WEBVTT

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 Turn with me to Proverbs chapter 6.

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 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour,

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 have given your pledge for a stranger,

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 if you have snared in the words of your mouth,

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 caught in the words of your mouth,

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 then do this, my son, and save yourself,

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 for you have come into the hand of your neighbour.

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 Go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbour.

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 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber.

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 Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

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 like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

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 Go to the ant, O sluggard.

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 Consider her ways and be wise,

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 without having any chief, officer, or ruler.

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 She prepares her bread in summer

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 and gathers her food in harvest.

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 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

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 When will you arise from your sleep?

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 A little sleep, a little slumber,

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 a little folding of the hands to rest,

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 and poverty will come upon you like a robber

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 and want like an armed man.

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 A worthless person, a wicked man,

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 goes about with crooked speech,

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 winks with his eyes,

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 signals with his feet,

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 points with his fingers,

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 with perverted heart desires evil,

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 continually sowing discord.

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 Therefore, calamity will come upon him suddenly.

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 In a moment he'll be broken beyond healing.

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 There are six things that the Lord hates,

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 seven that are an abomination to him.

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 Forty eyes,

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 a lying tongue,

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 and hands that shed innocent blood.

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 A heart that devises wicked plans.

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 Feet that make haste to run to evil.

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 A false witness who breathes out lies.

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 And one who sows discord among brothers.

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 We're going to jump back into Proverbs this morning.

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 For those who are visiting,

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 we tend to have a sort of series that we do

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 during the school holiday periods.

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 At the moment we've been working through Proverbs.

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 Proverbs is something that resonates with us really easily,

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 I think,

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 because it's all about wisdom.

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 It's about seeking wisdom on the one hand,

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 and by contrast,

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 then avoiding foolishness.

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 That's essentially the breakdown of the book of Proverbs.

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 And as I say,

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 that resonates with us

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 because I think every single one of us here this morning,

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 in some sense,

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 is a philosopher.

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 The word philosophy

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 simply is two words in Greek.

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 Philo,

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 which means love,

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 and Sophia,

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 which means wisdom.

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 So,

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 I think we're all lovers of wisdom

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 in our own form.

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 That is,

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 every one of us here

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 is committed to some form of living

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 which you would consider to be the good life.

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 Some form of what it is to be a good human being

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 in relation to other human beings

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 and in relation to our world and our society.

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 So,

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 in that sense,

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 we're all philosophers.

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 Now,

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 we love wisdom,

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 but at the same time,

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 in our hearts,

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 we know that people can be incredibly stupid.

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 We know that we ourselves

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 can be incredibly stupid.

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 I know I can be incredibly stupid.

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 So,

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 again,

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 that resonates,

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 that divide

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 between desiring to be wise

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 and yet sometimes find ourselves

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 and yet sometimes find ourselves

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 to be dopey beyond belief.

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 And we can see that all around us

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 because all around us in our society,

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 there's codes of conduct,

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 professional,

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 personal standards of behavior.

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 and we find them now in just about every area of our society.

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 So,

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 you have them in industry,

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 you have them in business,

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 you have them in sport,

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 you have them in agriculture even,

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 you have them in advertising,

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 social media,

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 government,

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 families,

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 and so on and so forth.

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 Professional standards,

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 codes of conduct.

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 But then the question arises,

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 who sets these standards

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 in these codes of conduct?

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 And once we dig down into them a little bit,

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 we find

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 that often those codes of conduct

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 simply reflect

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 the mood of society

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 at that particular time.

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 The mood of the interest group

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 or the culture

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 or the interest group

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 writing the standards.

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 And mostly,

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 and I was looking through

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 a few of them this week,

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 mostly,

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 those codes of conduct

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 limit themselves

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 at trying to legislate behavior.

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 So,

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 it's,

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 you shouldn't do this

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 in this environment.

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 They just don't even go down the track

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 of trying to address character.

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 They don't talk about

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 how you should be

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 as a person.

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 They're just talking about

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 what you should or shouldn't do

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 as a person.

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 And that allows people

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 wriggle room

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 to get around

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 these codes of conduct

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 because I think we'd know

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 there's a lot of

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 high publicity situations

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 where it's clear

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 that people have only

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 given lip service

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 to the code of conduct

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 that exists

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 in their particular area

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 of society.

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 And I think the reason

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 why that happens

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 is

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 that because people

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 individually

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 are committed

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 to a form of wisdom

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 driven by autonomy,

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 driven by self-interest.

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 So,

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 they might be part

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 of a group

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 or a culture

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 or an industry

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 or an organization

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 that has

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 an overall code of conduct,

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 but individuals

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 might be committed

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 to autonomy.

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 And that expresses itself

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 and saying,

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 well, look,

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 I know how to do life.

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 I don't have

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 somebody else telling me.

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 I won't have

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 somebody else telling me

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 how to do it,

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 how to behave.

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 I know better

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 than everyone else.

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 And I will express myself

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 as I see fit.

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 And we see the evidence

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 of that all around us,

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 don't we?

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 We only have to listen

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 to the news.

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 So,

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 on the one hand,

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 this whole topic

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 of wisdom

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 and becoming wise

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 resonates with us.

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 But we see

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 a lot of problems

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 in there as well.

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 What is it to be wise?

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 What is it to be foolish?

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 Wisdom in the Bible

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 is very clear.

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 Wisdom in the Bible

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 is a reflection

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 of God's character.

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 It's a reflection

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 it's God's standard

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 because it's a reflection

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 of God's character.

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 Wisdom in the Bible

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 is primarily

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 about being something.

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 And the connection

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 in the Bible then

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 is if we be something,

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 if we are something

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 in essence,

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 then that will overflow

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 into what we do

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 in myriad situations

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 in life.

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 The back story

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 of Proverbs

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 is in 1 Kings

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 chapter 3

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 and chapter 4

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 where King Solomon

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 prayed that he might

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 reflect God's character.

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 Why?

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 Because he was

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 God's representative

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 ruler over God's people

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 and he said,

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 I want to rule

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 over these people

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 as if you yourself

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 were here ruling,

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 Lord.

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 How do I do that?

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 I need to have a character

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 like you, Lord.

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 So he prays

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 for that.

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 And what does the Lord

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 give him?

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 1 Kings 3 and 4

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 The Lord gives him

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 the gift of wisdom.

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 He longed

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 for discernment,

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 a truly understanding

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 heart,

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 so he might lead

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 God's people

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 into the good life

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 that God intended

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 for them to have.

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 and God gives him

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 the gift of wisdom

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 to be able to do that.

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 So therefore,

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 the good life

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 according to Proverbs,

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 according to the Bible,

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 the good life,

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 the wise life

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 is the life

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 that's lived

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 under

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 God's rules,

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 the life that reflects

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 God's character.

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 The life that's

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 lived in the light

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 of God's reality

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 and it's expressed

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 in love,

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 fairness,

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 compassion,

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 because that's

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 God's character.

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 Love,

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 compassion,

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 and fairness

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 to others.

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 Now,

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 in stark contrast

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 to that,

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 the Bible also

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 clearly sets out

00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:10.360
 what it is

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 to be a fool.

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 And the foolish life

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 is,

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 by contrast,

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 that life

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 that's lived

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 in determined

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 rebellion against God,

00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:21.559
 lived in autonomy,

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 from God.

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 And therefore,

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 the Bible would say

00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:27.659
 that the foolish life

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 is a contrived reality.

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 It's something

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 that we imagine

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:31.899
 in our minds

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 or we try and formulate

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 in our minds

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 and then try and make work

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 in practice.

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 It's a contrived reality.

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 It's not God's reality.

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 And it reflects

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 foolishness

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 and reflects

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 what the Bible

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 would call

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 a sin distorted,

00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:49.600
 a sort of

00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:50.400
 grotesque

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 sense of self

00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.320
 which is expressed

00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.000
 in the character

00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:55.840
 of self-interest,

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 injustice,

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 and carelessness.

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 And there you've got

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 the contrast.

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 God's character,

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 God's reality,

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 contrived reality,

00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:10.300
 our own

00:10:10.300 --> 00:10:13.019
 basic essential

00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:15.039
 sinful character

00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.960
 coming to the surface.

00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:17.759
 And so then

00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.779
 Proverbs takes

00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:19.480
 one more step

00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:20.180
 and says,

00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:21.980
 pushes us to the fact

00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:23.259
 that true wisdom

00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.960
 is the desperate

00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.180
 need of our world.

00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:33.039
 Now there's no doubt,

00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:33.279
 I think,

00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:34.279
 that every single person

00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:34.840
 in this room

00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:35.639
 would agree

00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.659
 that we need wisdom

00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:38.480
 in our leaders

00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.360
 if we're going to

00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:41.580
 survive as a country,

00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:42.019
 if we're going to

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:42.899
 thrive as a nation.

00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:44.240
 Nobody would argue

00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.580
 with that.

00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.259
 The question then,

00:10:46.319 --> 00:10:47.220
 the big step to take

00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:47.419
 is,

00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:48.659
 what do you think

00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:49.500
 true wisdom is?

00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.360
 The Bible says

00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.159
 true wisdom

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:54.919
 is God's wisdom,

00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:55.899
 God's reality,

00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:56.860
 God's character.

00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:56.940
 character.

00:10:58.460 --> 00:10:59.220
 That's what is

00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.019
 the desperate need

00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:00.620
 of our world,

00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:01.300
 the desperate need

00:11:01.300 --> 00:11:01.919
 of our nation.

00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.240
 Because God's wisdom,

00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:04.600
 therefore,

00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:05.659
 is the healer

00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:07.940
 of our old,

00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:09.240
 distorted,

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.120
 self-interested world.

00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:14.879
 God's wisdom

00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.300
 is the restorer

00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:17.139
 of a true sense

00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:17.779
 of self.

00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:20.620
 And it's expressed

00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.440
 in the life

00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.420
 lived under God.

00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:24.240
 So Proverbs,

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:24.659
 my friends,

00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:25.259
 is ultimately

00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:26.100
 about character.

00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:28.879
 Character

00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.080
 and the challenge

00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:31.340
 for God's people

00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:32.059
 to reflect

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.439
 God's character

00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:34.240
 in all of life.

00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.259
 So the formula

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.500
 is really quite simple

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.019
 here this morning.

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:37.500
 We're going to look

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.080
 at more details

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:38.779
 from chapter 6.

00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:39.519
 But if you want

00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.500
 to be a wise person,

00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:41.899
 then you ought to be

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:43.299
 seeking with all

00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:43.860
 your energy

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:45.700
 to reflect God's character

00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:46.840
 in whatever situation

00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:47.879
 you find yourself in.

00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.819
 In chapter 6,

00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.100
 verses 1 to 19,

00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:53.840
 the passage we report

00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.299
 this morning,

00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:55.240
 is just another

00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.219
 sort of contrast.

00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:58.159
 The sections

00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.919
 before that

00:11:58.919 --> 00:11:59.759
 is chapter 5

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.659
 and then from

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.240
 the second half

00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:02.240
 of chapter 6 onwards,

00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:04.599
 the section before

00:12:04.599 --> 00:12:05.019
 and after this,

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.719
 but they use

00:12:06.719 --> 00:12:07.740
 the picture of adultery.

00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:09.139
 So this is poetic language,

00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:09.959
 picture language.

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:11.379
 Passages before

00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:11.919
 and after

00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:13.779
 very, very heavily

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.740
 focused on the idea

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.399
 of adultery,

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.419
 which Proverbs says

00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.339
 is the ultimate

00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:20.799
 expression of foolishness.

00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.899
 Now in the same way

00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.620
 as Jesus uses

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.279
 the parables

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.500
 in the New Testament,

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.039
 that is,

00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:28.219
 he uses a picture

00:12:28.219 --> 00:12:29.459
 that people can easily

00:12:29.459 --> 00:12:30.740
 and commonly understand

00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.819
 to teach a point

00:12:32.819 --> 00:12:34.179
 that's a much bigger picture,

00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:35.000
 a much bigger

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.500
 spiritual reality point.

00:12:37.359 --> 00:12:37.879
 Then I think

00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.019
 that's what's been used

00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:39.679
 here in Proverbs

00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.219
 when they use

00:12:40.219 --> 00:12:41.159
 the idea of adultery.

00:12:41.959 --> 00:12:42.679
 Adultery is something

00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.639
 we all know about.

00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:47.019
 There's a physical reality

00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:48.159
 to it in our society

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.960
 and in our own lives,

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.819
 at least mentally.

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.120
 But it's a picture

00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.080
 of a prior

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.779
 unfaithfulness

00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:00.600
 to God's word.

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.500
 It's a picture

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.080
 of a prior

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.319
 turning away from

00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.439
 a desire

00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:06.559
 to have God's character

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:08.019
 to another lover,

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.340
 if you want to use that word.

00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.000
 Another delight

00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.700
 of life.

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.179
 The adulterer

00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.879
 lives in a distorted reality.

00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:19.639
 The adulterer

00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:21.120
 chases false intimacy,

00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:23.639
 convinced that

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:24.159
 they're enjoying

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.819
 the good life

00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:25.539
 when in fact

00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:27.120
 they're actually

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.919
 bringing themselves

00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:28.460
 to ruin.

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:34.519
 And how does

00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.840
 Proverbs 6, 1 to 19

00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:37.019
 fit in that bigger picture?

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:37.960
 Well, I think

00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.419
 it's just really

00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.120
 just saying that

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.740
 foolishness comes

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.059
 in many different forms.

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:47.580
 And we shouldn't limit it

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.500
 to that sort of

00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.840
 picture of sexual

00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.819
 unfaithfulness,

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.720
 although even that

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.179
 has got a bigger connotation.

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.399
 Because here in these

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.340
 19 verses,

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.679
 we get three characteristics,

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.159
 three attitudes of heart,

00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:01.580
 three pictures of foolishness,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.000
 as it were,

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.440
 which overflow

00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.539
 into a lifestyle

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.960
 totally at odds

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.019
 with God's character.

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.580
 A lifestyle

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:10.360
 which ultimately

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.259
 will be destructive

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.620
 to the individual

00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:14.179
 and to the community

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:14.620
 in which

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.840
 these individuals

00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.279
 operate.

00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:17.679
 So let's jump

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.200
 into the

00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.019
 three things.

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.679
 If you've got your

00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.379
 bulletin on your device

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.519
 there,

00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.379
 you'll see my three headings.

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.259
 The first characteristic

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:24.779
 is,

00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.000
 verses 1 to 5,

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:26.960
 reckless

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.500
 self-seeking.

00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:30.720
 So,

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.419
 Simon read it

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.720
 very well,

00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.240
 brought it to life

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.779
 really well.

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:38.240
 The scenario is

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.360
 that of the son.

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.899
 And he's become

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.519
 surety

00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.460
 or guarantor,

00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.360
 that's the modern term

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.659
 some of you might recognize.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.940
 He's put up

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:49.679
 a pledge

00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.720
 to guarantee

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.159
 somebody else's debt.

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.199
 And it would seem

00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:57.579
 like he's done that

00:14:57.579 --> 00:14:58.600
 without first

00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.219
 considering

00:14:59.219 --> 00:15:00.339
 the huge risk

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:00.939
 involved

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:01.679
 in taking

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.740
 ownership

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.519
 of that debt,

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.539
 in making that

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:04.879
 commitment,

00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:05.899
 and whether they

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.480
 could afford

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.719
 to pay

00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:08.500
 what they had

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:08.879
 promised

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.659
 should the debtor,

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.439
 the person who has

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:11.819
 the loan,

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.100
 default on his loan.

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.039
 I don't think

00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:18.439
 there's anything

00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:18.959
 illegal

00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:20.519
 or unbiblical

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.179
 in what the guy

00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.600
 has done.

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.600
 The issue here

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:24.340
 is that he did it

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.259
 without thinking.

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:26.980
 He did it without

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.759
 considering

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.879
 the cost

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.680
 and the risk

00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:30.659
 and whether he could

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.379
 actually deliver

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.060
 on the promise

00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:32.680
 he was making.

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.259
 I promised to take

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.820
 responsibility

00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.700
 for this debt

00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.519
 should this person

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:36.940
 default,

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.240
 but it would appear

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.340
 he hasn't considered

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.899
 exactly what

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:42.920
 that might involve.

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.200
 And he's got himself

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.340
 into a whole

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.519
 heap of trouble.

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.720
 The promise,

00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.180
 I suspect,

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.180
 may well have been

00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:52.500
 well-intentioned.

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:55.059
 Perhaps this son

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:57.359
 genuinely wanted

00:15:57.359 --> 00:15:58.159
 to help somebody

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.899
 that was in a tough

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.359
 spot.

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:00.599
 Oh yeah,

00:16:00.719 --> 00:16:01.799
 I can help him out.

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.659
 Perhaps

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.179
 they wanted

00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:07.159
 to appear wealthy.

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.719
 Perhaps they wanted

00:16:09.719 --> 00:16:10.319
 to make themselves

00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:11.199
 feel important

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:12.139
 to others

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.759
 by making others

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.599
 indebted to their

00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:15.079
 generosity.

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.059
 Oh yes,

00:16:16.219 --> 00:16:17.339
 I've got plenty of money,

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.179
 I can afford to do this.

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.919
 And the transaction

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.439
 then makes,

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.559
 perhaps was designed

00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:22.159
 to make themselves

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.819
 feel important

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.399
 and make others

00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.120
 indebted to them.

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:27.939
 Perhaps

00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:28.899
 one suggestion

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.779
 is that the

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.939
 guy who's taken

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.299
 out the loan

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.279
 wasn't an Israelite.

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.939
 So you weren't

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.899
 allowed to charge

00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.739
 interest if you

00:16:35.739 --> 00:16:36.339
 had a loan

00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.899
 with an Israelite.

00:16:38.359 --> 00:16:39.079
 But if it was

00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:39.939
 not an Israelite,

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.539
 you were allowed

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.559
 to charge interest.

00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:42.579
 And perhaps this guy

00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.419
 saw an opportunity

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.459
 to make a fastback.

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:49.540
 whatever the reason,

00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:52.840
 we're told here

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.780
 that such a

00:16:53.780 --> 00:16:54.680
 reckless promise

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.740
 is like walking

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:57.060
 into a trap.

00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:58.940
 Why?

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.420
 Because it's

00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:01.500
 taking responsibility

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.780
 for another

00:17:02.780 --> 00:17:04.400
 which ultimately

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.519
 you can't control.

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.000
 Taking responsibility

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.740
 for something

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.799
 that you can't

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.259
 control.

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.019
 Another person's

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.180
 debt and their

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.200
 commitment to paying it.

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:17.259
 And so

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.539
 sort of the trap

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.700
 springs and in

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.480
 spite of the

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.299
 intention of

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.620
 the son

00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:25.200
 going guarantor,

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.579
 he is in fact

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.019
 the one who

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.980
 becomes indebted.

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.000
 He's the one

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.240
 who puts himself

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.980
 at the mercy

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.259
 of the person

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.759
 who had taken

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.259
 out the loan

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:37.740
 originally.

00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:39.880
 And verse 5,

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.460
 his indebtedness

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.000
 is pictured

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.920
 as a ferocious

00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:44.180
 wild animal

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.360
 hunting him

00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:46.360
 down relentlessly

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:48.400
 to destruction.

00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:49.920
 That's the

00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.600
 picture language.

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.500
 This guy's

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.019
 gotten himself

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.680
 into a real

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.039
 mess.

00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:54.580
 Why?

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.960
 Because he

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.100
 didn't stop

00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.940
 and think

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.700
 and count

00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.259
 the cost.

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.600
 And the

00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.400
 potential costs

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.180
 you only have to

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.640
 scratch below

00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.039
 the surface

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.500
 are huge

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.340
 and they're

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.000
 all destructive.

00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.920
 there's the

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.400
 danger of

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:10.900
 actually going

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:12.099
 bankrupt if

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.380
 the guarantor

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.240
 was acted

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.559
 upon,

00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.059
 if the other

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.839
 person defaulted

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.259
 on the loan.

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:18.519
 There's the

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.279
 stupidity of

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.960
 helping someone

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.680
 secure a loan

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.200
 that ultimately

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:21.519
 they couldn't

00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.180
 afford to pay.

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.160
 There's the

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.700
 danger to

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.119
 existing

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:27.880
 relationship

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.039
 with the

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.720
 person as a

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.039
 result of

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.720
 indebtedness

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.579
 or default.

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:33.019
 I've seen

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.579
 so many

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.099
 relationships

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.439
 over the

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.220
 years crash

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:37.079
 because of

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.899
 financial

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.559
 collapse.

00:18:39.699 --> 00:18:40.240
 Relationships

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.819
 just can't

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.299
 bear that

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:41.599
 sort of

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:41.859
 stuff.

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.139
 A proper

00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:46.039
 assessment of

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.500
 the true

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.379
 cost of his

00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:47.759
 reckless

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.460
 promises shows

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.339
 that urgent

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.379
 desperate action

00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:51.960
 is required.

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.319
 Verses 2 and

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:53.720
 3 there.

00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:55.099
 And essentially

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.639
 what the

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.139
 father said

00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:56.460
 to him is

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.359
 listen boy

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.599
 swallow your

00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:00.139
 pride and

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:01.139
 as quickly as

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.500
 you can make

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.480
 every effort

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.200
 you can to

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.780
 get yourself

00:19:04.780 --> 00:19:05.180
 out of this

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.540
 dangerous

00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:06.120
 situation.

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.040
 Now

00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:13.420
 bringing it a

00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:13.820
 little bit more

00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:14.420
 personally to

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.259
 us I

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.520
 suspect that

00:19:16.520 --> 00:19:17.200
 most of us

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:17.720
 I certainly

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.720
 understand this

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.600
 idea of

00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:21.280
 reckless impulse

00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:21.820
 promise.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.980
 We do it so

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.740
 easily don't we?

00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:30.020
 We promise

00:19:30.020 --> 00:19:31.020
 all sorts of

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.599
 things that

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.059
 when push

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.579
 comes to

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.920
 shove we

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.680
 actually can't

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.299
 deliver on.

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.559
 And to

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.319
 promise them

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.339
 without thinking

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:44.160
 through carefully

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.099
 the Bible tells

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.839
 us is

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.599
 characteristic

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.200
 of foolishness.

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.099
 Maybe well

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.879
 intentioned

00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:53.559
 but it's a

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.059
 picture of

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.639
 foolishness.

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.420
 And moving

00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.819
 on to verses

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.259
 6 to

00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.599
 11

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:01.460
 we've got a

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.720
 second

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.460
 characteristic

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.240
 which I'm

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.519
 calling

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.279
 thoughtless

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:07.099
 self-excusing

00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.240
 character.

00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:11.480
 Now a

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.679
 sluggard is

00:20:12.679 --> 00:20:13.539
 pretty much

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.279
 the opposite

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.359
 of the

00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:16.700
 previous

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.259
 characteristic

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.960
 self-seeking.

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:21.840
 and we

00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:22.480
 only really

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.019
 get a sense

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.259
 of what

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:23.420
 the

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.740
 sluggard

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.220
 is by

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.840
 contrast

00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:25.559
 with the

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.319
 industrious

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:26.740
 ant

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.259
 the

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.720
 illustration

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:27.980
 that's

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.279
 used in

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.440
 these

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:28.720
 verses.

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.039
 So let's

00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.319
 have a look

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.600
 at this

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.400
 industrious

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.779
 ant

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.680
 possibly a

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.059
 harvester

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.319
 ant.

00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.759
 The ant

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.200
 we're told

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.079
 is motivated

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.299
 from within

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.519
 by a strong

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.039
 sense of

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.319
 what is

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:39.740
 right

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.500
 and what is

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.140
 good both

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.880
 for itself

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.900
 and the

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:44.380
 community

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.060
 in which

00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:45.560
 it lives.

00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:48.620
 We're told

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.020
 that it's

00:20:49.020 --> 00:20:50.060
 always thinking

00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:50.840
 and preparing

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.920
 ahead for

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.360
 the future.

00:20:54.520 --> 00:20:55.480
 It's highly

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.160
 relational

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.120
 in that

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.060
 it's doing

00:20:58.060 --> 00:20:58.680
 what needs

00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.360
 to be done

00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:00.380
 for the

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:00.940
 good of

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.220
 the whole

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.620
 community

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.740
 even at

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.200
 the cost

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.020
 of expending

00:21:04.020 --> 00:21:04.580
 itself.

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.700
 That's the

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.180
 picture that

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.520
 we're given

00:21:07.520 --> 00:21:07.800
 here.

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.100
 And the

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:09.580
 sluggard of

00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:10.020
 course is the

00:21:10.020 --> 00:21:10.440
 opposite of

00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:10.940
 all of that.

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:16.060
 So the

00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:16.700
 characteristics

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.300
 on show

00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:18.640
 here that's

00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.280
 described as

00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:20.080
 foolishness is

00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:21.000
 the characteristic

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.900
 expressed in

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.480
 someone who

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.180
 is careless

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.560
 and self

00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.220
 excusing.

00:21:27.300 --> 00:21:27.980
 Sometimes they

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.380
 might present

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.760
 as lazy but

00:21:29.760 --> 00:21:30.460
 it's not

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.260
 actually laziness

00:21:31.260 --> 00:21:31.780
 it's an

00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:32.420
 attitude of

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.180
 not really

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.920
 caring too

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.400
 much about

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.040
 anyone or

00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:35.460
 anything.

00:21:39.560 --> 00:21:40.100
 Teenagers

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.540
 might use

00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:40.820
 this,

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.400
 understand this

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.640
 idea,

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.020
 it's the

00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:43.360
 sort of

00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.280
 whatever

00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:47.480
 type of

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:47.800
 person.

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.120
 Don't get

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.800
 excited about

00:21:50.800 --> 00:21:51.180
 anything

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.900
 particularly.

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.580
 Don't get

00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:53.300
 overly committed

00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:53.960
 about anything

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.460
 particularly.

00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:55.720
 Not a

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.340
 self-starter.

00:21:57.520 --> 00:21:58.460
 Yes, if you

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.000
 harass them

00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.380
 they might

00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.480
 do some

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:00.860
 things but

00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.280
 even then

00:22:01.280 --> 00:22:01.560
 they'll be

00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:02.080
 minimalist.

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.560
 Minimum

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:04.860
 effort,

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.240
 minimum

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.700
 time,

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.020
 minimum

00:22:06.020 --> 00:22:06.440
 commitment,

00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:06.780
 minimum

00:22:06.780 --> 00:22:07.220
 thought.

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:11.940
 they need

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.279
 someone to

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.559
 get them

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:12.920
 moving.

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.519
 They need

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.860
 someone to

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.100
 give them

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:14.500
 focus.

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.360
 They might

00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:17.100
 even suggest

00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.120
 that others

00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:18.620
 around them

00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.680
 are perfectionists

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.420
 and say

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:20.759
 well the

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.039
 problem really

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.440
 is that you

00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:22.920
 guys are all

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.620
 overly committed.

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:24.900
 You're trying

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.519
 too hard but

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.039
 in reality

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.339
 oftentimes

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:27.940
 they're just

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.480
 covering for

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.980
 their own

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.940
 lack of

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.380
 motivation,

00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:30.940
 their own

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.740
 carelessness.

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:31.900
 business.

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.839
 They're not

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.640
 servant-minded.

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.059
 They're not

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.859
 community-minded.

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:35.859
 They won't

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.779
 easily pitch in

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.160
 and help

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.359
 others.

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.640
 They won't

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:37.920
 put the

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.339
 shoulder to

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:38.720
 the wheel

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.339
 for the

00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:39.599
 good of

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:39.940
 everyone.

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.200
 They're not

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.799
 dependable

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.160
 at the end

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.519
 of the day.

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.779
 They're

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.599
 individualists

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.160
 and we're

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.779
 told here

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:53.000
 that the

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.720
 verse 11

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.460
 that poverty

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:54.940
 will come

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.319
 upon them.

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:55.680
 Now I don't

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.059
 think that

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.420
 necessarily

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.279
 means they'll

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.740
 actually run

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.160
 out of money

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.579
 physically.

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.620
 I think what

00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.120
 the word there

00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:00.759
 means is they'll

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.720
 be impoverished

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.059
 as people

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.819
 and there's

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.100
 quite a

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.519
 difference.

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.720
 They'll be

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.039
 diminished.

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.819
 This sort of

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.400
 approach to

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.039
 life actually

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.779
 has a cost,

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.900
 a big cost

00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.720
 individually

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.319
 and personally

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.960
 and that

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.100
 cost is that

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.539
 you become

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.259
 diminished as

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.559
 a person.

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:15.940
 You become

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.759
 impoverished.

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.920
 You live for

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.440
 yourself and

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.839
 you'll die

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.220
 alone.

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.539
 It's a

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.059
 drain on

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.660
 personhood

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:27.640
 and you can

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.180
 see therefore

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.120
 why it

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.680
 becomes an

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.180
 issue of

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.680
 foolishness.

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.000
 that is

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.400
 something that's

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.980
 contrary to

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.420
 the character

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:33.940
 of God.

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.059
 It's not

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.620
 how we were

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.039
 made as

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.700
 image bearers.

00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.740
 They may feel

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.160
 good about

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.940
 themselves because

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.559
 they live with

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.360
 minimum effort

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:44.980
 and social

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.200
 cost but they

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.740
 fail to

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.900
 understand the

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:50.240
 incredible danger

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:52.160
 they're in and

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.240
 how even as

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.900
 they're in that

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.799
 danger moment by

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.579
 moment, day by

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.539
 day, they're

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.240
 actually being

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.140
 diminished as

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.820
 people even

00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.280
 though they

00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:00.880
 might think

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.560
 they're

00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:02.000
 preserving

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.540
 themselves

00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:03.660
 nicely as

00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:04.080
 a person.

00:24:06.520 --> 00:24:06.800
 And verse

00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:08.900
 11, their

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:09.620
 characteristic

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.600
 again ends up

00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.480
 very much like

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:11.900
 the previous

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.100
 one.

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.900
 Verse 5 is a

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.380
 very, very

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.820
 strong picture

00:24:14.820 --> 00:24:16.200
 of things being

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.700
 out of control.

00:24:16.800 --> 00:24:17.140
 The same with

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.640
 verse 11.

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:20.020
 this characteristic

00:24:20.020 --> 00:24:20.740
 or attitude of

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.160
 heart will

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.300
 overpower them

00:24:22.300 --> 00:24:24.759
 just like a

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.580
 villain comes and

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.320
 overpowers you.

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.700
 And ultimately

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.640
 it will destroy

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:30.900
 them.

00:24:33.020 --> 00:24:34.180
 It's impossible

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.620
 to be wise

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.840
 and at the same

00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:38.180
 time be a

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.700
 whatever type

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.120
 of person.

00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.440
 And the third

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.120
 characteristic,

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.420
 verses 12

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.240
 through to 19,

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:48.319
 is what I'm

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.120
 calling ruthless

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.380
 self-interest.

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.980
 This is the

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.700
 sort of person

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.640
 who again

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.680
 presents differently.

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.440
 This person is

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.319
 so utterly

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.180
 pragmatic

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:59.759
 that quite

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.259
 literally

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.779
 anything goes

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:03.359
 where that

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.099
 person's

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.680
 perceived

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.620
 some personal

00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.559
 gain to

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:06.839
 lie.

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.200
 The word

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.720
 worthless in

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.380
 verse 12 is

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.759
 actually the

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.740
 word belial,

00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.700
 which in the

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.120
 New Testament

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.659
 has come to

00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:16.919
 mean the

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.459
 word devil.

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.379
 But

00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.379
 Wolke

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.879
 uses the

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.139
 term

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.019
 insurrectionist

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.879
 because it's

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.299
 the person

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:25.899
 who's so

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.959
 constantly and

00:25:26.959 --> 00:25:27.639
 aggressively

00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:30.000
 against God's

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.199
 rules and

00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:31.919
 against God's

00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:33.379
 workings that

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.579
 he's like an

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.239
 insurrectionist.

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.639
 He's like a

00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.000
 terrorist.

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:42.579
 and this is the

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.039
 person,

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.599
 as you see

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.039
 through these

00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.359
 verses,

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.059
 there's lots of

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.700
 picture language

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.359
 in here again,

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.039
 but let me just

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.980
 try and surface

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.799
 run over it.

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.480
 This is the

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.279
 person who just

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:52.180
 loves to play

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.980
 people off

00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.660
 against each

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:53.940
 other

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.599
 because in

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.339
 doing that

00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.259
 he can see

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.779
 personal

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.339
 advantage.

00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:04.079
 He's the

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.359
 sort of

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:04.740
 person who

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.279
 will happily

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.039
 consume and

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.139
 destroy people

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.039
 and relationships

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:11.000
 for his own

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.199
 advantage and

00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:12.639
 where he sees

00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.079
 advantage.

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.500
 That's why I

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:15.779
 say it's

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.119
 ruthless.

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:22.179
 Now, it's

00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:22.979
 not that this

00:26:22.979 --> 00:26:23.799
 person I think

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.639
 is particularly

00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.919
 evil per se.

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:26.639
 There's nothing

00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.759
 in the text that

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.319
 would suggest

00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.659
 that.

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.239
 In other words,

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.319
 he's not out

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:31.699
 there in a

00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:32.259
 category by

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.719
 himself as

00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:33.479
 evil.

00:26:34.239 --> 00:26:35.179
 It's not that.

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.699
 It's not even

00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.319
 perhaps that they

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.139
 set out to cause

00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:40.379
 division, but

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.079
 that their

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.259
 ruthless self

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.479
 interest inevitably

00:26:43.479 --> 00:26:44.459
 results in them

00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:45.399
 using and abusing

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.059
 people for their

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.659
 own advantage.

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.039
 In other words,

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.220
 they just can't

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.000
 help themselves.

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.279
 Two separate

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.200
 almost identical

00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:00.099
 descriptions add

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.819
 weight to this

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.619
 whole description

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.559
 12 to 15 and

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.519
 then 16 to 19.

00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.139
 It's almost a

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.559
 repeat, but in

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.259
 inverse order.

00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:08.279
 Two separate

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.500
 almost identical

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.799
 descriptions emphasize

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:12.539
 the awfulness of

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.879
 this character by

00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:14.839
 suggesting that

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:17.119
 every key part of

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.480
 the body is

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:20.399
 utilized for

00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:21.240
 this scheming,

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.220
 conniving,

00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.559
 manipulating

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:25.179
 passage to their

00:27:25.179 --> 00:27:25.579
 own end.

00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:27.319
 Look at verse 12

00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.959
 through to 15.

00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:30.459
 It's as if the

00:27:30.459 --> 00:27:31.500
 poet here is

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:31.980
 saying, look,

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.659
 from top to

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.619
 bottom, from

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.519
 their eyes, from

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.740
 their mouth, their

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.500
 hands, their

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.779
 fingers, right down

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.459
 to their feet and

00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:38.939
 including their

00:27:38.939 --> 00:27:40.099
 heart, every

00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.980
 single faculty of

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.660
 the body is

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.759
 brought together

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.480
 in this beautiful

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.700
 harmony of

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.860
 self-interest and

00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.440
 self-advantage.

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.099
 And in

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.279
 combination, it's

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.400
 pretty brutal and

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.680
 ruthless.

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.099
 You get the idea

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.920
 there, I'm not

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.559
 quite sure what to

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.059
 do with the idea

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.620
 of pointing the

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.099
 finger and

00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.759
 winking the eye,

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.079
 but it's just

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.039
 that notion of a

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.819
 wheeler-dealer, a

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.259
 player.

00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:07.819
 A couple of

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.579
 nods and winks

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.360
 and punches there.

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.539
 Yep, so I'm

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.259
 resonating with some

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.759
 anyway, regardless

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.539
 of the rest of

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:13.940
 your sleep.

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.940
 So we know the

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.680
 idea of a player,

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.099
 don't we?

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.759
 A schemer, a

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.319
 manipulator.

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.099
 And they're sort

00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:23.220
 of perfectly and

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:25.460
 seamlessly in sync

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.640
 with themselves to

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.440
 manipulate for their

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.799
 own ends, regardless

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.440
 of the cost to

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.720
 others.

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.900
 And their heart

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.779
 attitude is included

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.180
 in here.

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.599
 It overflows into

00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:35.680
 the habit of making

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:38.279
 trouble, into the

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.099
 habit of causing

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.579
 division.

00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:41.759
 and lying as

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.699
 easily as

00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.119
 breathing.

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:45.980
 Verse 18.

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.419
 No, verse 19.

00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:52.279
 It becomes so

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.199
 habitual because

00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.119
 lies are necessary

00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:56.519
 to manipulate that

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:58.139
 you just lie like

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.819
 you breathe.

00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.319
 It's an essential

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.960
 of life.

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:08.600
 But ultimately, as

00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.539
 with the other two

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.440
 characteristics, there's

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.620
 a huge cost to

00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:12.880
 pay.

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.940
 And I think the

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.620
 play on the words

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:17.019
 is this, that just

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.440
 as they use or

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.759
 misuse their body,

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.980
 so the Lord's

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:23.079
 judgment will destroy

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.579
 their body.

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:27.720
 God will break

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.179
 their body.

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:31.399
 And here we

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.839
 catch, again, like

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:34.139
 the sluggard, we

00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:35.199
 catch a glimpse of

00:29:35.199 --> 00:29:37.799
 what God loves by

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.319
 listening carefully to

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.619
 what God hates.

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.079
 God hates

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.699
 troublemakers.

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:49.779
 that loves

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:51.720
 grace makers or

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.420
 peacemakers.

00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:55.120
 Again, why?

00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.620
 Because those, the

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.400
 grace maker and the

00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.160
 peacemaker, reflect

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.960
 God's character.

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.700
 Being other person

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.740
 centered at heart,

00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.960
 refusing to

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.660
 manipulate, use,

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.319
 and abuse.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:11.980
 speaking healing

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.039
 and loving words

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.659
 of truth.

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:16.039
 Doing compassion

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.919
 and mercy and

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:17.439
 rightness.

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.980
 All the things that

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.480
 you would not

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.439
 recognize, and this

00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:21.059
 person here would

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.799
 not recognize.

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.639
 Wisdom and

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.159
 foolishness.

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.279
 So, my friends, as

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.439
 I wrap up, ultimately

00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:33.359
 foolishness is

00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:35.200
 clearly exposed by

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.059
 God's character.

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.460
 Because God's

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.200
 character is

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.599
 wisdom.

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.759
 And wisdom

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:43.339
 inevitably will

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.419
 expose foolishness.

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:47.139
 And most clearly, we

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.659
 see that in God's

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.359
 wisdom in Jesus.

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.519
 When we tie these

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.179
 three characteristics

00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:54.460
 back, we can see a

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.220
 common link to

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.500
 Jesus.

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.079
 Jesus, at the end

00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:57.859
 of the day, is our

00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.279
 true surety or

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.919
 guarantor.

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:03.039
 In Hebrews 7,

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:03.679
 verse 22, the

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.559
 word's actually used.

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.240
 Jesus is the

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.339
 guarantor of a new

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:08.139
 and better covenant.

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:11.259
 And in the picture

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.240
 of the gospel and

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.359
 God's wisdom seen in

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:16.019
 Jesus, God does

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.939
 commit to paying a

00:31:17.939 --> 00:31:19.740
 huge debt that we

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.259
 have run up.

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.339
 And that we

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:23.200
 couldn't possibly pay

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.919
 for ourselves.

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.119
 And God takes that

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.559
 debt on knowing that

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.379
 we have no alternative

00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:28.659
 but to default on it.

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:35.240
 And God promises in

00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.759
 Jesus to take that

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.500
 debt upon himself.

00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.019
 Was it a reckless

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.379
 promise?

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.159
 No.

00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.339
 Far from it.

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.139
 Never reckless.

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.500
 It was outrageous.

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.240
 Absolutely outrageous.

00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:47.639
 But never reckless.

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.119
 Why?

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:51.439
 Because Jesus had the

00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:52.859
 means to pay.

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.779
 And he considered the

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.939
 cost and was willing

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:57.460
 to pay the cost.

00:31:58.939 --> 00:32:01.439
 The cost of death on

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.880
 the cross.

00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:04.360
 And he did it to reverse

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:06.220
 our spiritual and moral

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.220
 bankruptcy.

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:10.480
 He did it because our

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.660
 foolish rebellion and

00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.480
 rejection of his

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.880
 character left us

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:15.100
 unable and unwilling

00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:17.580
 to pay what is owed to

00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.640
 the Lord for our

00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:19.000
 rebellion.

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:23.900
 And so the foolishness of

00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:25.960
 us people, sinful people

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:28.559
 reveals the wisdom of

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:28.819
 God.

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.140
 And then tying in with

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:32.359
 the second characteristic

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:34.119
 that Jesus is our

00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:36.140
 relentless pursuer.

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:39.380
 this is one of the

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.780
 aspects of the gospel I've

00:32:40.780 --> 00:32:41.620
 really come to appreciate

00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.780
 over the last five or six

00:32:42.780 --> 00:32:43.200
 years.

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.620
 That Jesus acts in our

00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:48.580
 best interest like the

00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.860
 industrious and preparing

00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:51.500
 ahead and doing what

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.700
 needed to be done to

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:54.320
 rescue and renew us and

00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:54.980
 make us wise.

00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:57.380
 And not only that, not

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:58.460
 only does he expend

00:32:58.460 --> 00:33:01.040
 himself completely for the

00:33:01.040 --> 00:33:02.540
 good of me and other

00:33:02.540 --> 00:33:04.480
 believers, but he

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.460
 pursues me.

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:09.019
 He pursues me into life

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.160
 and won't let me

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:12.240
 sluggishly drift into

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.799
 destruction.

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:16.620
 And at the times of life

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:18.700
 when things seem to

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:21.059
 overwhelm me, where I'm at

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:23.599
 my worst in a sense, I've

00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.980
 learned over the last six

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.940
 years that the Lord

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:28.460
 pursues me into those

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:28.860
 areas.

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:34.699
 taking me out the other

00:33:34.699 --> 00:33:37.279
 side with new confidence

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.899
 and dependence upon him.

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:44.240
 Nothing careless about the

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.719
 way the Lord treats us.

00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:50.639
 Jesus is the wise and

00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:53.179
 faithful son, totally

00:33:53.179 --> 00:33:55.859
 focused on delivering his

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:56.899
 father's promise of

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.860
 salvation and the good

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.160
 life.

00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:01.220
 Jesus pursues us into

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:01.640
 life.

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.940
 And finally, Jesus is our

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.480
 selfless, healing,

00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:07.920
 unifying word.

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.380
 Instead of stirring up

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:14.200
 evil and trouble, Jesus

00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:16.579
 confronts it and deals

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.059
 with it.

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:21.200
 And he sows unity and

00:34:21.200 --> 00:34:21.519
 good.

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.660
 Jesus' words are always

00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:25.160
 true words, healing

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.619
 words spoken in love and

00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.099
 compassion.

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.159
 Jesus always expresses

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:31.000
 God's character, planning

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:32.500
 for our good, identifying

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.659
 our greatest need and

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.719
 acting to deal with our

00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:36.039
 rebellion and bring us

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.039
 into righteousness and

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.279
 life.

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:40.059
 Interestingly here, in

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:41.819
 line with verse 17, God's

00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:43.339
 hand does shed innocent

00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:43.679
 blood.

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.779
 But not ours.

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.659
 He willingly or makes

00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:54.279
 haste to kill his son as

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.500
 part of his heart-driven

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.560
 plan to redeem his

00:34:56.560 --> 00:34:56.860
 people.

00:34:58.040 --> 00:35:00.460
 And in doing so, he

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.560
 sows new unity.

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:07.760
 Picture of wisdom against

00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:08.400
 foolishness.

00:35:09.640 --> 00:35:10.980
 And my final appeal, friends,

00:35:11.040 --> 00:35:13.000
 this morning is, why would

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:15.200
 we continue to chase after a

00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:16.580
 form of wisdom which is our

00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:18.780
 own, of our own making?

00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:22.660
 A contrived reality, driven

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:24.759
 by our own autonomy, when we

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:26.219
 know from our own experience

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.359
 that that will fail us.

00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:32.139
 We can pretend and act wise,

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:34.599
 but foolishness will just push

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.099
 up through.

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.399
 Why would you continue to be

00:35:40.399 --> 00:35:41.539
 wise in your own eyes?

00:35:42.879 --> 00:35:44.420
 Even when that so-called

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:46.659
 wisdom so often and so easily

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:48.719
 leads us into trouble or

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:52.699
 self-seeking or carelessness or

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.899
 just heartbreak and despair.

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:57.739
 Why would we not want to move

00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.839
 towards true wisdom?

00:36:02.439 --> 00:36:04.459
 Why would we not move towards

00:36:04.459 --> 00:36:07.139
 Jesus who is the wisdom and

00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:08.179
 righteousness of God?

00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:12.399
 Because he says, come to me,

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:16.059
 fools, and I will make you wise.

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:19.239
 I will give you wisdom, which is

00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:21.179
 a combination, a rich combination

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:25.699
 of renewal, unity, new hearts,

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:28.779
 new desires, new attitudes, and

00:36:28.779 --> 00:36:32.599
 the good life that we crave so

00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:32.940
 deeply.

00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.659
 My final word is, remember this,

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:38.679
 the good life that every single

00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:40.340
 person here craves so deeply.

00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:43.200
 But if you've been wise in your

00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:45.800
 own eyes, then that's a wisdom

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:47.960
 and a good life that's eluded you

00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:49.180
 thus far because you've been

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:50.340
 acting in your own strength.

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:57.720
 Blessing, wisdom, and maturity,

00:36:58.760 --> 00:37:00.880
 frustration, despair.

00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:03.539
 Let me pray.

00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:08.820
 Lord, help us to see your word in

00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:10.559
 its truth, but more than that,

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:12.219
 Lord, give us hearts to act on it.

00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:15.400
 We can understand, but then hold

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.300
 back from acting.

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:21.719
 Lord, help us to be so aware of our

00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:24.420
 own failings in terms of what we

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:26.059
 would consider to be our own wisdom,

00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:28.259
 or even, Lord, that we would consider

00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:29.639
 to be the common wisdom of our

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.159
 society.

00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:32.539
 Help us to see that as being a

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:35.000
 wretched failure and help us to

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:37.940
 move to consider the true wisdom

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:39.679
 that would be ours in the Lord

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:41.880
 Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray.

00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:42.279
 Amen.

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.519
 Thank you very much for listening.