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PROVERBS 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Almost everyone knows their birth date. But what about the day of your death? You know you’re going to have one. Research still shows that 10 out of every 10 people die!
“Two things are certain in life: death and taxes – but you can cheat at taxes!” No one cheats death. On average most people in America will live well into their 70’s, or 80’s, some even 90’s, some exceptional people make it to 100. I had a Great Aunt Bernice that lived a few months shy of her 103 birthday.
In the obituaries I’m sure most of those people had no idea that their picture would be there in the few days ahead! We don’t know what the future holds, but we know the One Who holds our future – in His loving, nail-scarred hands! And we can trust Him with our lives, both here and now, and There and Then!
So, no fear, only faith!
This is why we should value our time – you really can’t buy more time. We have just so much time and once it’s gone, it’s gone! No do-overs! No one is guaranteed tomorrow - we can't make any assumptions that next year will be like last year, or month, or week or even day.
Some people are very good at managing their finances – but how many of us are good at managing our time?
Count the minutes and hours you spend on social media, the television, hobbies, sports, various kinds of entertainment – what sort of percentage are we talking about? Even more so, how much time do we invest in matters concerning this life, and not the life to come?
LUKE 12:16-21People who focus on acquiring wealth, power, prestige, all the attractions, the fading glitter and glory – and even if it’s not all that: even if it’s just the necessities of this life – is like one who is planning their investments on the Titanic. It’s useless really because that ship is going down and such a person will have nothing to show for themselves.
16 Then He [JESUS] spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 "And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18 "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 21 "So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Yet those who are “rich toward GOD” are the wise ones, not focused on this life only (besides practical needs, responsibilities and goals of this life that are necessary, and even good) but these wise ones want to store their treasures in heaven:
MATTHEW 6:19-21In light of eternity, our life down here is that little dash you see on gravestones, sandwiched between DOB and DOD. So, in this life let’s always add “If the LORD is willing” when we make plans for this and that (JAMES 4:13-16).
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
PROVERBS 27:2
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:17-18A bodybuilder doesn’t have to go around telling people that’s what he is; an artist in his studio for his exhibition doesn’t have to declare himself an artist (unless his work consists of abstract art, then he might!). A genius giving a lecture at a university doesn’t have to tell you how brilliant he is. A wealthy man who is standing at the teller’s window doesn’t have to say how rich he is. In each case, seeing what they do, what they are is evidence enough.
17 But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD. 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
And it will be so evident, that others will say, “Wow! You’re quite the bodybuilder! Or, you’re a most awesome artist! A gifted and brilliant genius!”
I’ve heard people through the years brag about how much they are “a people person” – and they proved by their actions, that they certainly were NOT!
For the saints of the church, such “glorying” or boasting about oneself is the proof of pride – something that should never be among us as disciples of Christ.
Whenever anyone tells me, “James, you’re very wise…” I’m very quick to say, “Well if that’s true, then I have to admit, it’s borrowed wisdom from the LORD – He’s just so gracious about lending it to me, that He never asks for it back!”
JEREMIAH 9:23-24PROVERBS 27:3-4
23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them. 4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?
One note in a commentary I read says it like this: “A wise man's wrath is under the control of reason; but a fool's rage has no bounds.” Here’s a little insight from Matthew Henry:
“One may avoid a sudden heat [of temper], as David escaped [from] Saul's javelin, but when it grows, as Saul's did, to envy, there is no standing before it; it will pursue; it will overtake. He that grieves at the good of another [jealousy and envy] will be still [conspiring] to hurt him and will [be] angry forever” (see 1 SAMUEL Ch.’s’ 19-20).PROVERBS 27:5-6
5 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6 faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
In our society especially, we don’t value rebuking – or correcting, very much, especially from the pulpit.
It used to be said, “That message convicted me, I need to change my ways!” – now it’s more like, “That message offended me, I need to change churches!”
Let’s look at 2 TIMOTHY:
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17The Scriptures provide for us every useful, beneficial, productive and blessed resource that’s available for us in order to prepare and equip us in life and in ministry. Now note these four provisions in vs. 16.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1) We have doctrine firstly: “teaching” that shows us what’s good, what’s true, what’s right.So open rebuke or correction, if done in meekness (GAL 6:1-2), in love, in the Spirit of Christ is a loving thing that shouldn’t be concealed or hidden from the one that’s in error or in sin.
2) Then we have reproof – these truths of Scripture are there to tell us what’s bad, what’s not true, what’s not right.
3) Then there is correction – this provides us the knowledge and wisdom on how to get it right!
4) And then there is instruction in righteousness, that is, how to stay right.
I’ve seen someone who needed church discipline, and those in leadership said, “Let’s just love them.” Yes! Amen – love them by showing them the truth, where they’re going the wrong way, help them to get back on track – that’s love!
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend” and indeed, “the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”! OR “An enemy will stab you in the back, all the while smiling to your face. But a true friend will stab you in the front, all the while with tears in their eyes.”
PROVERBS 28:23PROVERBS 27:7
He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.
A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
When in plenty, appreciation can become lax (Americans who spend time abroad in Third World countries, upon return to the States, learn to appreciate this country as never before).
Prosperity and abundance ARE a blessing... until they're not! What do I mean by that? It's a valuable lesson of history best demonstrated by this visual:
I’ve seen parents who lavish their kids with a mountain of presents at Christmas time or at birthday parties. And the kids tear through it all, with barely a glance before they’re tearing into another one – and when all is said and done, half of them end up in the closet gathering dust.
Then I’ve seen where a child clutched a much longed after present to their chest – the only one they got, but they’re content.
Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.
Where is your place in the world – or a more appropriate question, where has the LORD placed you in His Kingdom? What is His calling on your life? Whatever that may be, stay the course! Don’t wander from it. The Hebrew word used in this verse for “wander” is nadad, and it can simply mean “to wander, to depart” – but it can also mean “to flee, or even to drive or chase away”!
As GOD’s sheep, we are very like those four legged wooly creatures who have a natural tendency to wander away from the sheepfold and shepherd. We have to be watchful that we aren’t led (or chased, or driven) away:
When that bird leaves its nest, it’s no longer safe, but vulnerable. When the saint leaves the protective shield of GOD’s holy will and begins to walk in sinful ways, we are just as vulnerable to Satan who like a roaring lion seeks to devour (1 PET 5:8).
PROVERBS 27:9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
Good “hearty” sound, wholesome, godly counsel is always a welcome thing to who? Those who put the LORD first in their lives, who love His truth and desire to follow Him. Godly counsel is vital and necessary, firstly from the Word of GOD, and secondly from godly counselors. 2 TIMOTHY 1:13 speaks about “holding firmly sound words” – that is, the pure truth found in GOD’s Word.
Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
My brother, the middle child in my family was sort of embarrassed to admit to me that he actually felt closer to his Christian brother at church than he did to me. I told him, don’t be embarrassed – because in Christ we are all family, and those ties are stronger than family blood, because it’s based on the blood of Christ and from the relationship we have not by our earthly fathers, but by our heavenly Father!
There are some godly friendships that run deeper than even our natural born siblings as it says in PROV 18:24.
And as a matter of expediency, it’s wiser to seek help close at hand that’s readily available, than to seek help from a distant source, where you just might have to “schedule an appointment”.
And of course, we can always rely on our Friend above all other friends – our LORD Jesus Christ, Who is ever and always faithful, dependable, trustworthy, loyal and will never steer us wrong, Who will not necessarily tell us what we want to hear, but what we need to hear! As we just read in vs. 6: “…faithful are the wounds of a friend”.
PROVERBS 27:11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
Not only do those loving caregivers rejoice on that day, but the angels of heaven also rejoice (LK 15:7-10). And generally speaking, a son or daughter who is guided by godly wisdom is a great source of joy to a parent – for one thing, it makes them low maintenance! I don’t know of any godly parent that doesn’t want to see their children excel above and beyond what they themselves were able to accomplish in life.
This is one reason why we here at SHINE BRIGHT Church call our oldest Sunday School students, “Flaming Arrows” – because we want to launch them high and beyond where we’ve never gone; that they will achieve in time greater spiritual heights than we ever did!
PROVERBS 27:12
A prudent man foresees evil [it’s not talking about moral evil here, but rather adversity, calamity, mischief, trouble] and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
Why did the LORD admonished us to be like serpents, when typically “serpents” in Scripture aren’t a good thing? When the LORD commissioned His Twelve to go and preach the Gospel and minister to the needs of the people, He told them this:
But He encourages us to be as harmless as doves and wise as serpents. Harmless as doves, that’s pretty self-explanatory, but how is a snake wise? Snakes are very sensitive to vibrations on the ground from creatures that are walking nearby.
If those vibrations indicate that something the size of a mouse or a bird is close at hand, that’s like ringing the dinner bell! But if those vibrations indicate something the size of a wolf, a bear, or even a human – they say, “I’m outta here!”
They have the wisdom to discern and fleeing from danger, they disappear; I think that’s what our LORD was talking about. Inasmuch as we are able to avoid trouble while we are declaring the Gospel, but by no means losing our boldness in Christ, I think the LORD considers us wise.
PROVERBS 27:13
Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
This is repeated from PROV 20:16, and I’ll close with the same quote by Matthew Henry (don’t worry, it’s a short note!):
Then I’ve seen where a child clutched a much longed after present to their chest – the only one they got, but they’re content.
We need to appreciate our blessings, never take them for granted, and jealously guard our liberties!
PROVERBS 30:8b-9PROVERBS 27:8
8…Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food sufficient for me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.
Where is your place in the world – or a more appropriate question, where has the LORD placed you in His Kingdom? What is His calling on your life? Whatever that may be, stay the course! Don’t wander from it. The Hebrew word used in this verse for “wander” is nadad, and it can simply mean “to wander, to depart” – but it can also mean “to flee, or even to drive or chase away”!
As GOD’s sheep, we are very like those four legged wooly creatures who have a natural tendency to wander away from the sheepfold and shepherd. We have to be watchful that we aren’t led (or chased, or driven) away:
2 PETER 3:17-18And as we pursue GOD’s will for our lives which in turn will expand the kingdom of GOD in this world – that’s something the devil hates and will do all he can to stop us. We can be sure he’ll try to intimidate us, try to get us to flee from our GOD-ordained place in His kingdom, and chase or drive us away from GOD’s plan!
17 You therefore, beloved… beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
When that bird leaves its nest, it’s no longer safe, but vulnerable. When the saint leaves the protective shield of GOD’s holy will and begins to walk in sinful ways, we are just as vulnerable to Satan who like a roaring lion seeks to devour (1 PET 5:8).
PROVERBS 27:9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
Good “hearty” sound, wholesome, godly counsel is always a welcome thing to who? Those who put the LORD first in their lives, who love His truth and desire to follow Him. Godly counsel is vital and necessary, firstly from the Word of GOD, and secondly from godly counselors. 2 TIMOTHY 1:13 speaks about “holding firmly sound words” – that is, the pure truth found in GOD’s Word.
PSALM 1:1-2PROVERBS 27:10
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
PSALM 16:7
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
PROVERBS 15:2
Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
PSALM 141:5
Let the righteous strike [“hammer”] me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. (You can see this in action where apostle Paul faces off the leader of the apostles, Peter and has to rebuke him before everyone present; GAL 2:11-16)
Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
My brother, the middle child in my family was sort of embarrassed to admit to me that he actually felt closer to his Christian brother at church than he did to me. I told him, don’t be embarrassed – because in Christ we are all family, and those ties are stronger than family blood, because it’s based on the blood of Christ and from the relationship we have not by our earthly fathers, but by our heavenly Father!
There are some godly friendships that run deeper than even our natural born siblings as it says in PROV 18:24.
And as a matter of expediency, it’s wiser to seek help close at hand that’s readily available, than to seek help from a distant source, where you just might have to “schedule an appointment”.
And of course, we can always rely on our Friend above all other friends – our LORD Jesus Christ, Who is ever and always faithful, dependable, trustworthy, loyal and will never steer us wrong, Who will not necessarily tell us what we want to hear, but what we need to hear! As we just read in vs. 6: “…faithful are the wounds of a friend”.
PROVERBS 27:11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
PROVERBS 23:15-16, 24-25It's the prayer of every parent, or grandparents that their precious ones who don’t yet know the LORD will one day become wise and understand that to turn away from this sinful world and a sinful life, and to turn to Christ as LORD and Savior is the wisest thing any child can do – whether that child is 6, 16 or 60!
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice-indeed, I myself; 16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice.
Not only do those loving caregivers rejoice on that day, but the angels of heaven also rejoice (LK 15:7-10). And generally speaking, a son or daughter who is guided by godly wisdom is a great source of joy to a parent – for one thing, it makes them low maintenance! I don’t know of any godly parent that doesn’t want to see their children excel above and beyond what they themselves were able to accomplish in life.
This is one reason why we here at SHINE BRIGHT Church call our oldest Sunday School students, “Flaming Arrows” – because we want to launch them high and beyond where we’ve never gone; that they will achieve in time greater spiritual heights than we ever did!
PROVERBS 27:12
A prudent man foresees evil [it’s not talking about moral evil here, but rather adversity, calamity, mischief, trouble] and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
Why did the LORD admonished us to be like serpents, when typically “serpents” in Scripture aren’t a good thing? When the LORD commissioned His Twelve to go and preach the Gospel and minister to the needs of the people, He told them this:
MATTHEW 10:16Sheep aren’t typically aggressive – unless maybe if they’re something like that Sylvester Stallone character, and call themselves LAMBO! And he sends us out in the midst of wolves! How many wolves do you suppose express anxiety when they see a flock of sheep heading their way?
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
But He encourages us to be as harmless as doves and wise as serpents. Harmless as doves, that’s pretty self-explanatory, but how is a snake wise? Snakes are very sensitive to vibrations on the ground from creatures that are walking nearby.
If those vibrations indicate that something the size of a mouse or a bird is close at hand, that’s like ringing the dinner bell! But if those vibrations indicate something the size of a wolf, a bear, or even a human – they say, “I’m outta here!”
They have the wisdom to discern and fleeing from danger, they disappear; I think that’s what our LORD was talking about. Inasmuch as we are able to avoid trouble while we are declaring the Gospel, but by no means losing our boldness in Christ, I think the LORD considers us wise.
PROVERBS 27:13
Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
This is repeated from PROV 20:16, and I’ll close with the same quote by Matthew Henry (don’t worry, it’s a short note!):
“Two sorts of persons are here spoken of that are ruining their lives, and will become beggars in short time, and therefore can’t be trusted with any good security:
“1. Those that will be a creditor for anybody that will ask them and entangle themselves in rash suretyship to oblige their idle companions… these waste by wholesale.
“2. Those that are involved with abandoned women [who take advantage] and keep company with them. They will be beggars in a little time; never give them credit without good pledge. Strange women have strange ways of impoverishing men to enrich themselves.”
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