The Two Paths of Proverbs

It's nice to see everyone again and ready for the message today. And it does have to do with the second part of the book of Proverbs. It's called the Two Paths of Proverbs. And this would be part two. Proverbs traces two paths for a young man in his life. The path of wisdom, or the path of folly and cursings. And we can basically catalog the book of Proverbs into two columns. We can just go through and show one has to do with the way of the wise and the other the way of the fool, the wicked fool. We already covered that first part of the way of the fool who doesn't respect God nor his ways and wants to do things on his own sinful way. And of course, nobody is perfectly wise and nobody is perfectly foolish. We all have a spectrum. We all are imperfect. So nobody gets 100% on these columns. But we can certainly learn so much by going over these points. We all have that precious gift of free will. And our lives will be greatly shaped by the decisions we make more than anything else. More than heredity. More than environment. More than luck. Because decisions have a long-term effect on our lives.

And as we saw the last time, that both paths have three stages and different results. The way of the fool goes from being simple and then graduating to being a fool and ending up being a sconer, which is a person that is very negative, very egoistical, very damaging toward others. But we also have the way of the wise, which first is being attentive and obedient. Being attentive and obedient. Then you graduate to being prudent in your life. And finally, being wise, which is the ultimate goal. So now we're going to focus on the path of wisdom, which is certainly much more positive. But you wouldn't know about wisdom unless you knew about folly. And so it's important to see that these are two ways of life that we can choose for ourselves. Especially young people, they're going to choose whether they will end up being wise or foolish before God with the decisions they have made.

So let's go to Proverbs chapter 1 verses 1 through 7.

Tells us right away what the purpose of this book, the wisest book ever written, which is part of the Bible, inspired by God, mostly written by King Solomon when he was in the path of righteousness. Unfortunately, he let his wives veer him to the path of folly. And from what we see that he never repented, never tells us about it. He just became a shadow of himself. So we do have free will. We can go from the path of wisdom to the path of folly or the path of folly to the path of wisdom. It says here in verse 1, the Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. So he's clearly identified, which God gave him so much wisdom. He said he would never give another human being. So much wisdom as he did Solomon. Of course, that's excluding Jesus Christ.

Says verse 2, the purpose to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding. So here are three key words in the book of Proverbs. One of them has to do with instruction. That word, musar in the Hebrew, deals with teaching the facts. Just like you do in grade school, you don't start out learning high school algebra. No, you start with the ABCs, learning about math, and addition, subtraction, all of these things. Very basic type of knowledge. But then you go to the second here, understanding. That word, bina, b-i-n-a-h, it means not only the knowledge that you have, that you're instructed, but how it works.

And it's interesting that it follows what you do in grade school. You go from basics of mathematics and everything else, and then you learn more about math and how to do a lot more formulas and mathematic calculations. And finally, you come to that golden word in the book of Proverbs, wisdom, which in the Hebrew is chakma.

Chakma. This is not only about learning facts, or how a thing works, but it's learning why it works. You've heard me use that example of a person that's going to learn to drive an automobile. And first of all, you have to be able to know and pass a test, a driving test. You have to show that you're able to do it. And these are the basic things. Now, if I ask my wife, do you know where the valves of the cylinder are, or the distributor, or things like that?

She said, no way. But she knows how to drive well. She has what would be the equivalent of that instruction. She does have instruction on driving. She passed a driving test. She has a good record. So she knows what it takes to drive a car. But understanding, musar, goes farther because there you have to know the parts of a car and how they work together. And so this would be more like an automobile mechanic.

As you go in and you hear this clicking or some type of odd noise, and he has to go and find out what's happening in the car. There are many parts that could make different types of noises. And most persons don't have that proficiency to be able to do it on his own. And so you go to the mechanic, and the mechanic finally figures out, well, this is what's happening with the car.

And so he has more than just knowledge. He has an understanding of how the car works. But then, if you ask the mechanic, can you tell me the ratio between the piston and the force that is going on in the cylinder and how the valves, the measurements of all, he would have no idea. That's knowledge beyond his understanding. And it goes to what is wisdom, which is why it works the way it is. There you have to have mathematics involved, calculation of ratios.

You have to know a bit of physics to understand how a cylinder thrusts up its power and all of this. And so, just like you have in the physical world, you also have it in the spiritual world. You have to first have instruction. Know what is God's way, how he wants us to drive our lives. And it is through God's commandments, his instructions. We have to become proficient to understand God's laws.

First of all, learn the Ten Commandments. Those are the basics. He gave it to humanity in five great principles. In one tablet and another tablet, he gave five others. And so, we have the Ten Commandments. And our church is based on keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus. So, it's not enough to just know you have to have Christ living in you to be able to apply it properly.

But you go from basic knowledge to more profound knowledge of Scripture. So, it says in Proverbs 1 verse 3, it continues with the purpose to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. See, these are some of the most profound topics in the entire Bible. How to be just, how to know how to judge according to God's Word. Equity, which means to be impartial and being equal to people. Don't treat other people in different ways. You apply the same principles. To give prudence to the simple. There's that term prudence, which means also how to apply.

Wisdom to the young man, knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and increase learning. The person that is following God's way will hear, will adapt it, and will apply it in his life. It's not enough to hear it. You have to live it. I remember when I began in this church, at the age of 17, you know, I had no idea about wisdom. If you asked me at that time, well, do you know what wisdom is? I have no idea. I've heard it. I know it's something that has to deal with something good in a human being, but as far as understanding the concept, I had no idea. It was so far from me at that young age, but I tried to focus on that first part about instruction, about learning the basics of the Bible, of being able to be attentive and obedient to what God said in his Word. That I could do. Now, the wise, I didn't know very much. I just knew the what. That's the Sabbath. I knew I had to keep it, and I was breaking it at that time. And so I had to change my life and my lifestyle. I had to start keeping the Sabbath. Now, would I understand all about the wisdom of the Sabbath day and everything? Of course not, but I knew it had to be practical. I had to put it into practice, just like so many here. I'm not some exception. This is what a person comes across.

Now, little did I know that from practicing these things, you would eventually go from instruction to being prudent and with wisdom. That's what takes you later on. I had a guiding principle that I learned in one of the first booklets I read back in 1970, which was, why were you born? The booklet, why were you born? How many have read that? I think a great majority. Well, that was one Herbert Armstrong wrote at that time, a little booklet, but at the end he had a scripture. That scripture and how he explained it showed me the way. What I could do as a young man at that time, Psalm 111 verse 10. 111 verse 10.

It says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, having a deep respect of God. A good understanding have all those who do his commandments. His praise endures forever. And so I went ahead and cut, because in those days they didn't have photocopiers, so I cut that little part about this scripture. This is what Herbert Armstrong says, because I wrote it here in my Bible. Every Bible I've had, I've always had that scripture, and this is what he wrote. Knowledge is of no value except as it is applied. Not the hearers, but the doers of the law shall be justified. The command to study is for the purpose of putting the instruction into action that we may quote show ourselves approved unto God. And it is written, a good understanding have they that do his commandments. Since the purpose of the knowledge is to do, the doing is the condition requiring right knowledge. Bible study is of no value, unless it is the proportion, or it says here, is of no value only in the proportion as knowledge revealed is incorporated into your character and actually living it. So you know to me, hey, it's not rocket science. You trust, you have faith, and you apply it, and then you evaluate, well, how did that work out? Well, I learned it works. God started helping me in my life, making right decisions and avoiding wrong decisions.

And that's the case of all of you here.

So the way of wisdom is, I like the way Vine's dictionary of Greek words explains it. This is on the key term, cha'kma. It says, religious experience in the Old Testament was not a routine, a ritual, or a momentary faith experience. See, that's what I was doing as a Catholic. I was doing a ritual. I was doing all of these routines.

And some evangelicals, they have what is called this faith experience. Oh, they've been saved. But it doesn't really have profound effects and lasting effects in most people. It was viewed as a mastery of the art of living in accordance with God's expectations based on His Word. The term wisdom, cha'kma, is found 141 times in the Old Testament.

And it is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time. So usually a wise person is one that, wow, he made the right decision. Wow, this is what God really wanted him to do, and he did it.

And I've got my version of this, which is wisdom is doing what is right before God, knowing how to do it, when to do it, where to do it, and why you do it. In other words, having the right reason for it. So if you got the right reason, you know what it is, when to do it, where to do it, how to do it, that's going to help you a lot in life. And Vines' dictionary continues about wisdom. It says, the consistency of making the right choice is an indication of maturity, dealing with spiritual maturity and development. So consistency. See, it's not just a one-shot deal. It's not something one does on occasion. The next day contradicts everything he did before. No, there's consistency in life that you've established these right habits before God.

Goes on to say that prerequisite for wisdom is the fear or deep respect of God. The person who seeks chakma diligently will receive understanding. It says in Proverbs 2 6, for the Lord gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

And then Proverbs 3 verse 1 through 10 mentions how many advantages there are to having wisdom. Proverbs chapter 3 verse 1 through 10.

Solomon says, my son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands.

Actually, God was talking to Solomon. My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands. For length of days and long life and peace, they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Because these spiritual principles govern people that are converted and people that are unconverted. As Cecil B. DeMille, famous director that produced the movie The Ten Commandments, when they asked him about them, he said, well, you can't really break the Ten Commandments because the Ten Commandments actually break you. It's like you can't break the laws of gravity, but the laws of gravity will break you. Jump off a 10-story building. You're not breaking gravity. It's just the effect of defying gravity that will have its result. And I've found that spiritual laws cannot be breached. They're there. Whether we apply them or not, just we'll see the results afterwards.

Then he goes on to say, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. That's one of the great mistakes we make. We try to just think we can figure this out on our own. We don't need to ask God. We don't need to trust Him. It says, In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. If you recognize Him, if you want the right job for yourself, if you want the right wife or the right husband, if you want the right friendships and things, He will direct our paths. It says, Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones. So actually there's health benefits. Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first fruit of all your increases. Talking about the tithing principle. So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. So don't touch what is God's part of what we produce. So the first stage in the path of wisdom is being obedient and attentive to God's Word. Notice in Proverbs 13 verse 13.

Proverbs 13 verse 13, it says, He who despises the Word, talking about the Word of God, will be destroyed. But He who fears the commandment will be rewarded. Again, if you despise it, you don't think it's going to apply to you. Well, you're going to end up being destroyed. But He who fears the commandment deeply respects it, will be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life to turn one away from the snares of death. So there are principles. There's discipline. There's training of the wise. And then to turn away from the snares of death. You don't get close to all those temptations. Keep them away.

Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.

So a prudent man acts with knowledge. He's careful. But a fool lays open his folly. A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful ambassador brings help. These are some of the principles that we have. And it says in verse 18, poverty and shame will come to Him who disdains correction, but He who regards a rebuke will be honored. So along the way, we have to learn humility, accept correction, learn the lesson, and move on, and try not to do it again.

In chapter 14, in verse 15, it says, the simple believes every word. He's very gullible, but the prudent considers well his steps. He's careful. He doesn't make a decision until he's ready. I'm not going to step there, but the fool, he just rushes in. That's where part of that saying about fools rush in where even angels fear to tread.

Goes on to say a wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self confident. A quick tempered man acts foolishly and a man of wicked intentions is hated. The simple inherit folly, that's how they end up, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The evil will bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of righteous. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes evil prospers and very concerned about it. But God says it will eventually God will intervene. He will take care of things.

He knows what's going on. He and Jesus Christ, nobody can remove them from their throne, from their power. Sometimes we have to learn patience. We have to learn endurance.

And so the moral of the story of this first stage of being attentive and obedient to God's word is a field well cared for will not have weeds growing, and it will produce abundant fruit.

And I have here a person that is such a great gardener. That's Bob Dichus. And I've been to his garden, and believe me, he starts early, gets all the soil prepared. And when he finishes, you're in the fall. It's such a great crop. Me, I got to the point where I grew a couple of things, and then the bugs and everything just took over. I never could get the soil right and fertilizer. I remember I had some tomato plants that I had, and it took my whole six months to prepare all of them. And then I had like about six tomatoes. And I said, here, honey, here are my ten dollar tomatoes, because that's how much it took me with all the stuff. So some people just have natural green thumbs, like Bob here in Virginia. But the principle is this, that if you know and you have wisdom about growing things, you're going to have it well cared for. You'll know how to take care of the weeds, and it's going to produce abundant fruits. And that has been the case when I visited Bob Diches. The second stage is the person of understanding, the prudent who grasp the true meaning and goals of life. He tells us in Proverbs 4, verse 1, you really strive to learn these things. Proverbs chapter 4, verse 1 through 8, it says, Here, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to no understanding. For I give you good doctrine. Do not forsake my law. When I was my father's son, tender, and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me and said to me, Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commands and live. Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you. She will bring you honor when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory she will deliver to you. Hear my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

And so, of course, wisdom comes from God, but you have to be taking care of that garden.

God is not going to do the gardening for you, but He will bless it. He will bless the crops, the efforts. Notice in Proverbs chapter 9, in verse 7. Proverbs chapter 9 verse 7.

It says, He who corrects a scoffer, which is the last stage of a fool's path, gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. So, a person sometimes says, so far gone that if you try to correct them, they'll just attack you, and they're just too far gone. And so you have to step away, not rebuke.

Keep away. It says, Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. He will appreciate your concern for that welfare of the person. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. You see, that humility, that he's teachable, and he can just assimilate all of this. Verse 10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. In Proverbs 13 and verse 20, it says, He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. So, a wise person of understanding chooses good friends that have faith and prudence. If you choose wrong friends, you eventually will become like them. He says, He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. That's not going to last. That's not going to be blessed by God, but a person that follows God, you'll have enough to give not only his children, but his grandchildren. Part of that as well. The blessings. So, the moral of this second stage, good fertilizer and good seeds and care will produce healthy and abundant plants. So, you keep investing in wisdom that the fruits will be born out. And then we come to the third stage, the path of the wise. Proverbs chapter 3 verse 13. Proverbs chapter 3 verse 13. It says, Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver. For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver. And her gain, then, fine gold. You know, gold can go up, it can go down, it can get lost, but this wisdom is retained over time. She is more precious than rubles, her rubies. And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her having wisdom at the end of your days. That's what we're talking about. Length of days is her right hand and her left hand riches in honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her and happy are all who retain her.

In verse 35, the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Let's go to Proverbs 12 now, verses 1 and 2. And again, it's good to rehearse this, apply it to each one of us.

We can never get enough instructions from this wonderful book. Proverbs 12, verse 1, it says, whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intention he will condemn. Verse 8, a man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. So in the long run, people will be respected following the path of the wise. And no matter what, they try to impress the path of the fools, the people are not happy with those consequences at all.

Proverbs 12.

Let's see.

Oh, I read this one. Let's see.

Proverbs chapter 12, verse 1. Oh, I read this one already.

It's Proverbs 17, verse 27. Now, these are wonderful teaching tools that we can apply. Proverbs 17, verse 27.

It says, he who has knowledge spares his words, not a person that just always too talkative and loose of tongue. He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Proverbs chapter 25, verse 27.

It says, it is not good to eat much honey. So to seek one's own glory is not glory, not before God.

So you learn. Again, don't count your money in front of the poor. This type of thing where, oh, you want people to be impressed with what you have, and boasting over that. Well, God says that's not the proper way. Just like if you eat too much honey, it's going to make you sick. And so to seek one's own glory is not glory. You know, if you have blessed by God, be appreciative of it. But don't show people and try to impress them or make them feel, look what I have and you don't have that type of thing.

Needlessly creating envy and bad will in people. Proverbs 27, verse 2. It says, let another man praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.

So again, it's so important to just be humble.

Don't think too highly of oneself. And the result, Proverbs 22 and verse 4, it says, by humility and the fear of the Lord, that deep respect for God, are riches and honor and life. Now, in the New Testament, we have a classic definition of what wisdom is as well. In James chapter 3, verse 17 and 18.

Well, let's go a little before that. Let's go to James 3, verse 13. James 3, verse 13, it starts the whole thread of the subject. It says, who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic, for where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

So you see the two spirits involved here. So the moral of the story of this third stage is that healthy plants, weeded and fertilized, will produce lasting and abundant good fruit. Not just for one season of a person's life, but all the seasons, just like the theme of the Women's Enrichment Weekend with Psalm 1 verse 3. I like to read it from the New International Version. This is what the ladies had in their theme for this weekend. It says, That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers.

So to finish, let's go to Galatians chapter 6 verse 7 through 10. Galatians 6 chapter 7 through 10.

Let's read that.

It says, Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. In other words, carnal, his carnal nature. If that's what he's developing, he's going to reap corruption. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, because it's a long trek. It's all the way to the last breath. For in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. We don't give up in this race toward the kingdom. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. In other words, the brethren.

So these are the two paths. Which one will we choose all the way to the end of our lives? Because the final record has not been written yet.