“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.””
(Proverbs 1:29–33, ESV)
(Proverbs 1:29–33, ESV)
The scripture above might seem long and deep. Some might picture it as negative or gloomy. The scripture speaks of “simple” people being “killed” by their rejection of faith and “complacent fools” being destroyed by their own mistaken thinking (Proverbs 1:32). However, this scripture really is about choices. Those who “hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord” suffered (Proverbs 1:29). Those who listened to God “dwelt secure” and were “at ease without dread of disaster” (Proverbs 1:33). Faith or the lack of faith changed people’s perspective, their future, and their outcomes. The center of this passage of scripture contains the overarching meaning of these verses. It states that people “shall eat the fruit of their way and have the fill of their own devices” (Proverbs 1:31). What does this mean? Put simply, it means that one’s attitudes and choices will determine not only who is faithful and who is not but will also determine the fate of each person. Your attitude and choices color your world.
“Have you heard the story of Jim Smith and Ron Jones? Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note, and he winced. He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying. He felt certain the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate, and it made him boil. Five times, by actual count, he caught the preacher in slip-of-the-tongue mistakes. During the invitation, he slipped out the side door, all the while muttering to himself, “What a waste of time!” Ron went to church, also. He heard the pianist play an arrangement of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and he was stirred to worship by the majesty of it. A special missions offering was received, and he was glad his church was doing what they could for people around the world. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday; it really spoke to a need in his life. He thought, as he shook the preacher’s hand and left, “How can anyone come here and not feel the presence of the Lord?” Both men were in the same church the same day. Each found what he was looking for. It has been said that churches and banks are much alike in one respect: “What one gets out is, for the most part, dependent upon what one puts in.”” (p. 158, The Best Sermon Illustrations).
Jim and Ron exemplify the scripture for today. Each one got out of their worship experience what they put in. Their attitude and choices displayed which one had faith and which one did not. Their responses to the parts of worship colored their view of the experience. Because of this, Jim did not see nor feel God’s presence during worship. Ron saw God’s presence everywhere!
If you go into your day feeling like your work won’t matter, it probably won’t. If you tackle a problem in your life with the attitude that you’ll never get over that problem, you probably won’t! On the other hand, if you go into each day seeing it as a blessing from God, I bet you will see God’s hand and gifts in many places. If you choose to be loving and forgiving, you will find many moments to bring those gifts to bear. Your attitude and actions color your world.
I remember visiting Caroline before and after eye surgery. She had cataract surgery. Her cataracts were in both eyes and had grown slowly over time. She didn’t realize that they were there until she noticed cloudiness in her vision. Before surgery, she talked to me about her poor vision. She explained that the world seemed cloudier and gray because of her eyesight. A few days after the surgery, I saw Caroline again. She was visiting the church, and we had a chance to talk. She had a big smile and was vibrant. I figured that the surgery had gone very well. It had. She waved a hand to talk to me. She shared with me her doctor’s evaluation and the outcomes from the surgery. Then, she grabbed my hand and said, “I can’t believe how colorful and bright the world is! I can’t believe how cataract surgery has changed my view of the world! Oh my God, Pastor! It’s wonderful!”
In the same way that surgery had corrected Caroline’s eyesight so she could see the colorful beauty of the world, there are those who have had their attitudes corrected by the grace of Almighty God. They now see the importance and joy of forgiveness. They understand what real peace feels like. They hear the old hymns, and their eyes tear up. Their view of life has been altered by the love of God in Christ Jesus!
Your attitude and actions will color your view of the world. Your faith or lack of it will affect your every day. Be mindful of your “way” (Proverbs 1:31). Be aware that your future will be affected “by the fill of your own devices”. The way you see the world will color everything in it… including the presence of God or lack thereof.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV)
“Have you heard the story of Jim Smith and Ron Jones? Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note, and he winced. He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying. He felt certain the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate, and it made him boil. Five times, by actual count, he caught the preacher in slip-of-the-tongue mistakes. During the invitation, he slipped out the side door, all the while muttering to himself, “What a waste of time!” Ron went to church, also. He heard the pianist play an arrangement of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and he was stirred to worship by the majesty of it. A special missions offering was received, and he was glad his church was doing what they could for people around the world. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday; it really spoke to a need in his life. He thought, as he shook the preacher’s hand and left, “How can anyone come here and not feel the presence of the Lord?” Both men were in the same church the same day. Each found what he was looking for. It has been said that churches and banks are much alike in one respect: “What one gets out is, for the most part, dependent upon what one puts in.”” (p. 158, The Best Sermon Illustrations).
Jim and Ron exemplify the scripture for today. Each one got out of their worship experience what they put in. Their attitude and choices displayed which one had faith and which one did not. Their responses to the parts of worship colored their view of the experience. Because of this, Jim did not see nor feel God’s presence during worship. Ron saw God’s presence everywhere!
If you go into your day feeling like your work won’t matter, it probably won’t. If you tackle a problem in your life with the attitude that you’ll never get over that problem, you probably won’t! On the other hand, if you go into each day seeing it as a blessing from God, I bet you will see God’s hand and gifts in many places. If you choose to be loving and forgiving, you will find many moments to bring those gifts to bear. Your attitude and actions color your world.
I remember visiting Caroline before and after eye surgery. She had cataract surgery. Her cataracts were in both eyes and had grown slowly over time. She didn’t realize that they were there until she noticed cloudiness in her vision. Before surgery, she talked to me about her poor vision. She explained that the world seemed cloudier and gray because of her eyesight. A few days after the surgery, I saw Caroline again. She was visiting the church, and we had a chance to talk. She had a big smile and was vibrant. I figured that the surgery had gone very well. It had. She waved a hand to talk to me. She shared with me her doctor’s evaluation and the outcomes from the surgery. Then, she grabbed my hand and said, “I can’t believe how colorful and bright the world is! I can’t believe how cataract surgery has changed my view of the world! Oh my God, Pastor! It’s wonderful!”
In the same way that surgery had corrected Caroline’s eyesight so she could see the colorful beauty of the world, there are those who have had their attitudes corrected by the grace of Almighty God. They now see the importance and joy of forgiveness. They understand what real peace feels like. They hear the old hymns, and their eyes tear up. Their view of life has been altered by the love of God in Christ Jesus!
Your attitude and actions will color your view of the world. Your faith or lack of it will affect your every day. Be mindful of your “way” (Proverbs 1:31). Be aware that your future will be affected “by the fill of your own devices”. The way you see the world will color everything in it… including the presence of God or lack thereof.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV)