'm gone?” it is usually too late to change that perception. You maybe thinking this doesn’t really matter does it? But, I would argue that it does! Your family tree can be changed for better or for worse depending upon who you were and the legacy you left.The reason I said this might be the most relevant devotion in the series is because most of us spend our time on work when in reality Proverbs 17 seems to point to the fact that in the end it will be people, not work, that defines our legacy. In fact, I am going to argue that through the way we live we can build the legacies of those who came before us and it is through investing in those who come after us that our own legacies will be established. My encouragement to you is simple: You will leave a legacy, you get to decide whether it is intentional or accidental. Make it intentional friends. An intentional legacy honors God and honors those who come before and after you.#1 - How The Lives We Live Build The Legacies of Others Before starting Ascent Church I spent a year as a church planting intern under one of the most Godly men I’ve ever known - Steven Earp. Of the many lessons I learned from Steven this one stood out tome in a profound way. He said something like, “Blake, my goal is to be a small part in as many big stories as possible.” For Steven, he didn’t necessarily want to be the guy who started the big movement, or wrote the book that led thousands to Christ, or become the next great preacher. No, he wanted to be one of the men who invested in the men that would do great things for Christ’s Kingdom. Steven knew that it was the successes of those whom he had invested in that would ultimately define his legacy. Everyone who has been helped by any of my sermons or maybe even this devotional has Steven to thank in part. His legacy goes on through me and the other men and women who have interested in me also are reflected in my work for Christ. This is a great responsibility for me! Because I know that my actions aren’t just reflective of me, but also of Steven and the many others who have invested in me. This means my sin and foolishness isn’t just a grief tome, but also to those who have a part in making me into who I am. Look at the following verses from Proverbs 17.A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy. - Proverbs 17:21 (CSB)A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. - Proverbs 17:25 (CSB)

The message is clear. Don’t be a dolt! Your life will either honor or dishonor those who came before you. #2 - How The Lives We Invest In Become Our Legacy My grandfather in law (Junior Zollinger) is an amazing man and role model. I love going to his house for Christmas and family get-togethers because I get to see the fruit of a man who prioritized investing in his family and leading them with Christ centered values. At his house, I see legacy in action.

For a complete transcript go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked. 13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. 14 If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.

Verse 12 makes sense right? A wicked ruler does not want some righteous person looking over his shoulder and reporting his misdeeds.

Proverbs 29:13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

This makes me think of how we all originate from God… He is the one who gives our eyes the ability to take in light and discern images and truths in the wondrous beautiful world around us. But even more so, it is God who opens our spiritual eyes to see Jesus the Messiah as beautiful… as good news… as the greatest treasure in the Universe.

Proverbs 29:14 If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.

Ok, so first Solomon spoke about a wicked king and wicked officials and now in this verse he says there is also a faithful king…. so we have two kings. The faithful is one who judges the poor fairly and the wicked king and his officials could care less about justice but seeks his own glory. So these are the two contrasting kings in the passage but I think it’s the middle verse 13 that ties them together in a very insightful and doctrinal way.

So God gives light to the eyes of people... but why? He gives light to the eyes of people in all Nations and people groups of the world to so they can see the glory of God in his creation that they might find and delight in him.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

So the heavens for example are not Gods glory but they declare attributes of his character that point us in his direction. His beauty, his power, his blessings in rain, his power in monsoon rains… his holding back of rain… all these things give us glimpses of characteristics of his holiness which includes justice and mercy both. Not that we should watch creation to see if God is angry or pleased with us but rather we can glimpse his ways. For example: Is a hurricane necessarily his judgment for sin? Is a beautiful sunshiny day necessarily a reward for righteousness. I think not, but these do direct us to align ourselves with our Creator and realize that in our sin we should go to him for mercy. But the heavens do declare his glory right? We might think about his wisdom and knowledge as we look up at the stars or a million other things in his creation… We cannot help but know he is amazing and the filthy rags of broken glory in ourselves cannot be compared to his beauty. And the thing is… God has given mankind eyes to see his creation that we might feel our way towards him.

Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

So then God gives us eyes to see the beauty of his creation which makes him look good which he is.

So what I think links the verses about the wicked king and the faithful king is that they are both given eyes to see Gods Creation so they have no excuse for not seeking him and knowing him. The wicked king sees his own glory but rejects the light of the glory of God in the Messiah. The faithful king sees how amazing God is and seeks to know him better and God opens his eyes to see more and more of his beauty.

A parallel of the Gospel in the Old Testament that points us to Jesus and the promise of a guaranteed hope for sinners obtained through faith.

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Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices. 7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. 8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. 9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. 10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright. 11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

I believe there are a number of things we could gain from today's reading. However; there is a thread that runs through it all which is mentioned in verse 6. This I what I’d like us to consider today.

...

So as always there are two paths mentioned here the path of the evil and the path of the righteous.

Let’s look at a kind of time line or maybe a heart-line for the wicked person in these verses and then we’ll come back to the righteous man in verse 6.

Verse 5 begins with an ungodly man… not singing… not rejoicing but rather something else is coming out of his mouth… It is flattery towards his neighbor… not for their good to build them up… but for his own benefit. Solomon says he is spreading a net for his own feet. Verse 6 says sin catches the evil person in a trap echoing verse 5. Verse 7 talks about how the wicked man lacks understanding of justice for the poor, (I suspect that is because he is consumed in his own self-centeredness) and in verse 8 we see the scoffer (also wicked) is full of wrath setting a city on fire. Next the fool (again also evil) when arguing rages and laughs… apparently in place of making a good case. Verse 10 speaks of bloodthirsty men hating the blameless seeking the life of the upright… Then finally verse 11 says how the fool gives full vent… It seems he lets out his frustrations on the world.

Can you see the heart-line of the wicked man? He is not a happy person… not really. He’s looking for happiness in all the wrong places… He’s going about it his way and not Gods way. He’s using some and flattering others. He’s taking advantage of the poor, he’s scoffing and putting down some and burning the city to get peoples attention making his statement by destroying other peoples property. (No, he didn’t burn his own house)… He laughs and rages on and on giving full vent to the discontentment within his heart. That’s his heart-line.

I love the second half of verse 6.

6 ...but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

While the city is burning and Covid-19 is sweeping the globe the righteous man sings and rejoices.

For one thing this one who is rejoicing… Something has radically changed his perspective on life…

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

What on earth can do that? What can cause the righteous to sing when others spread evil, false gossip about him? What can keep him smiling when he is sick or on his death bed or sitting in a prison cell like John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrims Progress or the Apostle Paul who wrote so much of the New Testament?

Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

What’s the heart-line that runs through Paul and Silas and so many Believers around the globe who’s homes are being burned… who are being tortured and killed because they rejoice in Jesus?

Acts 5:41 speaking of Peter and other Apostles after they were beaten says this: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

It’s because Jesus is the good news of great joy for the sinful soul. He’s the pearl of great price for the spiritually bankrupt, He is the great treasure worth leaving all for. He is our righteousness, peace, victory, inheritance our guaranteed hope and so much more now and for eternity.

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 13:20-21 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Bill and George (Brad Chase)

Gather around little children. I want to tell you a story. Are you ready? Ok. Here we go.

Once upon a time there were two little boys. Bill and George. They went to the same school and were in the same class together. They had the same interest and liked to play the same games. They traded lunches like playing cards and even spent the night at each other’s houses. For a time, you might have thought they were brothers. They were inseparable. They were 2 happy boys who enjoyed each other’s friendship.

As the boys got older, some things began to change. Bill’s parents fought. A lot. And eventually they split up. George’s mom and dad ( who were already married) began dating each other! How funny is that?

Bill’s brothers and sisters were never around and didn’t want to play with Bill. They thought he was a baby. George’s brothers and sisters all made it a point to be together and were sure to show their love for each other. They even told each other they loved each other!

After a while, even school changed for the boys. Bill made friends with the “rough” crowd while George hung out with a variety of people. But, Georg’s new friends weren’t trouble makers. See, Bill felt love and acceptance from his new friends. Even though the friends didn’t always do what was right.

High school was crazy for the boys. They had drifted apart and hardly knew each other anymore. Bill started doing what his new friends did instead of doing what was right. Half way through Bills sophomore year, he was arrested and ended up in jail. His friends had talked him into doing some really bad things. George was doing well though. He had lots of friends and was doing well in school. He was even going to church and telling people about Jesus.

Let’s jump ahead in our story. Where are the boys now 10 years after school. First, George. He has strong family ties. He is rooted in God’s word and has many Godly friends. He has a high school diploma and a career he loves.

But Bill. Bill has recently been released from prison for the 3rd time. He has no degree, no family and his so called friends are only there for him when he is doing bad things.

Bill made poor decisions for friends. While some of it was personal choice, there is also an element of influenced decision making. Look at the family life of the two boys. A strong, loving and present family produced a well rounded positive adult with direction. A difunctional family where Bill thought no one cared sent him racing into the arms of a rough crowd that ultimately destroyed is life.

Up till now...

Our passage for the day says...

Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. - Proverbs 13:20-21

The reality is that we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. Disaster peruses each and every one of us. But, God in his love and mercy sent his only son, Jesus, to die on a cross so that through his shed blood, God would be able to look down on us and see us as righteous.

So, what does this mean for our friend Bill? Is it too late for him? No! As long as he is alive, he has an opportunity to make new friends. Better friends. To become a friend of Jesus and therefore being seen as righteous in the eyes of God.

The same is true for you. If you’re listening to this or reading this, and have not yet done so, you still have an opportunity to accept the friendship God is extending through his son and be declared as righteous. Today’s the day the this is the hour to make new friends.

Trust / Gerri Aylor C @ 09/28/20

Today I trusted in myself,

It didn't work I see

I planned the day, just what I'd do,

Twas all in vain for me

I've learned I cannot trust in man,

God's word proved that is true

And you can't trust your feelings;

Hey, that is nothing new

Well, I recalled what must come first

In early morning light

The worship of my Lord my God,

Who makes my day alright

The world will always trick you;

It's ok, “just have your way”

But if you sin, what's coming is

A dark and heavy day

We'll never have the energy

To change our way of life

Until we call on Jesus;

He'll save us from the strife

We often plan our lives so sure;

This is what we all do

But truly God, it's in Your hands,

It's totally up to you!

Gerri

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Proverbs 29:1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. 2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4 By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

Today Solomon takes a look at some commonalities between a wicked person and a wicked Nation.

First let’s consider the individual that is prideful… that's what the metaphor of having a stiff neck indicates. He is set in looking at life the way he wants to in his heart and will not turn his head towards the truth. You know when you stiffen your neck or any joint in your body and you hold it tight as heavy stress is placed against it… there is a possibility of injury.

And the thing is… truth will not back down. It presses down hard against every lie and every worldly promise of satisfaction. It eventually breaks every person who holds a stiff neck because truth always persevere and is always proved right. We see it individually here on earth in the course of our life as we follow false pursuits and if we keep a stiff neck we will see it on judgment day and on into eternity.

So just as wickedness brings pain and brokenness to individuals it also breaks Nations. We see it over and over through recorded history in the Bible with Nations like Egypt and so many of the evil Nations they encountered in their wilderness travels and not only them but all along the way Israel also experienced much neck trouble when they stiffened their neck to the ways of God. Even students of modern history look back and see these same consistencies among nations who have turned away from God and embraced self serving ways. Solomon says how when the wicked are calling the shots for a whole Nation it causes the people to groan.

And you know what?… real bodily neck trouble can cause a person to really groan... Am I saying truth? If you’re like me you know the answer to that. Ive had lots of neck problems in my life.; first as a young boy and then again and again many times. You may know how hard it is to find the right spot to hold your head and you have to wear a brace especially when you lay down and you can hardly drive because you have to move your whole body to look to the right or the left. Just as it is with an individual... A nations neck begins to stiffen its a sign that lots of groaning is in their future.

In closing lets look at what Solomon goes on to say about an individual and nations both in regards to those without a stiff neck to God: 3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,… 4 By justice a king builds up the land,…

So… then there are some who have a neck that is not fixed in cement to go their own way… Instead, they hear God’s word, turn away from wickedness and trust in God…

(turning from sin is called repentance and trusting God is faith).

That’s cool right?

Even in Solomon's day one can see how wickedness and trusting in self brings brokenness beyond healing and looking away from the promises of sin and to God with faith brings salvation.

We see the Gospel in the Old Testament over and over.

As for the individual... Solomon says how if his son loves this kind of wisdom it makes his father or him... glad…

Receiving the Gospel manned our Father in heaven glad as well.

As for a nation that trusts God… they give truth its place of honor and therefore justice… Solomon says how this does not break the nation beyond healing but rather builds up the land.

Pray

Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. 34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. 35 “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”

Alright, remember in the last session Solomon focused on the misuse of alcohol, food and women… We talked about how what we take into our bodies and what we do and our relationships should all be for the glory of God. Today Solomon is quite pointed to what sin he is referring to and spends many words focusing specifically on the misuse of alcoholic beverages. I think this passage can provide us some more touchstones for discernment in all things on our journey through life… Lets look a bit closer…

Solomon lists a number of side effects or repercussions of drinking alcohol in excess. He accentuates the pains it can bring with words like sorrow, woe and strife. He asks: “Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?” Then he gives an answer to his own questions and I believe that what he says has applications which we can add to the lists of touchstones for discernment that we looked at in the last devotion.

So Solomon has posed questions about who it might be who experiences all the miseries he raised.

He says it’s “Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine”.

If he was speaking of food as he did in the last session he might have said: It is those who tarry long at the table… those who overindulge in rich, greasy foods and sweet desserts…

Solomon's words on drink parallel with an obsession with sex that led to the adulterous woman earlier in the chapter. There is a symbiotic seed that is shared between all sin and Solomon is showing us how to see it before it devours us.

Last time we talked about how what leads or motivates a man will determine what he walks towards as he seeks satisfaction. One verse we looked at was Galatians 5:16 which says: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

We talked about how the Spirit of God is good and there is a context in which the flesh is good but one or the other have to lead us and have the final say in what we do through life.

Like food, and all the things that appeal to the flesh… drink also promises satisfaction. Every thing the world offers can claim our worship. Tarrying long over anything can be a red flag for us to ponder. Whether its long hours away from family at the office or the golf course or way too many girls night outs… even the physical blessings God gives his people can become something our heart tarries long over… sometimes even before we get them… its called lust and is the dark word we might use for worship.

Solomon also mentions mixed wine… This makes me think that for some people simple wine is just not enough. And so they push the envelope of a particular sin. Take pornogrophy for example… after a while a particular type of image may not excite someone like before so they mix other genres of porn in their cup. Because sin does not actually satisfy, all sin that is tarried over long will likely lead to mixed sin.

So Solomon goes on and describes a person who does not know where his bruises came from… His own mind and heart plays tricks on him... he’s paranoid. He is blind to his purpose in life. His life is a heavy fog. He’s numb to the joy of true life. He has all of the fallout Solomon spoke of… sorrows, woe and strife… and yet at the end of the day he says: “I must have another drink.”

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For a full transcript and more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 23:19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. 20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, 21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. 27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well. 28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.