“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” PROVERBS 10:9
“THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Is the beginning of knowledge
But fools despise wisdom and instruction”
PROVERBS 1:7
Summary from our brother, Joe Watson
Brothers in Christ!
Praying all is well with you and with your loved ones…and that you can join us for a Saturday morning of fellowship at Kindred Coffee.
Attendees: Daryl, Dominic, Karl, Tom, Tony, and JC.
The study material was from the O.S.Hawkins series “The Joshua Code” Chapter 43, “Integrity: Don’t Leave Home Without IT!” – discussing Proverbs 1:7 and 10:9, with commentary from Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. David Jeremiah, and closing by Max Lucado!
Thanks to JC for putting the attachment together!
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” – Prov 10:9
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge But fools despise wisdom and instruction” – Prov 1:7
No book in the Bible sets out its purpose with greater clarity than the book of Proverbs…it has something to teach everyone, but such goals are not easily attained:
a. “For gaining wisdom and instruction;
b. for understanding words of insight;
c. for receiving instruction in prudent behavior;
d. doing what is right, and just, and fair;
e. for giving prudence to those who are simple (naïve);
f. knowledge and discretion to the young” (Proverbs 1:1-4).Proverbs cover a score of subjects and hundreds of life’s details – they all flow from one source –“the fear of the Lord!” We need to acknowledge God in all our ways.
Book of Proverbs – Introduction
1. Solomon’s reign as king represented the peak of prosperity for the nation of Israel.
2. The period witnessed the greatest extent of the nations territory and saw peace and international trade. (1 Kings 4:20-25; 10:21-25)
3. Solomon was likely familiar with the ancient wisdom tradition in Egypt, but through God’s inspiration and gift of great wisdom, Solomon composed superior sayings!
4. No book in the Bible sets out its purpose with greater clarity than the book of Proverbs:
a. “For gaining wisdom and instruction;
b. for understanding words of insight;
c. for receiving instruction in prudent behavior;
d. doing what is right, and just, and fair;
e. for giving prudence to those who are simple (naïve);
f. knowledge and discretion to the young” (Proverbs 1:1-4).
5. The book of Proverbs has something to teach everyone, but such goals are not easily attained.
6. Wisdom must be sought with all diligence.
7. The book of Proverbs has identifiable structure; Proverbs 1:7 gives the title, a developed statement of purpose, and the basic principles of the book.
8. The first nine chapters (1:8 –9:18) present a series of discourses on wisdom
9. These are followed by a collection of sayings by Solomon (10:1-22:16).
10.Further sayings of the wiseare presented in (22:17-24:34).
11.And another collection of Solomon’s sayings appear in verses (25:1-29:27).
12.The book of Proverbs concludes with the sayings of Agur (30:1-31) and the words of King Lemuel (31:1-31), words described as an oracle that his mother taught him.
13. In life, skill (wisdom) is what distinguishes success from failure, victory from defeat, and excellence from mediocrity.
14.Three overarching themes are emphasized in Proverbs:
a. Wisdom and Foolishness: those who submit to the will of God and those who do not.
b. Transference: the transference of wisdom from parent to children!
c. Discipline: Underlying this book is the assumption that human beings need training, correction, and discipline. Because we all inherently lack wisdom, instruction is needed, especially children.
15.In biblical times, wisdom was often passed from person-to-personthroughthe use of proverbs – pithy sayings that typically capitalized on a comparison or contrast from everyday life.
16.The master at creating these short sayings was Solomon – he spoke 3,000 proverbs during his reign.
17. His wisdom was a gift from God in an answer to Solomon’s prayer.His wisdom was encapsulated in his proverbs. (1Kings 3: 10-15).
18.The book of Proverbs was primarily written by Solomon. It was designed to produce a nation of people who were skilled at living a life consistent with God’s spiritual and natural laws.
19.The book of Proverbs deals with life’s most practical issues – hard working, eating moderately, living honestly, and making good decisions on matters great and small.
20. The book of Proverbs warns us against sexual immorality, boastful talking, and hateful gossip. They exhort us to self-control.
21.As often observed, there are thirty-one chapters in Proverbs – a chapter for each day of the month.
22.The book of Proverbs covers a score of subjects and hundreds of life’s details – they all flow from one source –“the fear of the Lord!”
23.There is only one way to live wisely in our behavior, attitudes, words, and habits. It is acknowledging God in all His attributes.
24. He is holy, powerful, sovereign, wise, loving, just, eternal, and always present.
25. Fearing Him means standing in awe of His glorious splendor, unwilling to living in a way that violates His character.
26. As we read through the book of Proverbs, especially with illumination of the Holy Spirit, we learn wisdom – the skill of living –when it comes to relationships, finances, emotions, attitudes, integrity, marriage, and disciplines in every area in life.
27. The Holy Spirit – who is identified as our Helper, Teacher, and Counselor in the beginning of New Testament – He will also instruct our hearts day by day as we meditate on the Word of God and apply it to the specific, sometimes tangled circumstances and relationships where we need wisdom the most.
28.As Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
29. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and wisdom is the beginning of a healthy and holy life that brings glory to God in every daily detail.
30. Life is full of choices. We’ve all made good choices and bad choices, wise ones and foolish ones.
31. The good news is that with insight from the book of Proverbs in mind, we can begin applying its wisdom to all the various scenarios of our lives.
32. If we will use the wisdom of Proverbs as we make future decisions, then they will save us time, grief, regret, and even money so that we can experience the benefits of kingdom living here and now.
Scripture Context provided by Dr. Tony Evans and Dr. David Jeremiah
1. Solomon’s proverbs in the Bible offer Godly wisdom for making choices about everything marriage, parenting, work, money, friends, and more.
2. Because Proverbs is an essential manual that helps parents teach their children wisdom, it’s not surprising that the first proverb speaks to how the presence or absence of wisdom in a child’s heart affects his relationship to his parents.
3. “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother” (Proverbs 10:1).
4. You cannot control the decisions that your children will make, but you can, from the beginning, teach them a divine perspective of life so they are equipped to make decisions that glorify God!
5. Proverbs 10:2-5 address principles of hard work and prosperity.
6. Those who are lazy or who use illicit means to obtain money will not prosper.
7. Ultimately, the Lord denies “the wicked what they crave, and the idle become poor” (Proverbs 10:3-4).
8. God takes care of those who embrace righteousness and work diligently. (Proverbs 6:6-11).
9. To be blessed is to be happy, and I have never met anyone who didn’t want to be happy.
10. In God’s economy, blessings come upon “the righteous” – that is, on those who seek to live in conformity to God’s character.
11. Sadly, integrity is hard to come by in today’s culture. But God promises security to the one who “lives with integrity” (Proverbs 10:9).
12. The one who acts honestly and honorably, even when no one is watching, receives divine protection.
13. No such safety net exists for the one who “perverts his ways” (Prov 10:9).
14. The “mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence” is a reminder that growing up in Christ means using our tongues to refresh others. (Proverbs 10:11).
15. That, however, goes against the natural perversity of the human heart and requires the power of the Holy Spirit!
16.It’s one thing to quote a passage like, “Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses,” but its another to put it into practice (Proverbs 10:12).
17.Biblical love is measured in sacrificing for the good of others.
18. Observe a wiseman, and you will find God’s wisdom on his lips and a storeroom of knowledge in his heart.
19. “Wealth provides protection that poverty can’t” (Proverbs 10:15).
20. “But let your bank account – whether large or small – be supplied by honest labor and not wicked gain” (Proverbs 10:16).
21. “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19).
22. “But the tongue of the righteous is pure silver and his lips feed many (Proverbs 10:20-21).
23. That is, his mouth is valuable to those around him because it builds them up and dispenses God’s viewpoint like a rich meal.
24. When God pours out His goodness to you, He gives you joy and peace and satisfaction with it, regardless of your particular situation.
25.What’s a telltale sign of a fool? Shameful conduct is pleasure to him. Evil has stopped being evil for the one who has rejected God.
26. But “a person of understanding” finds pleasure and enjoyment in a life lived wisely (Proverbs 10:23).
27. And, in the end, both the wicked and the righteous will reap the just consequences of the conflicting pleasures they sought (Proverbs 10:24-25).
28. Our graveyards are filled with young people whose lives were cut short as a result of foolish choices.
29. If you don’t want to die before your time, “fear the Lord” – take God seriously (Proverbs 10:27).
30. The righteous have “hope.” The wicked, however avail themselves of no protection and can expect nothing but “destruction.” (Proverbs 10:28-29).
The Joshua Code by O.S. Hawkins – “Integrity: Don’t Leave Home Without It!”
1. “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9).
2. What is the single most important trait of a person who desires to truly make a difference in our world today?
3. Some would say it is intellect.
4. After all, knowledge is power in many ways.
5. Others contend that it is intensity, that spirit of conquest accompanied by a passion that becomes contagious.
6. Still others suggest that it is insight, good old common sense, along with the ability to clearly to see certain issues.
7. However, I contend the most important trait is integrity!
8. We all have known people along life’s journey who have incredible intellect, but no integrity, and they are no longer in the race.
9. Others possessing incredible intensity and passion but little integrity have gone the same way.
10. The same is true of people with keen insight, but no integrity.
11. Integrity is our most valuable commodity!
12.Integrity is that state or quality of being complete, and its freedom from corrupting influences or motives.
13. The thesaurus equates it with such words as “honesty,” “completeness,” and “incorruptibility.”
14. Yes, “he who walks with integrity walks securely.”
15. Each of us lives in four distinct spheres of life and influence.
16. You live in a “private” world. There is a part of you where no one really goes.
17. Not even those closest to us –our wives – know all our private thoughts.
18. No one invades your private world except you … and the God who knows all your private thoughts.
19. You also live in a “personal” world.
20. This ia a part of you that you share with a small circle of imminent family and perhaps a few friends who really know you imminently.
21.Next comes your “professional” world.
22.This existence consisting of dozens or even scores of men and women who, although they don’t know your personally, much less privately, know you in a professional setting.
23. Finally, you live in a public world.
24.This is the world in which people have never met you personally or dealt with you professionally, but they formed an opinion about you.
25.We call this our public persona.
26. The reality of these four spheres raises an important question: where is integrity in life rooted?
INTEGRITY IS ROOTED IN ONE’S PRIVATE LIFE
1. Integrity stems from an inner code, not an outer promotion.
2. Integrity is rooted in that private life we develop alone with God in secret, our hidden place.
3. We often hear architects, engineers, builders say, “This building has structural integrity.”
4. That is, the public beauty of a tall skyscraper relies on its private, unseen foundation that is dug deep into the earth and solidly constructed.
5. It is that hidden life of a building that brings structural integrity.
6. It is the hidden life of an orange tree, that unseen root system that digs deep into the earth, that produces those juicy, delicate fruits.
7. And so it is with us. Integrity is rooted in private life.
8. What made a man like Billy Graham so influential and so trust for so many decades?
9. Was it his intellect? Was it his intensity?
10. No! It was without question, his unblemished integrity that earned him a prolonged hearing.
11.King Solomon had it right: “The integrity of the upright will guide them” (Proverbs 11:3).
INTEGRITY IS REFLECTED IN ONE’S PERSONAL LIFE
1. Once integrity is rooted in our private life, it begins to be reflected in our relationships with those closest to us.
2. Many seem to think that integrity is rooted in these close interpersonal experiences, but it is not.
3. It is only reflected there, if, in fact, we are men and women of integrity.
4. If you want to know if I have integrity, ask my wife or my children who really know me in the intimacy of close family relationships.
5. Integrity does not find its roots in the personal world.
6. However, it is certainly reflected there.
INTEGRITY IS REINFORCED IN ONE’S PROFESSIONAL LIFE
1. What a bout your professional life, that sphere of life that is ever widening?
2. If you have a hidden life where your own integrity finds its roots, it will not only be reflected in your close relationships with those around you, but it will be reinforced in your day-by-day dealings in the work world.
3. Integrity is reinforced on the anvil of personal experience and practiced in the marketplace.
4. Our greatest opportunity to make a difference and engage our culture is out in the marketplace.
5. It is imperative that, as Christians, we are men and women of integrity in the professional world around us.
6. There is a small decreasing percentage of people in our cities in church on Sunday mornings.
7. However, on Monday, multitudes enter the marketplace.
8. They take note of individuals of integrity.
9. Integrity is not rooted in our professional life; it is only reinforced there.
10. That is, if we truly possess it!
INTEGRITY IS REVEALED IN ONE’S PUBLIC LIFE
1. Once we are thrust into the public arena, it is too late to look for integrity.
2. If we do not already possess it, it is too late.
3. However, some seek to put a spin on their personal promotion in a hopeless effort to somehow lead others to believe they are people of integrity.
4. But integrity is not rooted in spin, it’s rooted in our private world.
5. Solomon’s words ring true today: “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.”
6. When integrity is rooted in the private world, it is reflected in the personal world, reinforced in the professional world, and ultimately, revealed in the public world for the glory of God whom we love and serve.
7. As you memorize this verse, meditate on your own private life.
8. Bring focus to that time alone with God, to your hidden life.
9. Then “all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).1. What a bout your professional life, that sphere of life that is ever widening?
Benediction
KEY VERSE:
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
KEY THOUGHT:
Success in the practical matters of life requires reverence for God and obedience to His rules for living. Be men of integrity and seek to live a Holy and righteous life just as Christ did!
Those who walk in pride, God is able to humble. But those who walk in humility, God is able to use!
WALK YOUR FAITH…and Take JESUS with you…On the Way Home!
May God greatly bless your commitment and work for His Kingdom
☕Kindred Faith 
Leave a comment