Today I want to speak to you from Proverbs 11.
So many of us today go through our Christian walk not understanding why we never receive those blessings the preacher is always telling us about.
I would like to help you solve that mystery today. The answer is simple yet complicated. Sin is the simple answer. So many ministers today are telling the congregation about all the blessings they can have from God. The phrase today is encouraging and uplifting. I will tell you that I love those messages myself. The only problem is that they never tell us what we are not to do.
Proverbs chapter 11 sheds some light on why we do not receive the blessings of God today.
Verse one: A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
What does that mean preacher? Well I am glad you ask. To many people today claim to be Christian but when it comes time to go to church they have something else to do. I want to tell you that God’s instruction book tells us that we must not forsake the assembling together. And when you make a commitment to support a church, that commitment is to God as well. Oh sure it is just Bible study. Maybe the reason you can’t find the blessings that God has for you is because you have wondered of course and you are not looking at the road map. The road map being the Bible. The Bible has instructions for finding the blessings of God. Sometimes you need others to help you understand the Bible that is where joining together in church comes in. You can gain strength from your fellow Christians.
Failing to support the church we commit to is a sin.
Moving on to verse three: The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. I looked it up. Do you know what integrity means? We hear it a lot today from our leaders and politicians. I am not sure that the people using that word truly know the meaning of it. Integrity - 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY 2 : an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS 3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS
synonyms see HONESTY
When you tell someone you are a Christian you are supposed to be without sin. Living a life of holiness. You cannot have integrity and have your secret little lies at the same time. You cannot have integrity as a Christian while you are having your Saturday Night Sin Parties. You cannot have integrity while you commit to supporting God and then turn your back on the church. When you find true integrity through Jesus Christ it will guide you to the blessings of God.
Verse four: Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
If you have righteousness not even death can get you down.
Verse five: The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Again if you have righteousness then you won’t get lost looking for the blessings.
Verse six: The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them:
Deliver them from what? From depression, struggles of life, hardships, bondage of debt, sickness of the body and I could go on. Deliver them to where? To the blessings that God has in store.
Did you ever notice that when God led the children of Israel he not only led them away from their troubles but he also led them to the blessings? Just look at verse eight. The righteous is delivered out of trouble
Verse ten and eleven: When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted
When things go well with the righteous then we can rejoice. All Christians can rejoice. And God will be exalted.
Verse 12: He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
I have trouble with this one sometimes myself. It is hard to hold your peace when someone is in your face. It is hard to hold your peace when your neighbor kills your dog. It is hard to hold your peace when your best friend takes your wife. But the word says a man of understanding holdeth his peace. You must hold your peace if you are to be Christ like. And if you are not Christ like you are lost in sin.
Verse 13: A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
You can’t go around telling everything you know on someone and be of a faithful spirit. You can’t go gossiping and be a person of integrity.
Look with me at verse 18: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
You want to know where your blessing is look no further than your on deeds. Do you sow righteousness? If so the there will be a reward. The word says there shall be a sure reward. If you wonder why God is not blessing you could it be that you are not sowing righteousness? Go ahead tell another lie, lay out of church one more time; hold back on your tithes. You wonder why your economy is so poor. You are stealing from God? Sow righteousness and a reward is sure!!
Verse 23: The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
If you are living the life of a true Christian you will grow everyday to desire only good. You will only want good for those you love. And you will only want good for even your enemies. You will desire to do good. If you do not desire to do good today I encourage you to check the condition of your soul.
Verse 27: He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour:
If you are seeking good today then you will receive favor from God. That’s what the word says. But realize what it means to diligently seek good. Diligently: steady, earnest, and energetic effort : PAINSTAKING
You must seek to do good if you want favor from God. You must seek good, look for it in every situation.
Verse 30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
Ever wonder how you can add healthy years to your life. Let you righteous life for God bear the fruit of lost souls.
Verse 31: Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth:
Your reward for a righteous life is in heaven. You will not receive wealth of this earth for your righteousness nor will you receive that luxurious life that some many desire. But you can have the blessings of God if you live righteous in the eyes of a just God.
