Split scene labeled CONTINUITY and CHANGE, with signs reading CONTINUE (Established Route) and CHANGE (New Direction), and a traveler choosing between paths.

Staying Plugged In

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“The righteous hate lying, but the wicked bring disgust and shame. Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. One person pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth. Riches are a ransom for a person’s life, but a poor person hears no threat. The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out.” (Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

Several years ago, I heard a sermon about generosity. The preacher was talking about the myth that more money will make us happier. He shared some interesting survey data that showed there actually is a point below which more money seems to contribute to overall happiness, but it’s a lot lower than you’d think. This is an easy trap to fall into. We survey our lives, and see all the things we would or could do if we had more money, and conclude that if we had that money, we would feel more accomplished or secure or confident, and happiness would follow in the wake of all that. After eighteen years of ministry, I am in a very different financial place than when I started, yet I can say with confidence that I’m not any happier today specifically because of that. In this next batch of proverbs, Solomon makes this point in a really interesting way. Let’s dive right in.

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Craftsperson welding a gear-driven metal frame in a workshop

Hard Work Really Is Good For You

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“A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke. From the fruit of his mouth, a person will enjoy good things, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.” (Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

We used to garden. It was a big garden too. At least it was for two people from the suburbs who had never really gardened before. We had a member who had been a farmer plow it up for us, and then we did everything else. It was a ton of work that we had to commit to doing each day, but we enjoyed it thoroughly. And, after a few weeks, we enjoyed the fruits of our labors with delight. Eventually life got busy enough and kids got big enough that we couldn’t do it anymore, but it was a good season. Solomon said the wise person experiences something like this, but because of her words. Let’s take a look at this and more as we get into Proverbs 13 today.

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The Source of Forgiveness

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This week we are continuing our teaching series, The Beauty of Forgiveness. Last time we talked about the fact that when we sin, we can go to Jesus to receive forgiveness. This week, with the help of another psalm of David, we are going to explore why exactly that is the case. What is it about Jesus that makes Him the best place to go for forgiveness when we have fallen into sin. The answer has everything to do with who He is. Let’s take a look!

The Source of Forgiveness

In the opening of the second chapter of his international bestseller, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins offered up a description of God that was intended to be provocative. I wonder some if his position hasn’t softened a bit in the years since given some of the public comments he has made recently—including describing himself as a cultural Christian just last year—but at the time, he gave word to something that a whole lot of folks were feeling. Many still do.

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Bride and groom playfully pull a rope during their wedding ceremony while guests cheer.

Whole and Fair Aren’t the Same

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I’ve got another blast from the past for you today. This one is the next part of the marriage series we pulled back out of the mothballs last week. We live in a culture that highly values equality and fairness. That commitment plays itself out in just about every area of our lives including our marriages. Marriages are supposed to be equal relationships of equal partners, right? Well, it depends on what you mean by equal. In this message we are going to do a deep dive into equality, talk about the kind of equality that does and doesn’t exist in marriage, and set our sights on something entirely higher than that (and far more consistent with the teachings of the apostles) as the goal we should be striving for together. Let’s take a look.

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Woodworker relaxing in a rocking chair inside his workshop

Valuing the Fruits of Your Labors

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“Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight. A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity. The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor. Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. A righteous person is careful in dealing with his neighbor, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray. A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game, but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious. There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death.” (Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

When we lived in Virginia, the first few years we were there we had wonderful neighbors. Bobby and Francis were about as good as neighbors come. They became like a set of bonus great-grandparents to our boys. We loved them and they loved us right back. Then they moved out and some other people moved in. They were the opposite in every way. The house and yard that had always been immaculate were trashed. They had noisy, aggressive dogs that were allowed to roam freely and would chase our kids, terrorizing them. They would let their kids eat outside, which usually meant they would eat in our yard and then leave their dishes just sitting there when they were done. They were awful as far as neighbors go. But they were our neighbors. We didn’t need a feud with the people living next door. That would have been bad for everybody. Solomon has some counsel for dealing with neighbors in this final set of proverbs in chapter 12 along with an assortment of other advice. Let’s take a look.

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