Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

The Crown of the Wise

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Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 

‘The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.’ The crown of the wise is their riches, but the fool produces folly by his acts of foolishness.

In Psalms 112:3, we see God sanctions wealth and riches for the righteous man. How foolish to condemn wealth and class all rich men as wicked just because of their prosperity. Wealth is a blessing if used as God intended. It was God’s original plan that all men be prosperous and use all things in creation for their own good and God’s glory. It is still God’s purpose, and when the Messiah reigns, every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree, which indicates there will be universal peace and prosperity (Isa. 2:2-4; 65:20-25; Mic. 4:1-8).

One of the blessings that is God’s will for us is material prosperity (3Jn. 1:2; Jos. 1:5-9; 1Sam. 2:7-8; 1Kin. 2:3-4; 1Chr. 29:12; Ezra 8:22; Job 36:11; Ps. 1:1-3; Matt. 7:7-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 15:7, 16; 2Cor. 9:6-8; Php. 4:19).

Six blessings of wisdom and knowledge: Length of days (3:16); riches and honour; pleasantness (3:17); peace; the tree of life (3:18), and happiness.

In All Labour There is Profit

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Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury. 

‘In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.’ All labour profits, but all talk and no work brings poverty. A man of words is not always a man of deeds.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 warns that if any would not work, neither should he eat. This is a principle based on the part of the curse to make a living by the sweat of the brow (Gen. 3:19). Idleness has always been a curse and always will be. It is wrong to support men who will not work and share their own responsibility.

The wicked are often reduced to poverty and forced to borrow. He doesn’t pay back either because he’s wicked, or because he has no money. The righteous shows mercy and gives his bountiful blessing from God (Ps. 37:21-22, 26).

Twenty statements about God, the rich and poor: Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness (Ps. 107:31). Oh that they would praise Him for His wonderful works. Let them exalt Him in the congregation (Ps. 107:32). Let them praise Him in the assembly of the elders – those who have served God for years. He turns rivers into a wilderness (Ps. 107:33). He turns water springs dry. He makes the fruitful land barren, because of the sins of men (Ps. 107:34). He turns the desert into a well-watered land (Ps. 107:35; Isa. 35:1-10). He turns the dry ground into water springs. There He makes a place for the hungry to live (Ps. 107:36). There He prepares them a site for a city. There He causes them to sow in fruitful fields (Ps. 107:37). He causes them to plant fruitful vineyards. He blesses them with children (Ps. 107:38). He increases their cattle. Again, because of sin, they are brought to poverty (Ps. 107:39). He pours contempt upon princes [leaders] who cause the people to sin (Ps. 107:40). They again wander in barren lands that are cursed because of sin. He blesses the poor (Ps. 107:41). He increases them like a flock.

The Poor vs The Rich

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Proverbs 14:20-21 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich has many friends. He that despises his neighbour sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 

‘The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich has many friends.’ Riches make many fair-weather friends.

‘He that despises his neighbour sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.’ Happy is the completely impartial man (Jas. 2:9-10). If you show any degree of partiality and injustice, you break God’s law. You are a transgressor (1Jn. 3:4).

If one obeys God in all but offends in one point, one is guilty of all. The reason for this is that one sin is enough to damn the soul (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12-21). The obligation to the law is total (Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10). This applies to all laws which have the death penalty (Jas. 2:11; Rom. 1:32; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21). One is guilty of law-breaking whether he breaks one or many laws (Jas. 2:11). The authority which gave one commandment gave all of them, and the one who resists Him by breaking one law is guilty of the whole.

Evil vs Good

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Proverbs 14:19, 22 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 

‘The evil bow before the good.’ The wicked will be brought down to respect the righteous.

Sin has two main results: Present shame and emptiness (Rom. 6:21) and future, eternal death and hell, the end of a life of sowing to the flesh (Rom. 6:21-23; 8:13; Gal. 6:7-8; Rev. 20:6, 10-15).

The wicked will be resurrected to eternal punishment and damnation 1,000 years after the resurrection of the righteous (John 5:29; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:4-6, 11-15; 21:8; 22:15). The wicked will be resurrected to judgment and punishment in contrast to the righteous who will be raised to everlasting life and eternal freedom from judgment (John 5:24).

A Wise Man Fears

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Proverbs 14:16-17 A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident. He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. 

‘A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.’ A wise man fears God and never trusts himself to depart from evil, but the fool boasts self-confidence.

‘He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.’ A quickly angered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked schemes is hated.

Characteristics of a wise man: He hears and obeys parents (1:5; 23:24). He increases knowledge (1:5; 12:15). He profits by examples (6:6). He profits by rebukes (9:8; 15:31). He increases wisdom (9:9). He is diligent in business (10:5). He welcomes commandments (10:8). He lays up knowledge (10:14). He controls lips, his tongue (10:10; 17:28). He rules well (11:29). He is a success in soul-winning (11:30). He loves company of wise men (13:20). He builds for the future (14:1). He departs from evil (14:16). He utters knowledge rightly (15:2, 7). He makes parents happy (23:15). He seeks knowledge (18:15). He lives in soberness (20:1). He solves problems of men (21:22). He increases strength (24:5). He keeps the law (28:7). He turns away from contention (29:8). He controls himself in times of strife (29:11).

The Simple

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Proverbs 14:15, 18 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 

‘The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going.’ The simple man is gullible, but the wise man discerns between the ways of good and evil.

‘Simple’ [Hebrew: pethiy], inconsiderate; unwary; artless, guileless, and unsuspecting; those who, through lack of knowledge and experience, act rashly and unwisely (1:22, 32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 16; 14:15, 18; 19:25; 21:11; 22:3; 27:12). Simple ones love simplicity, silly, deceptive, flattering, and enticing talk and conduct; scorners delight in scorning wisdom and fools despise knowledge (1:22).

The message to the simple and those who lack understanding is to forsake the foolish things of life and live by going in the way of understanding (9:4-6).

‘The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.’ The simple are born with a disposition to folly, but the wise embrace knowledge.

The Backslider – Part 11

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

Twenty-one examples of beings fallen from grace (continues): [18] Many young widows waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their first faith and were damned (1Tim. 5:11-13). [19] Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and overthrew the faith of others (2Tim. 2:17-19). [20] Apostates were once saved but fell away and departed from the faith. See Scripture on Romans 1:21-32; Hebrews 6:4-9; 10:26-29 and 2Peter 2:20-22. [21] Many in the congregations were once saved but later threatened with destruction if they did not repent (Rev. 2:5, 10, 16, 20-23; 3:3, 11, 16).

Besides the above examples of being cut off from God because of sin, the Bible abounds with plain laws, commands and warnings of punishment for those who return to sin. These make it clear that there are no unconditional promises and covenants in Scripture. Passages where no conditions are expressed are automatically limited by hundreds of kindred verses stating conditions to be met. It is not always necessary to state the conditions in every passage. When stated in some, it is clear they apply to all companion scriptures.

The Backslider – Part 10

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

Twenty-one examples of beings fallen from grace (continues): [17] Judas was once saved because (continues): (11) He freely received power to heal and it was commanded that he freely give (Matt. 10:8). (12) He had the peace of God to give to a home as did all others of the twelve (Matt. 10:13). (13) He was a sheep among wolves like others of the twelve (Matt. 10:16). (14) He had the Holy Spirit in him (Matt. 10:19-20). (15) He was ordained by Christ to the ministry as much as the others (Mark 3:14). (16) He was just as successful in preaching and healing as others (Mark 6:12-13; Luke 9:6, 10). (17) He was an apostle, meaning he was divinely called and sent to do the work of God (Luke 6:13; Acts 15:33). (18) Judas fell by sin from the ministry and apostleship (Acts 1:25). How could he do this if he was always a sinner, as some say? (19) satan entered into Judas at the close of Christ’s ministry, proving that he was not always an agent of the devil, much less one from the beginning (Luke 22:3; John 13:2). Therefore, he backslid and became a thief (John 12:6), a devil (John 6:70, Greek: adversary), and the betrayer. To make Judas the very devil, a devil from the beginning, and an unsaved man never in grace is to ignore the plain facts of Scripture. (20) He once had eternal life, as proved by John 17:2 where we read of Christ giving eternal life “to as many as Thou had given him.” Then in John 17:12, it is stated that “those that Thou gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.” It is clear, then, that Judas was given to Jesus and Jesus had once given him eternal life.

To be continued…

The Backslider – Part 9

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

Twenty-one examples of beings fallen from grace (continues): [17] Judas was once saved because: (1) He was a familiar friend of Christ (Ps. 41:9). Would Christ call any unsaved man or the devil (as some suppose Judas to be) “mine own familiar friend”? (2) Christ trusted Judas at one time, or He would not have said “in whom I trusted” (Ps. 41:9) [Hebrew: batach] means to confide in, as to be secure without fear. Used in this sense 107 times. Would He have confided in such a man if he had always been untrustworthy? (3) Judas ate Christ’s bread (Ps. 41:9). This always assures Eastern people of very personal and intimate friendship. (4) He had his name written in the Book of Life with the righteous (cp. Acts 1:20 with Ps. 69:25-28). (5) He was a bishop of the congregation Christ is building (Acts 1:20 with Ps. 109:8). (6) He had part of the apostolic ministry (Acts 1:17, 25). (7) Christ gave him power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. This was true of the twelve, Judas included (Matt. 10:1-4). (8) He was sent forth as one of the twelve to represent Christ among Israel (Matt. 10:5-6). (9) He was called to teach the gospel (Matt. 10:7). (10) He was commanded to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Matt. 10:8; Mark 3:14-15; 6:7; Luke 9:1-2).

To be continued…

The Backslider – Part 8

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

Twenty-one examples of beings fallen from grace (continues): [10] Saul, who had a change of heart and received the Holy Spirit (1Sam. 10:9-13, 21-24), went into spiritualism (1Sam. 28:1-25; Lev. 19:31; 20:6). He lost the Holy Spirit (1Sam. 16:12-23), and died by suicide and was cursed by God (1Sam. 31:1-6; 1Chr. 10:13-14). [11] Many disciples of Jesus left Him and His grace and followed Him no more (John 6:66). They believed for a while (Luke 8:13) and drew back to perdition (Heb. 10:26-39). To receive Christ and confess Him for only a moment brings the new birth, so those who believed for a while had the grace to fall from (John 1:12; 1Jn. 5:1). [12] Ananias and Sapphira were saved and of one heart and one soul with all the Christians (Acts 4:32-5:1), until they agreed to lie to the Holy Ghost, at which time they were killed (Acts 5:1-11). “Great grace was upon them all,” including Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:33; 5:1). [13] The Galatians, who had begun in the Spirit and had received the Spirit (Jude 1:3-4), were soon removed from Christ and grace (Jude 1:5-6). [14] Demas, a preacher in the early congregation (Col. 4:14; Phm. 1:24), went back into sin, having loved this present world (2Tim. 4:10). If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. He is lost if he does not come back to God (1Jn. 2:15-17). [15] Hymenaeus and Alexander were one time in the faith but made a shipwreck of it and put away faith in the true God (1Tim. 1:19-20). [16] Many others coveted money and erred from the faith (1Tim. 6:10, 21).

To be continued…