Lesson 6 for February 7, 2015
Most modern text editors use a system called
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
That is, the printed document will look just
like it is displayed on your screen.
Unfortunately, things are not usually that
way in our live: you DON’T get what you see.
Our dreams, thoughts and opinions may
create a distorted view of reality, the people
around us and even ourselves.
“There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
We find a basic piece of advice in Proverbs:
we cannot trust ourselves like the foolish do.
Quite the opposite, in fact; we must trust
God alone. He is always in control, even
when things seem to go wrong.
According to Proverbs 14, what does the fool do?
He pulls his house down (v. 1)
He despises the Lord (v. 2)
He haughty (v. 3)
His trough is clean (v. 4)
He utters lies (v. 5)
He doesn’t find wisdom (v. 6)
He doesn’t have lips of knowledge (v. 7)
He is deceit (v. 8)
He mocks at sin (v. 9)
His house will be overthrown (v. 11)
He is filled with his own ways (v. 14)
He believes every word (v. 15)
He rages and is self-confident (v. 16)
He inherits folly (v. 18)
He will bow before the good (v. 19)
He despises his neighbor (v. 21)
He devises evil (v. 22)
He is led to poverty (v. 23)
His crown is folly (v. 24)
He speaks lies (v. 25)
He is impulsive (v. 29)
He is rottenness to the bones (v. 30)
He oppresses the poor (v. 31)
He is banished in his wickedness (v. 32)
Wisdom is unknown to him (v. 33)
The foolish is haughty (v. 3), he mocks at the truth (v. 6-9), he is
willing to believe everything but the truth (v. 15), he is
impulsive (v. 16, 29) and he is an oppressor (v. 21, 31).
According to Proverbs 14, what does the wise do?
He builds his house (v. 1)
He fears the Lord (v. 2)
He is preserved from pride (v. 3)
He has enough bread (v. 4)
He doesn’t lie (v. 5)
Knowledge is easy to him (v. 6)
He runs away from the fool (v. 7)
He understands his way (v. 8)
He is upright (v. 9)
His tent will flourish (v. 11)
He is satisfied with his ways (v. 14)
He considers well his steps (v. 15)
He fears and departs from evil (v. 16)
He is crowned with knowledge (v. 18)
The evil bow before him (v. 19)
He has mercy on the poor (v. 21)
Mercy and truth belong to him; he devises good (v. 22)
There is profit in his labor (v. 23)
He manages his resources wisely (v. 24)
He delivers souls (v. 25)
He is slow to wrath (v. 29)
He is life to the body (v. 30)
He has mercy on the needy (v. 31)
He has refuge even in his death (v. 32)
Wisdom rests in his heart (v. 33)
The wise is the opposite of the fool. He speaks humbly (v. 3), he values
learning and knowledge (v. 6, 18), he is cautious (v. 15), he is gentle and
patient (v. 29, 33), he is compassionate and sensitive (v. 21, 31).
“Those who would have that
wisdom which is from God must
become fools in the sinful
knowledge of this age, in order to be
wise. They should shut their eyes,
that they may see and learn no evil.
They should close their ears, lest
they hear that which is evil and
obtain that knowledge which would
stain their purity of thoughts and
acts. And they should guard their
tongues, lest they utter corrupt
communications and guile be found
in their mouths.”
E.G.W. (The Adventist Home, section 14, cp. 66, pg. 404)
How may our actions and our
thoughts change when we are
aware that God knows everything
we do, say or think?
Fearing the Lord—the beginning of wisdom—
is to be conscious of His presence at all times
and everywhere.
God is the only one who can perfectly
distinguish between good and evil.
He wants to share His wisdom with us. He
wants us to learn how to distinguish between
good and evil, so we choose well.
In the next verses, Solomon described the joy
of making good decisions, and how important
is to accept God’s sovereignty in our lives.
“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart
has a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15)
 He has a merry heart (v. 13)
 He enjoys a continual spiritual feast (v. 15)
 He doesn’t feel disturbed (v. 16)
 He has love (v. 17)
 His words bring happiness (v. 23)
 He knows God hears his prayers (v. 29)
 His joy brings physical health (v. 30)
Fearing God and accepting His salvation brings joy.
Nothing will take that joy from us
(Romans 8:38-39).
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an
abomination to the Lord, but the
prayer of the upright is His delight.”
(Proverbs 15:8)
God enjoys His communion
with His children.
“The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the
answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:1)
“Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the
last word.” (Proverbs 16:1 MSG)
The story of Balaam is a good example of this
proverb (Numbers 22-24).
He planned to curse the people of Israel, but
God put blessings in his mouth.
We may make our plans, but God will decide
either to let us carry them out or to stop us.
He’s still in control.
Which characteristic do we develop when we
accept God as sovereign in our lives?
Proverbs 16: 18-19; James 4:15
The proud make their own plans and trust
their own strength. The humble put their
plans in God’s hands and accept His will.
E.G.W. (Selected Messages, book 1, section 2, cp. 13, pg. 129)
“When you give up your own will, your own
wisdom, and learn of Christ, you will find
admittance into the kingdom of God. He
requires entire, unreserved surrender. Give
up your life for Him to order, mold, and
fashion. Take upon your neck His yoke.
Submit to be led and taught by Him. Learn
that unless you become as a little child, you
can never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Abiding in Christ is choosing only the
disposition of Christ, so that His interests are
identified with yours. Abide in Him, to be
and to do only what He wills.”