WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.040 Wow, it is a little chillier than I was praying for, but I don't control the weather. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:10.919 So here we are. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:12.359 Thank you guys for braving it. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:15.220 If you're at home, thank you for listening and joining us. 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:17.400 Let's start out in a word of prayer. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.480 Lord, we thank you for the church that you build. 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:28.219 We thank you for your love, and we thank you for sending your son for our salvation, and 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:29.379 we thank you for your word. 00:00:29.379 --> 00:00:35.759 Lord, help us this morning as we read a passage from your word, as we seek to gain wisdom 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:42.219 and apply it to our life so that we can help others, so that we are stronger in our walk 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:44.399 with you, and so that you are glorified. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:45.579 We ask these things in your name. 00:00:45.739 --> 00:00:45.939 Amen. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:53.079 Proverbs 24, verses 23 to 34 is our passage. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:58.899 We're going to read it in just a minute, but before we do, I just want to let you know 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:03.839 that we're going to be talking about two different topics in this one small section. 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:11.959 One deals with impartiality, which is wisdom in our words, and the second topic has to do 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:15.560 with laziness, and that deals with wisdom in our work. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:18.939 So we want to look at those two things this morning. 00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:20.920 And at first, it might seem a little disconnected. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:25.719 Even as we read this passage, we're going to see it jump back and forth between these two 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:26.280 topics. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:30.140 So it may feel disconnected. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:39.359 But I hope by the end that we'll see how these two come together and how purposefully the 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:45.479 writer of this wise saying goes back and forth for a purpose. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:52.700 It isn't a mistake because he mentions both topics and jumps back and forth twice within 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:53.880 just 12 verses. 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:57.240 And so there seems to be intentionality there. 00:01:57.420 --> 00:01:59.040 And so we want to hone in on that. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.659 And I think the reason for that is because he wants to draw out the importance of wisdom 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:07.560 with our words and wisdom in our work. 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:14.180 He's going to address impartiality that is favoring one person when we should be fair and 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:14.659 honest. 00:02:14.920 --> 00:02:18.040 And he's also going to be addressing diligence in our hard work. 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:20.879 So let's read our passage together. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:25.700 Also realize that it's a little not warm out there. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:30.099 So if you guys need to stand up and walk around, if you need to move a little bit to warm up, 00:02:30.140 --> 00:02:31.120 I totally understand. 00:02:32.760 --> 00:02:35.980 Proverbs 24, starting in verse 23. 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:42.179 These also are sayings of the wise. 00:02:42.959 --> 00:02:45.319 Partiality and judging is not good. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:51.339 Whoever says to the wicked, you are in the right, will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by 00:02:51.339 --> 00:02:51.899 nations. 00:02:52.459 --> 00:02:58.259 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight and a good blessing will come upon them. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.419 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. 00:03:01.419 --> 00:03:04.019 Prepare your work outside. 00:03:04.619 --> 00:03:06.599 Get everything ready for yourself in the field. 00:03:06.959 --> 00:03:08.539 And after that, build your house. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.739 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause. 00:03:15.279 --> 00:03:16.779 And do not deceive with your lips. 00:03:17.239 --> 00:03:20.039 Do not say, I will do to him as he has done to me. 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:23.299 I will pay the man back for what he has done. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:29.900 I pass by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense. 00:03:30.760 --> 00:03:36.960 And behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, and ground was covered with nettles, and its 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:38.700 stone wall was broken down. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:41.880 Then I saw and considered it. 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:44.060 I looked and received instruction. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:50.860 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:54.880 come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. 00:03:58.140 --> 00:04:03.400 Partiality is favoritism or biasness towards something. 00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:06.620 We can be partial to a lot of things. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:09.500 Much of the time, those things aren't bad. 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:15.280 I can be partial towards a sports team, a color, a type of food. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:21.339 And everyone has those biases, those favorites, and that's normal. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.980 But the partiality that we see in these verses are talking about something entirely different. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:31.500 Verse 23 says, partiality in judging is not good. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:36.819 These verses are talking about judgments that are made in the court system. 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:44.939 A true and an honest judicial system has no place for partiality or favoritism. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:52.420 An impartial system will take the actions of a wrongdoer and place them on the scales of 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:56.339 justice and produce a decision that is right and fair. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:02.860 Maybe not a decision liked by both sides, but a fair decision based on the wrong that was 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:03.240 committed. 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:12.100 True justice cannot take place if decisions are influenced by things other than the truth. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:14.439 Fairness for all. 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:23.259 Impartiality in judging allows for the dismissing of evil, the dismissing of wrongdoing, 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:29.220 the winking of things that we should not be doing, and allowing those to continue. 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:40.079 We see this in verse 24, when those who are judging say to the wicked, saying to the ones 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:42.560 doing wrong, you're in the right. 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:50.000 Those people will be cursed by people abhorred by nations. 00:05:50.180 --> 00:05:53.660 When evil actions are committed, people want justice. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:55.220 We can understand that. 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:56.079 We relate to that. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:04.000 The problem is that we live in a sinful world where every judicial system, every government, 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:08.060 every political party is made up of people who are sinful. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:11.139 That's the flaw in humanity. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:12.259 That's the brokenness. 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:13.099 That's our sin. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.519 And it stands between us and God, and it stands between us and one another. 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:23.819 In every level of society, sin is our biggest problem. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:28.419 It stands between us and God, and it leaves us with a broken system. 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:36.299 Learning about equality and fairness, those things are good, but that's not the solution. 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:41.359 Putting reforms and protections in place are good, but that's not ultimately what's going 00:06:41.359 --> 00:06:43.199 to fix our sin problem. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:50.360 We see it played out everywhere, talking about human trafficking and enslavement, genocide, 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:57.800 sexual crimes, racism, abortion, abuse, envy, jealousy, murder, hatred, pride. 00:06:58.259 --> 00:06:59.560 The list goes on. 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:06.019 These are all sins, and they are all in rebellion to God and his law, and we're all guilty of those 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:06.360 sins. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.099 See, the problem is sin. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:14.740 We are sinful people, so the solution can't come from us. 00:07:15.140 --> 00:07:17.740 The solution can only be found in Jesus Christ. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:25.040 We are sinners by nature, and so we need a new nature in order to change, and that can 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:29.840 only be done through repenting of our sins and putting our trust in Jesus. 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:32.820 If we do that, then we get a new nature. 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:34.660 We get a new heart. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:39.920 We get new power that is spirit from God that allows us to overcome that sin. 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:45.840 So as children of God, we can fight against those sins, and we help other Christians fight 00:07:45.840 --> 00:07:46.820 against those sins. 00:07:47.820 --> 00:07:55.080 And lastly, we proclaim that power to others to help break them free from that power of sin. 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:00.600 So that's why the primary mission of the church is to spread the gospel. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:04.879 You're probably thinking about right now, Matt, I think you're a little off topic because 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.620 it's not what we were reading. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:17.860 But I bring it up this morning because I didn't think it was going to be a sermon that was really 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:18.740 going to be emotional. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:28.740 As I read verse 23, partiality and judging is not good. 00:08:30.460 --> 00:08:38.480 What came to my mind was the problem in our country with racism. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:45.639 It probably came to mind because there's a lot going on right now in the area of racism. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:46.600 It's hard to miss. 00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:48.120 It's hard to see the problems. 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:51.120 It's hard not to want to do something about it. 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:57.259 It's something our nation is struggling with. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:05.840 The hatred, the violence, the partiality that happens in our sinful system. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:08.720 That affects our country. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:14.360 Partiality when dealing with people and making judgments is not good. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.000 When those who do wrong are not called out on their wickedness and they are allowed to 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:26.879 continue with their biasness and their hatred, it causes harm. 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:31.300 And as verse 24 points out, it's abhorred by nations. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:32.600 We see this. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.660 We feel this. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:41.919 So as I was reminded of this, and it came out so strongly in this verse, it just seemed 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:48.199 like we should take a moment since we're dealing with it as a country to just briefly talk about 00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:48.419 it. 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:50.519 What are we to do with that? 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.819 What actions are we to do? 00:09:55.719 --> 00:09:59.639 Now, those are going to look different based on the individual. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.559 What kind of connections you have? 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:03.220 What kind of influence you have? 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:04.500 Where you live? 00:10:04.580 --> 00:10:05.620 How old you are? 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:07.860 But the main things are this. 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:10.019 We are to live like Christians. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:12.480 We are to share the gospel. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:16.439 And we are to pray like Christians. 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:23.379 I pull prayer out, even though it's part of how we live as Christians, because I wanted to 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:25.139 draw attention to prayer this morning. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:32.740 See, I think it's an area that as Christians, we often overlook the power that we have that 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:34.480 we can get from prayer. 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:43.039 It's not the act of just saying request to yourself or out loud to someone else. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:52.699 But get this, it's an opportunity for us to sit down at the table before our king and lay 00:10:52.699 --> 00:10:57.179 a request in front of him to ask him for his help. 00:10:57.959 --> 00:11:04.500 Knowing that we lack the power and the resources to fulfill that request, we bring it to our king, 00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:06.039 our savior, our creator. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:13.699 We come asking him to act in ways we can't, to go to places and reach people that we can't reach, 00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:22.539 to change hearts we can't change, to supply needs we have no resources for. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:28.539 Prayer is the strongest weapon that we have available to us as Christians. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:31.559 Don't underestimate it. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:32.620 Don't take it for granted. 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:39.340 I say this because when we're talking about racism, then I want you to realize the importance 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:43.919 we have as Christians to pray about that sin problem in our country. 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:48.500 When we come together as the Church of God on Sundays and we do prayers of the people, 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:50.799 this is serious power time. 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:57.539 This is Elijah calling down power from God to defeat the prophets of Baal. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:05.079 This is praying to God to fix our broken neighborhood and our lost city and our hurting nation. 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.379 We pray for salvation. 00:12:07.839 --> 00:12:12.219 We pray for the sin of racism and hatred to be fixed. 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:22.199 When we lift up individuals, politicians, and our prayers of the people, we do pray that they lead well. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:27.259 We do pray that they would be able to do their job as best as they can to their ability. 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:36.799 But we pray that they would make decisions that are wise and impartial, not show partiality. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:41.960 We pray that they would serve the people in a way that would help and not hurt. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:46.200 And most importantly, we pray for their salvation. 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:49.240 We pray for the nations. 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:59.800 That while they're being torn apart by all kinds of wickedness, we pray for our God to move in and change hearts. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.960 To fix the brokenness. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.379 To change the things we can't change. 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.720 That's why we pray. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:15.139 So verse 23 and 24 tells us that partiality is not good and people hate it. 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.340 Why? 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:19.340 Because it's an injustice. 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.240 It's not truth. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:24.399 Verse 25 says, 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:39.699 There is blessing and favor that comes to those who rule honestly and fairly. 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:45.639 Those who aren't swayed by the wicked who try to influence them with power and money. 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:49.439 They find true blessing. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.620 Verse 26 says, 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:54.399 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. 00:13:55.319 --> 00:14:01.240 Now this phrase in Hebrew means either a kiss given out of respect or one out of affection. 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:04.559 Not affection like between a husband and wife. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:10.639 But respect and affection for those who give an honest answer. 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.419 It's one of appreciation. 00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:25.639 As we continue with this theme of honesty and not being partial. 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.399 Let's jump down to verses 28 and 29. 00:14:35.479 --> 00:14:38.399 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause. 00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:40.399 And do not deceive with your lips. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.059 Do not say I will do to him as he has done to me. 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:44.019 I will pay. 00:14:44.579 --> 00:14:45.059 Sorry. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.439 I will pay the man back for what he has done. 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:54.659 We are to be committed to honesty in our speech. 00:14:55.459 --> 00:15:00.500 And that includes not saying things for the sake of seeking vengeance. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:08.139 The example here in these verses is that a neighbor has done something to you in the past. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:10.220 And you feel you need to avenge that. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:12.039 You were wrong. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:15.840 And you want that person to pay, get paid back. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:20.139 But in order to do that, you need to lie to make it happen. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.559 You need to speak bad about your neighbor. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:27.480 Or you need to be deceptive when you're with your words about what he's done. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:34.940 So that they get what's coming to them. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.060 At least in your mind. 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:41.240 But here we are told that that is not how we are to act. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:43.740 Not to pay them back for what they did. 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:49.940 In addition, we are called to seek and not to find vengeance. 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:53.760 Romans 12, 18 and 19 says this. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:58.280 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:15:59.520 --> 00:16:02.900 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.920 For it is written, vengeance is mine. 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.040 I will repay, says the Lord. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.240 So don't seek vengeance. 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:18.880 And don't drift from your honesty in your words by going after it. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:23.720 As we look at these verses dealing with partiality and honesty, 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:29.220 even though they are focused towards the courts and the judicial system, 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.779 they're applicable to us as well. 00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:36.399 They call us to build up with our words and not to tear down, 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:40.720 which is exactly what partiality and dishonesty does. 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:46.259 Think about what that might look like in your life. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:51.819 If you're a teacher, a parent, a student, an owner or an employee, 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:56.600 what would honesty and impartiality look like for you? 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:01.299 That's the first subject in our passage. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:06.879 The second subject in our passage this morning deals with wisdom in our work. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.900 So we had wisdom in our words and now we have wisdom in our work. 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:12.019 Verse 27. 00:17:13.580 --> 00:17:14.800 Prepare your work outside. 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:17.120 Get everything ready for yourself in the field. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.480 And after that, build your house. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:23.900 Essentially, do the first things first. 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:28.019 Take care of the necessities before the luxuries. 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:32.680 Make provision for yourself and those you are responsible for 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:35.580 before seeking personal comfort. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:40.059 Secure your income before you build your house. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.279 Makes sense. 00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:43.480 See, in an agricultural society, 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:46.740 the first requirement was to establish your field, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.819 if you were a farmer in that way, 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:51.339 or your flock. 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:55.699 You needed crops or you needed herds 00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:58.279 in order to eat and to provide for yourself. 00:17:58.439 --> 00:18:03.179 So it was common in these days to live at home with your family 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:08.200 or maybe in a tent in the field as you establish your livelihood. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:10.299 Once that is done, 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:12.740 then you could worry about building your house. 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:19.240 If we look back at verse 3 of this chapter, 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.180 chapter 24, 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.380 it says, 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:24.420 By wisdom a house is built, 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:27.519 and by understanding it is established. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:30.759 It's knowing the order of what should be done first 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:36.180 so that you were able to establish yourself in the future. 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:40.019 Don't have the mindset that you deserve luxury 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:45.039 or get stuck with the thinking that comforts are owed to you 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.400 because they are not. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:50.200 If you obtain these things before you have worked for them, 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:53.599 you'll find that they become weights that pull you down. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.719 See, Americans struggle with this a lot 00:18:57.719 --> 00:19:01.039 in the area of debt 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.559 because they're not satisfied with what they have, 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:07.240 and it's far too easy for us to get those things 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:10.159 that we can't yet afford. 00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:14.119 Now, this isn't a sermon on money, 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.439 so I don't want you to get too worried about that, 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:18.819 but it is on wisdom 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:21.639 and on establishing your home wisely, 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.160 and that involves how we spend our money. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:32.259 So the wisdom here is to plan before you build 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:35.280 so that you can establish yourself 00:19:35.280 --> 00:19:39.540 for the rest of your building of your home. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.100 So work using the abilities God has given you 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:48.000 and then use wisely the resources that come from that. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.519 Next, we're going to look at verses 30 to 34. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.319 This is our last section for today. 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.099 They're going to take us a little deeper 00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:00.279 into the issue of working, 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.880 and these issues we're going to find 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.900 have warnings about laziness. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.039 But before we look at that, 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.579 I want to draw your attention briefly 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:11.960 to another aspect of these verses 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.640 that sometimes can get missed, 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:16.540 and that is in the area of wisdom. 00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:20.480 It's not just saying or acting in a wise manner, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:25.340 but it also includes the observance of things, 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.640 seeing situations that are not good, 00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:31.340 recognizing the causes of those things, 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:34.740 and then using the wisdom of God's word to avoid them. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:40.960 In these last couple of verses, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.519 we'll notice that they are broken up into three parts. 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:49.079 First, we're going to see the effect of the problem. 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.440 That is going to be laziness. 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:53.660 Then we'll see the cause of the problem. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.519 And in the middle of the two, 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:59.480 we're going to see how a wise person observes that 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.359 and tries to avoid it. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:05.579 So, verse 30 gives us the setting for this. 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.339 It says, 00:21:06.479 --> 00:21:08.439 I passed by the field of the sluggard, 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:13.939 by the vineyard of a man lacking sense. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.959 So, we have an unwise, lazy person 00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:18.379 who owns a vineyard. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:22.099 Back then, the vineyard would have been 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:25.240 the source of income for that individual, 00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.039 his livelihood. 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.699 He owns a vineyard, 00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:30.259 so the implication is that 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:33.119 he's responsible to work it or to manage it. 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:36.819 And from that, he earns his living. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.539 In this setting here, 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.900 we have a lazy person with a job. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.839 The problem here, though, 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.779 is not the person. 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:52.339 And contrary to what some people like, 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.660 work is not the problem. 00:21:54.660 --> 00:22:01.100 Work is what God has mandated humans to do. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.380 We're not called to play 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:04.380 or to do what we feel like, 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:06.519 but rather, we are called to work. 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:09.600 God gives each one of us a responsibility, 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.019 and he calls us to that. 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:12.880 We're going to talk about that a little bit more 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:13.240 in a minute. 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.519 So, the problem is not the person. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:17.380 The problem is not the job. 00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:18.940 Rather, it's the laziness. 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:22.259 If laziness is the problem, 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.980 then let's look at verse, 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.100 excuse me, 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.880 verse 31, 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:30.240 as we look at the effect of that problem. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.900 Describing the current state of the vineyard, 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.620 verse 31 says this, 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.219 And behold, 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.079 it was all overgrown with thorns. 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.119 The ground was covered with metals, 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.719 and its stone wall was broken down. 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:46.719 This property had value at one point. 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:49.779 It was once a source of income, 00:22:50.199 --> 00:22:52.500 but it has been neglected and not cared for. 00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:57.859 Work is required to keep something nice, 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.119 to keep it functioning, 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.419 to maintain it. 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:04.459 So, all the blessings that we've been given 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.259 whatever they are, 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.220 the jobs we have, 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.980 the relationships, 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.920 the possessions, 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.819 even our own bodies, 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:12.279 they require work to maintain. 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:16.180 They require effort to keep working right. 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.940 In these verses, 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:21.480 neglect of the vineyard has brought thorns, 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.059 and weeds, 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:26.440 and a wall which no longer serves its purpose. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:28.299 Notice also in these verses 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:30.019 that there's no mention of grapes, 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.940 or grape vines, 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.340 which is what is supposed to be growing here. 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.640 If they're already left, 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:38.980 we can imagine they're struggling to survive 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:41.440 because they're being choked out by the thorns. 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:44.140 And if any do make it, 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:46.180 what grapes are left will be eaten 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.579 from the animals, 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.259 not being kept out by the wall 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.660 that's fallen down. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:50.779 Now, 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:59.420 as we think about this work, 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:02.360 and as we think about the thorns 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:03.720 that are growing up, 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:08.440 it's important here to see the distinction 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:10.519 between work that we're given 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:15.620 and the curse that was placed on us 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:18.440 from our sin back in the Garden of Eden. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.940 Why is that important? 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:24.060 It's important because work sometimes 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.399 can feel like the curse, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.240 but it's not. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:31.339 Work is what God wants us to be doing. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.559 In the Garden of Eden, 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.559 before sin, 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:37.359 God gave Adam a job. 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:40.059 He gave Eve a job. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.899 Genesis 2.15, 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.279 it says, 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.759 the Lord God took the man 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.039 and put him in the Garden of Eden 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.099 to work it and keep it. 00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:48.299 This is before they sinned. 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:52.579 Sometime after that, 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.099 Eve is created, 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:56.039 serpent comes along, 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.019 they're tempted, 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.460 they sin, 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:00.579 they disobey what God told them to do. 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.740 God curses the serpent, 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:03.220 God curses the woman, 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.720 and he curses the man, 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:06.200 and they're kicked out of Eden. 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:09.619 Genesis 3.23 says, 00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:11.200 therefore the Lord God 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.740 sent them out of the Garden of Eden 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.639 to work the ground 00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:16.180 from which he was taken. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:19.660 So before sin in the Garden 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.880 and Paradise, 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.960 they're giving work. 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.240 After they're kicked out, 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:23.920 after sin, 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:25.220 they're still giving work. 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:31.740 So it's a responsibility 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.160 given to us by God, 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.200 not a curse. 00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.380 But that doesn't say that 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:37.380 the curse did not make it harder. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.000 It did. 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.980 From a spiritual standpoint, 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.180 because we are sinners, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.640 it's harder. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:47.040 It makes us lazy. 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:47.880 Right? 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.020 We want to do other things 00:25:49.020 --> 00:25:49.780 for ourself 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:51.759 and not what the job calls us to. 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:54.620 And also from a physical standpoint, 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.720 Genesis 3.18 says, 00:25:56.840 --> 00:25:58.660 curse is the ground because of you. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.120 In pain, 00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:01.140 you shall eat of it 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.300 all the days of your life. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.759 Thorns and thistles, 00:26:04.300 --> 00:26:06.500 it shall bring forth for you, 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.720 and you shall eat the plants 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.340 of the field. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:12.420 So it's made work harder for man. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:15.519 So these thorns 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.860 and these thistles 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.840 that we see growing up 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.700 in this vineyard 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:20.560 is because of the curse. 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.580 And the man, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.019 the sluggard in this case, 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:25.539 has allowed them to grow. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.840 Now as we think about thorns 00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:31.779 and thistles and weeds, 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.519 it's interesting that 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.300 we don't have to go to a store 00:26:35.300 --> 00:26:36.519 and buy seeds for those. 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.180 We buy seeds for things 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.420 that we want to grow, 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.860 things that are pretty, 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.139 things that bring food. 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:44.819 We, 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.979 a couple years back 00:26:46.979 --> 00:26:48.259 on the side of our house, 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.599 we had a drainage problem. 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.479 So we had a few people 00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:52.199 from the church 00:26:52.199 --> 00:26:53.479 come out and help us 00:26:53.479 --> 00:26:55.439 and we dug a big hole 00:26:55.439 --> 00:26:56.659 and we laid some pipe 00:26:56.659 --> 00:26:57.599 to help with the drainage 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.919 and we covered it back up 00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:03.199 and it was a job 00:27:03.199 --> 00:27:04.539 that fixed the problem. 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.899 But what we were left with 00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:07.099 was a side yard 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.219 that was just horrible. 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:09.179 It was just dirt. 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.620 There wasn't anything left. 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:15.019 And I meant to put grass on it 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.840 at some point. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.660 It just came a little lower 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.660 on the priority list. 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:20.200 But interestingly enough, 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.940 what happens is 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.180 you don't have to plant anything 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:24.019 for the crap to grow. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.360 The thorns, 00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:26.380 the ugly stuff, 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.100 the weeds, 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.160 that grows without anybody 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.960 doing a thing. 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:33.880 And that is what we see 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:35.079 taking place here 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.900 in this story 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:38.579 where laziness takes in, 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:42.519 then weeds come in. 00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:45.079 Where once was something 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:47.059 flourishing and lively, 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.539 we have death. 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:55.399 If we leave it to itself, 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.200 the nice things don't happen. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.859 We have to work for those things. 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:04.180 The vineyard did not get cared for 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:06.000 and so the fruit died. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.960 The money stopped coming in. 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:12.000 The land that once sustained life 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.440 and generated income 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:17.000 now was worth nothing. 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.500 That's the end result. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.720 That's the effect 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:21.180 of laziness. 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.720 Verse 32 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:25.859 teaches how we can grow 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.619 in wisdom 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:29.140 and it gives us a method 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.059 for doing it. 00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:30.880 See, I talked about 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.839 there was the effect 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.660 and we'll get to 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:37.140 the cause in a minute. 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.640 But in the middle, 00:28:38.780 --> 00:28:39.640 in verse 32, 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.360 it teaches us something 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.660 that is helpful for us. 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.520 Here it helps us 00:28:45.520 --> 00:28:46.960 avoid laziness. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.420 But not just that 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:51.120 in other areas as well. 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:53.040 It says this in verse 32. 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:54.820 Then I saw 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.940 and considered it. 00:28:56.280 --> 00:28:57.920 I looked and received instruction. 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:01.460 We are called to observe, 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.480 to think about it. 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.800 And lastly, 00:29:04.040 --> 00:29:05.640 to receive, 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.940 that is be open 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.000 to instruction. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.259 If we want to avoid 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.660 the pitfalls of laziness, 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.880 we need to look 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:14.820 at the pitfalls 00:29:14.820 --> 00:29:15.519 of laziness. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:15.960 Notice, 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.500 he came into the field 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.580 and he saw it. 00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.900 He observed it. 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.220 It's like he looked 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.519 closer to it 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:24.440 and he realized 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:27.140 what was its cause. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.559 Lastly, 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.039 we come to 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:36.000 the cause of the problem. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.160 We saw the effect. 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.359 We see 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:40.339 a piece of wisdom 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.900 to help us observe it. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.440 And lastly, 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.380 we come to the cause 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.119 of the problem. 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.700 Verse 33 and 34. 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.819 A little sleep, 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.819 a little slumber, 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.039 a little folding 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:54.299 of the hands to rest 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.000 and poverty 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.039 will come upon you 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.940 like a robber 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.200 and want 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.660 like an armed man. 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:04.980 laziness can easily 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.300 put us to sleep 00:30:06.300 --> 00:30:08.300 with the soothing 00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:10.380 sounds of excuses. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:14.100 I work on that next week 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:15.640 when I feel like doing it. 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:18.140 The chair and my phone, 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:18.940 they just feel 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:20.600 so comfortable right now. 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.320 The dishes, 00:30:22.540 --> 00:30:23.400 they're not going anywhere. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.700 I'll do them tomorrow. 00:30:25.540 --> 00:30:26.600 Let me watch a little TV. 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:28.539 Maybe I'll finish 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.679 my homework this weekend 00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.799 when I'll probably 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.579 have more time. 00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.699 Just a little more sleep. 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.039 Just a few more minutes 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.619 of a game. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:37.219 Just a few more, 00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:39.159 one more news article 00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.799 to read. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.699 How about at work? 00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.439 There's a task 00:30:43.439 --> 00:30:44.439 to do. 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.159 There's a call 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.719 to be made. 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.339 There's a project 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.939 to finish. 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.179 But wait, 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:48.459 let me, 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.399 I just need to check 00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.039 social media 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.779 one more time. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.539 Or there's just 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.279 a little bit 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.199 of the election news 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:55.319 I want to check up on. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.240 Or maybe 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.939 the COVID status 00:30:58.939 --> 00:30:59.859 changed from yesterday 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.960 and I need to check it. 00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:02.619 Now, 00:31:02.679 --> 00:31:03.539 I'm not getting down 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.559 on those things too hard. 00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.439 Some of those are 00:31:05.439 --> 00:31:06.740 good and helpful, 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.439 but they have their place. 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.939 And we need to keep them there. 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:13.139 If we don't protect 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.279 the time, 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.899 the limited time, 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.819 and the resources 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.700 we have 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:20.240 that we've been given, 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:21.419 then laziness 00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.379 will take them 00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:23.099 from us. 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.879 verse 34 00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:26.179 has some strong language. 00:31:26.679 --> 00:31:27.240 It was repeated 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.740 back in chapter 6 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.899 of Proverbs 00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:30.939 and we see it again. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.399 And poverty 00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:33.559 will come upon you 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.480 like a robber. 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.299 No one plans 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.480 to run out of time. 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.199 No one sets out 00:31:39.199 --> 00:31:40.459 wanting to miss 00:31:40.459 --> 00:31:41.339 an opportunity 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.919 or not take care 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.439 of something 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:45.019 so that it loses value. 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.839 The slugger 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.759 in this passage 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.879 had no plans 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.159 of letting his vineyard 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.140 become destroyed. 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:54.060 But at the same time, 00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:55.540 he didn't have a plan 00:31:55.540 --> 00:31:56.700 to protect it. 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.540 Or if he did, 00:31:57.880 --> 00:31:58.740 he didn't follow 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.400 that plan. 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.980 So poverty 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.180 came upon him 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.420 slowly, 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.900 and yet he never 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.620 saw it coming. 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.480 The last part 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.259 of that verse 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.960 says, 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.000 and want 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:12.519 like an armed man. 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:15.580 I've never been robbed 00:32:15.580 --> 00:32:17.460 by an armed man. 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:19.259 Hope I never am. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.420 But I have been robbed. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.660 I know what that 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.420 feels like. 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:25.279 When I was a teenager, 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.500 someone stole my moped. 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.779 A few years back, 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.500 when we were 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.420 at amusement park, 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.940 someone stole 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.819 Cheryl's purse 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.680 from our van. 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.140 And I'm sure 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:35.720 a lot of you 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.879 have similar stories 00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:37.700 about how you've 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.359 been robbed. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.559 One thing that 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.420 you can be sure of 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.819 is that an armed man 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.839 goes after 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.879 what he wants 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:46.039 forcibly. 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.539 He plans. 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:49.159 He doesn't act 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.700 slowly, 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:51.440 and he doesn't 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.460 announce himself. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.180 That would be 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.839 stupid. 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.539 Right? 00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.559 We could see him 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:56.839 coming. 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.579 We could guard. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.980 It's unexpected 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:04.019 when it happens, 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.819 but it is 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.480 avoidable. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.839 Not speaking of 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.539 being robbed, 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.359 I'm speaking of 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:09.940 laziness. 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.960 So guard yourself 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.079 against laziness, 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.740 because if you don't, 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.019 it will rule over you. 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:17.839 It will take over 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.579 your resources 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.339 and your time. 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.859 Now these verses 00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.720 talk about 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:24.119 physical laziness 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:26.059 and physical poverty, 00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:27.839 but as we know, 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.879 wisdom and 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:30.680 Proverbs has 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.460 connections that 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.240 go way deeper. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.359 They're connected 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.220 to our spiritual 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.799 lives. 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:35.960 So if there's 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.839 dangers with 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.559 laziness 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:39.779 that are true 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.379 on a physical 00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:40.839 level, 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.539 how much more 00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.000 are they true 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:43.639 on a spiritual 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:44.019 level? 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:46.680 So guard 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.440 your spiritual 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.819 lives against 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.720 laziness. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.799 As we look 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.359 to Jesus 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.339 and we see 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.160 how he came 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.000 to earth 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.480 for the purpose 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.220 of bringing 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.119 salvation, 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.720 to fix the 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.500 sin problem 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.400 that separated 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.539 us from God, 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.680 he knew the 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.180 work that he 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.819 had to do. 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.619 He was honest. 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.480 He was diligent. 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.860 He was sinless. 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:14.519 And even 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.280 though he was 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:15.900 judged 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.960 unfairly, 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:20.720 in every way 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.360 he did not 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:21.960 avenge. 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.680 He continued 00:34:23.680 --> 00:34:24.120 on, 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.180 and for the joy 00:34:25.180 --> 00:34:25.860 that was set 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.480 before him, 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.019 he endured 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.820 the cross 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.820 and suffered 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.539 the shame 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.519 to make 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.240 our freedom 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.940 from sin 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.079 and rightness 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.000 with God 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.519 possible. 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.039 That's what 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.579 Jesus did 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.220 for us. 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.620 So we need 00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:39.240 to remember 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.119 that as we 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.819 are called 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.959 to be 00:34:41.959 --> 00:34:44.019 wise with 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.799 our words 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:45.779 and wise 00:34:45.779 --> 00:34:46.859 with our 00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:47.379 work. 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.000 So as we 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.539 looked at 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.899 our words, 00:34:53.899 --> 00:34:55.119 are you wise? 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.699 Do you help 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.319 build up 00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:58.119 and not hurt 00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:58.559 others? 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.339 How about 00:35:00.339 --> 00:35:02.079 with diligence 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.439 or with your 00:35:03.439 --> 00:35:03.819 work? 00:35:03.859 --> 00:35:04.459 Are you wise 00:35:04.459 --> 00:35:05.219 with your work? 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:07.579 Do you guard 00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.419 and take care 00:35:08.419 --> 00:35:08.719 of your 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.719 spiritual life? 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:11.319 Do you guard 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.779 your work 00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.279 ethic, 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.579 the things 00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.239 that you do? 00:35:16.919 --> 00:35:17.879 If you do 00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.259 not, 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.339 if you struggle 00:35:19.339 --> 00:35:19.839 with where 00:35:19.839 --> 00:35:20.299 you spend 00:35:20.299 --> 00:35:20.819 your time, 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:21.980 then I suggest 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.480 that you take 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.139 guidance from 00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:24.019 verse 32. 00:35:26.359 --> 00:35:27.559 Then I saw 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.500 and considered 00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:28.779 it. 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.799 I looked 00:35:29.799 --> 00:35:30.399 and received 00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:31.039 instruction. 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.119 So look 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:34.199 and consider 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:34.960 and receive 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.679 instruction. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.099 Instruction 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.599 from the 00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.219 word of God. 00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.159 Pray and 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.719 use that 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.379 instruction 00:35:40.379 --> 00:35:42.779 to 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.919 lead 00:35:43.919 --> 00:35:44.239 you 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:44.639 in the 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:44.859 right 00:35:44.859 --> 00:35:45.339 path. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.039 Let's take 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.299 a minute 00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:47.759 just to 00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:48.199 think about 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.519 that 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.819 before we 00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.379 pray together.