Sage part 3

Once again, Proverbs has proven too much for me to handle. I just can’t cover all the verses that need to be covered. In the conclusion of Sage: Activating the Book of Proverbs, we are addressing chapters 18-31. After reading the chapters over and over, I believe there are 3 major topics – we are looking at:
1. Destructive Behaviors to Avoid, 2. Taking Care of the Needy, and 3. Getting Family Right.

Below are the scriptures that address each of the topics. You’ll see why I did not have the time in our worship events to cover them all:

1. Avoid Destructive Behavior (4 things that will destroy you)

Pride:
18:12 Pride leads to destruction; humility leads to honor. (CEV)
18:15 Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights. (MSG)
21:4 Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked— are just plain sin. (MSG)
27:1-2 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. 2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips. (NLT)
27:21 Gold and silver are tested in a red-hot furnace, but we are tested by praise. (CEV)
29:23 Pride will ruin people, but those who are humble will be honored. (NCV)

Laziness:
18:9 Being lazy is no different from being a troublemaker. (CEV)
19:15 Lazy people sleep a lot, and idle people will go hungry. (NCV)
20:4 If you are too lazy to plow, don't expect a harvest. (CEV)
20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! (NLT)
21:25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. (NLT)
22:13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” (NLT)
24:30-34 I once walked by the field and the vineyard of a lazy fool. 31Thorns and weeds were everywhere, and the stone wall had fallen down. 32When I saw this, it taught me a lesson: 33Sleep a little. Doze a little. Fold your hands and twiddle your thumbs. 34Suddenly poverty hits you and everything is gone! (CEV)
26:13-16 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” 14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed. 15 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth. 16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors. (NLT)
28:19 Work your garden—you'll end up with plenty of food; play and party—you'll end up with an empty plate. (MSG)

Alcohol:
20:1 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled; it is not wise to get drunk on them (NCV)
23:29-35 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” (NLT)
31:4-7 Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink. 5Drinking makes you forget your responsibilities, and you mistreat the poor. 6Beer and wine are only for the dying or for those who have lost all hope. 7Let them drink and forget how poor and miserable they feel. (CEV)

Gossip:
18:7-8 The words of fools will ruin them; their own words will trap them. 8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. People like to gobble them up. (NCV)
18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose. (MSG)
20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. (TNIV)
25:23 As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! (NLT)
26:20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. (NLT)

2. Take care of the poor
19:17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! (NLT)
21:13 If you won't help the poor, don't expect to be heard when you cry out for help. (CEV)
21:26 Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give (NLT)
22:9 The LORD blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor. (CEV)
22:16 Whoever gets rich by mistreating the poor, and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor. (NCV)
22:22-23 Don't walk on the poor just because they're poor, and don't use your position to crush the weak, Because GOD will come to their defense; the life you took, he'll take from you and give back to them (MSG)
28:27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed. (NLT)
29:7 The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. (NLT)
31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (NLT)


3. Get family right
18:22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. (NLT)
19:13-14 A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. 14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. (TNIV)
21:9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. (NLT)
21:19 It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. (NLT)
27:15-16 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. 16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands. (NLT)
31:10-31 a godly woman

Disciplining Kids:
18:19 Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. (NLT)
20:7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.. (NLT)
22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (TNIV)
22:15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. (NLT)
23:13-14 Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death. (NLT)
23:24 The father of a good child is very happy; parents who have wise children are glad because of them. (NCV)
29:15 To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. (NLT)
29:17 Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did— they'll turn out delightful to live with. (MSG)

Words to children:
19:26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. (NLT)
20:20 If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness. (NLT)
23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not forget your mother when she is old. (NCV)
23:25 Make your father and mother happy; give your mother a reason to be glad. (NCV)
28:7 Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents. (NLT)

If you made it all the way through that, you deserve a laugh. Here is one of my favorite Proverbs (although I am not exactly sure what it means!):

Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. (KJV)

Someday I’ll preach an entire series on that one!