PROVERBS 17

GOD’S CHARACTER GOD’S MORAL COMMANDS But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:16-17,22-23 The righteous are blessed, not better.

PROVERBS 17:1 PRIORITIES & CONTENTMENT Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6

PROVERBS 17:2,21,25 FAMILY DOES NOT SAVE A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

PROVERBS 17:3,10,17 GOD’S REFINEMENT The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

PROVERBS 17:4,5 PRIDE & PREJUDICE An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 Prejudice blasphemes God One race, but two destinies

PROVERBS 17:7 CHARACTER & SPEECH Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. Fools talk like fools The righteous talk like Christ When you talk, what are you saying?

PROVERBS 17:8,23 MONEY & INFLUENCE A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

PROVERBS 17:9,13,14 RECONCILE VS. STRIFE Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 The mature believer reconciles relationships

PROVERBS 17:11 REBELLION & JUDGMENT An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Rebellion is sin. Submission is safety. But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalms 51:17

Creator – creation Distinction For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:16-17 One Triune Creator Personal Sovereign God Independent Infinite Authority REVELATION Creation Dependent Finite Submissive

PROVERBS 17:12,19 A FOOL’S BEHAVIOR Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. Fool’s act like fools. Be careful & love them anyway. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44 God determines a person’s heart. Believers pray, role model and speak when allowed.

PROVERBS 17:15,26 UNJUST JUSTICE: WICKED VS. GOD He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. Unjust justice: giving what you do not deserve for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23,24,26

PROVERBS 17:20,24 THE HEART’S FOCUS A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. Distraction, diversion, and “too busy” expose the heart’s condition. What are you pursuing?

PROVERBS 17:22 HEART & BODY A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. Philippians 4:12

PROVERBS 17:27,28 SELF-CONTROL & SPEECH Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:21-23 Christ-like or foolish?