PROVERBS 29

1. PROVERBS 29

2. WORLDVIEWSDETERMINES HOW YOU LIVE • WHAT IS REAL? (Metaphysics) • Prime Reality • Universe • People • History • WHAT IS TRUTH? (Epistemology) • Prerequisites for knowledge • How do you know what you know? • WHAT IS RIGHT & WRONG? (Ethics) • Universal moral values and duties • Where do they come from? • Are you accountable for how you live?

3. Creator – creation Distinction For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 One Triune Creator Personal Sovereign God Independent Infinite Authority REVELATION Creation Dependent Finite Submissive

4. PROVERBS 29:1REBELLION HAS CONSEQUENCES • He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28

5. PROVERBS 29:16THE WICKED, THE RIGHTEOUS, ETERNITY • When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall. • Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

6. PROVERBS 29:2, 4, 12, 14A LEADER’S WORLDVIEW MATTERS • When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down. If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked. If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever. • The wicked rule for themselves • The righteous rule for the good of others and God’s glory.

7. PROVERBS 29:15,17TEACH LIKE THE LORD TEACHES • The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. • And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Hebrews 12:5-8

8. PROVERBS 29:3A PROMISE & A WARNING • He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. • Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23 • For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:5

9. PROVERBS 29:5, 6WATCH OUT FOR TRAPS • A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices. • Flattery breeds pride & complacency • Always give God the credit when giving or receiving approval and encouragement • Remember the donkey!

10. PROVERBS 29:7,13ONE CREATOR & ONE RACE! • A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the LORD gives light to the eyes of both. • So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 • All physically “in Adam” some spiritually “in Christ”. • Your worldview on people?

11. PROVERBS 29:8, 9, 11, 22DIFFERENT “FRUITS” • Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-2

12. PROVERBS 29:10, 27IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES? • Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked. • And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…Ephesians 2:1-3, 8

13. PROVERBS 29:19, 21ACCOUNTABILITY AT WORK? • By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond. Whoever pampers his servant from childhood will in the end find him his heir. • Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. 1 Timothy 6:1-2

14. PROVERBS 29:18RESPONSE TO GOD’S REVELATION • Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. • And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32 • How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9

15. PROVERBS 29:23ANOTHER WARNING • One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. • Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… Philippians 2:3-5 • Independent destruction vs. dependent safety

16. PROVERBS 29:25, 26WHICH AUTHORITY? • The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. • Culture? Other people? Triune God? • And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 • Who do you fear?