Facing the Future Text: Proverbs 27:1-27 Introduction Proverbs is full of wisdom for those who would be wise. In the previous chapter, we saw the marks of evidence for the fool. In this chapter we find that the one who is wise will be thoughtful for the future. While we must live as though each day might be our last, we must also plan for the future. Just one life will soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.1 Transition What are some basic, Bible and faith principles for facing the future? We find this chapter gives us a collection of bits of wisdom for the answer. I. Do Today’s Business Today (vv. 1-4). LIFE PRINCIPLE #96: Don’t be a procrastinator! READING: The Value of Time (on attached page) —Various quotes on procrastination: “Procrastination is a snare that often leads to ruin. . .The present is given man in order that he may plan wisely for the future.” (H.A. Ironside) “The road of by and by leads to the house of never.” (Spanish proverb) “Procrastination is the thief of time.” (English saying) Many people have great intentions of accomplishing great task. They make their list, they state their objectives, they boast of their plans. Yet, they never seem to do anything. Why not? The culprit is the cancer of procrastination. Procrastination is bred by… A. Presumption (v.1). —The foolish man always presumes (i.e., assumes) that there will always be a tomorrow. However, the Bible tells us not to “Boast” about tomorrow. In other words, do not 1
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presume there will always be time to take care of today’s matters. We should not boast about tomorrow in the areas of… 1. Sin. DEFINITION OF SIN: Pro. 21:4 - Anything a wicked man does. Pro. 24:9 - Foolish thoughts Rom. 14:23 - Anything we do that is not of faith Jam. 4:17 - Not doing good, when you know to do it. I Jn. 5:17 - All unrighteousness —It is deceiving (Heb. 3:13; cf. Jer. 17:9) —It is deluding. i.e., it’s destructive force carries a person deeper and deeper into the vileness of sin (cf. Rom. 1:18-32). “Sin denied dulls the conscience” (John MacArthur) ––It is destroying.i.e., There is absolutely no good that can come from the life of sin. a. Sin tempts (Jam. 1:13-15). b. Sin ensnares (cf. Eve.; I Jn. 2:15-16). c. Sin destroys (Rom. 6:23). 2. Service. —Too many people lives as though they will “start serving God” tomorrow. They make promises, but never fulfill. a. Bible Reading (cf. Psa. 1:1-3; Jos. 1:8; 2 Tim. 2:15). b. Prayer (cf. Matt. 6:5; Lk. 18:1; Heb. 4:16). c. Church Attendance (cf. Heb. 10:25; Psa. 122:1). d. Giving (cf. Mal. 3:8-10; 1 Cor. 16:1). e. Witnessing (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8).
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3. Salvation (cf. II Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:13; 4:7). ILLUSTRATION: Festus’ delay in Acts 24:24-25. QUOTE: H.A. Ironside’s Five Reasons (attached) B. Emotion (vv. 2-4). 1. Pride (v.2). —Tends to cause procrastination because we feel we are “above” certain menial task. 2. Jealousy (vv.3-4). —Spends much time in plotting evil. NOTE: Praise will quickly reveal a man’s character (cf. v.21). II. Cultivate Friendships That Last (vv. 5-10). A good friend is a real comfort in life! A. Be honest in your friendships (vv. 5-6). 1. Real friends are openly honest with their friends (v.5). —cf. Paul confronting Peter in Galatians 2:11-13. —Make sure you are qualified to confront (cf. Matt. 7:1-5). ––The friendship must be of a nature that correction can be offered and received. 2. Real friends are willing to hurt you in order to help you (v.6; cf. v.17). “True love will lead me to be faithful to my brother even when his steps are declining from the path of moral virtue.” (H.A. Ironside) —Remember: Those who always brag on you are not necessarily your friends. B. Be choosy in your friendships (v.7). 1. People with friends are more selective (v.7a). —cf. Psa. 119:63.
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2. People without friends are more embracing (v.7b). —The hungry will swallow anything! ILLUSTRATION: (Give example of how many young women are quick to accept any man, because they are hungry for a relationship). C. Be stable in your friendships (v.8). 1. Don’t be a wishy-washy friend. 2. Do be a stable friend (cf. Jam. 1:8). D. Be considerate in your friendships (vv. 9-10). 1. Seek to be a blessing (v.9). ILLUSTRATION: David & Jonathan (1 Sam. 18:1-3). 2. Maintain family friendships (v.10a). 3. Do not take advantage of a friend (v.10b; cf. v.14). III.
Exercise Wisdom in Decisions (vv. 11-22).
Reveal wisdom by. . . A. Being a wise son (v.11). —The life of the son should validate the father’s faith. Examples: Negative impact of Eli’s sons (I Sam. 2:29; cf. I Tim. 3:4). B. Being alert to consequences in life (v.12; cf. 22:3; Eph. 6:18). C. Being free of debt (v.13; cf. 22:7). D. Being courteous in your actions (v.14, i.e., using common sense). E. Being careful who you marry (vv. 15-16). —A contentious woman cannot be hid!
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F. Being willing to serve (v. 18). G. Being willing to reflect on one’s life (v.19). H. Being content with what you have (v.20). I. Being immune to man’s praise (v.21). ––Praise either brings out the best or the worst in man. QUOTE: "It is a general rule that the person who is encouraged by praise will be devastated by criticism." (W. Wiersbe).2 IV.
Plan Your Finances (vv. 23-27).
LIFE PRINCIPLE #97: Manage your money well. A. Plan your investments (v.24). 1. Live on a budget (v.23). 2. Look toward eternity (v.24). B. Provide for this life’s needs (vv. 25-27). 1. Do the sowing and reaping (vv. 25-26). 2. Enjoy the reward of the harvest (v.27).
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Warren W. Wiersbe, In Praise of Plodders (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregal Publishers, 1991), 18.
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The Value of Time (Source Unknown) Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. • Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. • And remember that time waits for no one. • • • • • • • •
Yesterday is history…Tomorrow a mystery…Today is a gift…That's why it's called the present!
Five Reasons to not Delay Salvation
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If the reader is unsaved, let me remind him of five important reasons why he should not delay in coming to Christ. First––Every day spent in sin is a day lost. The only true life is that which is lived for God. Those who are saved always regret not having turned to the Lord earlier; they find true joy and peace in the path of the just, which shines ever brighter and brighter to the perfect day. Second––Every day spent in procrastination is adding to the terrible number of things you can never undo. It is often forgotten by the young that even though saved and forgiven at last, the consequences of their sins will never be blotted out. We have an influence on others today for good or ill and a future change of ways may never utterly destroy that influence. Sin leaves its effect on our minds and bodies––an effect that lasts through all time. A father meaning to impress this fact on his son told him to drive a handful of nails part way into a clean, smooth post. With great delight the lad did as he was bidden. “Now, my boy,” said the father, “draw them out.” This was soon successfully accomplished. “Now take out the holes,” was the next command. “Why, father,” exclaimed the child, “that is impossible!” So we may think of the forgiveness of our sins as drawing out of the nails; but, let us never forget that the marks remain. Therefore the wisdom of ceasing at once to do whatever can never be undone. Third––It is possible that ant any moment conviction of sin may pass away from the troubled soul and that God may cease to speak to you by His Holy Spirit. Many a man or woman has, by long resisting the Holy Ghost, reached a point where, like Pharaoh, the heart refused to respond to further entreaties or warnings. Such people are often said to be “gospel-hardened,’ and the designation is all too correct. Fourth––Before tomorrow, Death may claim you for his prey. Even as you read these lines, he may be feeling for your heart-strings. David said, “There is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3); and so it is with any of us. Before tomorrow, sinner, your lips may be silent, your heart be still, your form be cold, and your soul in Hell! Last of all, you should not forget that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. He may return from Heaven to call all His redeemed away (according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) before you lay down this book. No event has to transpire, no prophecy to be fulfilled before that great and solemn moment arrives. “In such an hour as ye think not” (Matthew 24:44), the day of grace may be brought to a close, and the days of vengeance begin for all who have rejected, or merely neglected, so great salvation. Knowing not what a single day may bring forth, it is surely wise to turn at once to God, admitting your sins and trusting His grace!
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H.A. Ironside, Proverbs (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1995), 220-221.