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Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is PERVERSE {ʿiqqēš, crooked, false, perverted} in his lips, and is a FOOL.

Let Our Tongues Be Controlled By God’s Word

Our Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees:

Matthew 15:11 (KJV) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

The Pharisees had twisted and perverted the Word of God, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”. They did this to receive riches – not monetary riches but the praise of man. When Jesus made this statement the disciples told Jesus, “When You said that, You offended the Pharisees” (Matthew 15:12). Jesus told them:

Matthew 15:13-14 (KJV) … Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. [14] Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.

They were seeking the praise of man, not the praise and glory of God. Jesus said “these people are blind. They are NOT planted by My Father. They are not saved.” Just as Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:3 … Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.

The Pharisees sought not God, but self satisfaction. They lived to be seen of others, to be people pleasers. They were not children of God, but of Satan, the devil (John 8:44). Those who have FAME and FORTUNE often chase after more of the same. But we are told that:

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity

The person who has nothing but Jesus, who faithfully walks with the Lord, is in a better place than the richest or most famous person. When Solomon wrote this, he was perhaps the richest person in the world. But Solomon knew from experience that riches often draw us down a terrible path.

Proverbs 16:8 (ESV) Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

Godly Knowledge, Not Human Wisdom,
Guides Us In Safe Journeys

Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Illustrate: I was watching a commercial the other day on Cascade® Tablets. I use Cascade® in my Whirlpool dishwasher, and we’ve had this unit for about 4 years now. In the commercial – and I usually ignore commercials – the man was talking about how good Cascade® is. Then he said, “It even keeps your filter clean”. Filter? I had no idea a dishwasher had a filter. I checked and, sure enough, there was a filter just where the man said it was. I bought this dishwasher 4 years ago when my other dishwasher would not drain. I figured it was broke. More than likely, the filter (which I didn’t know I had) was clogged.

It is not good that the soul be without knowledge.

I probably wasted $600 for lack of knowledge. But poor knowledge can effect you in other ways. I have heard of people eating wild mushrooms, which is fine if they are not poisonous. But many are. You need to have knowledge. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Lack of knowledge can lead you down a dark path. To gain knowledge, you must listen to the right sources. God is the right Source.

When we humbly come to God, He will bless us with Kingdom life. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:3 (KJV) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees, the Scribes, the Sadducees, the Herodians all believed that they had ALL the answers, so they would not hear the Lord Jesus, nor God the Father. They rejected life saving knowledge from God. Many are like that today. They are RICH IN SPIRIT, they think they know better than anyone, and will not hear anything else. You can have knowledge – but if you do not USE it, it does no good. Jesus is the Source of Eternal Salvation:

Hebrews 5:9 (KJV) {Jesus} became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

We are to hear and to do. We are to be “poor in spirit”, realizing we need His knowledge.

Who did Jesus reach during His earthly ministry? The Broken, the Hopeless, the POOR IN SPIRIT who were ready to HEAR and OBEY!

When asked if He were the Messiah, Jesus replied:

Luke 4:18 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Only the POOR in Spirit, those willing to admit their brokenness, will hear and receive the Gospel preached. The rich will not receive the Word of Truth, and they harm themselves.

he that HASTETH with his feet sinneth.

Saul of Tarsus is a picture of a man who rushed to do the wrong thing, for he had not heard the Gospel of salvation, the Gospel of Christ. Those who are hasty to do something without getting knowledge from God will regret their actions later.

Human Knowledge Is Often Useless

Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

Illustrate: I heard a fellow the other day say that he spent $100,000.00 to go to college, and get a Master’s Degree in “Gender Studies”. He was moaning because the only job he can find with that type of degree is to be a barista at a coffee shop making about $35,000.00 a year. What a waste of money.

The foolishness of man perverteth his way

I can tell you all you need to know about “Gender Studies” right now, and I won’t charge you $100,000. I learned this years ago, and kids were taught this by Mr. Rogers in his 1971 song Everybody’s Fancy (I was 13 then):

Some are fancy on the outside.
Some are fancy on the inside.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.

Boys are boys from the beginning.
Girls are girls right from the start.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.

Only girls can be the mommies.
Only boys can be the daddies.
Everybody’s fancy.
Everybody’s fine.
Your body’s fancy and so is mine.

It is “the foolishness of man that perverts his way”. We ignore what God has said, and do it our way – then suffer the consequences. Then we blame God.

ILLUSTRATE: One of the most common questions I’m confronted with as a Pastor is “Why does God (Who is Good and Loving) allow evil and suffering in the world?” I have heard theologians struggle with this for years. Larry King, the commentator (he died at 87), said this is the reason he cannot believe in God. When John MacArthur (he died at 86) was asked this question, he spent one hour and four minutes beating this subject to death. The answer is fairly simple. It goes back to Genesis (as do most questions we have).

God created man in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). God gave man a free will, the ability to choose to obey or disobey God. God gave man a tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9, 17), and directed man not to eat of it. God gave man stewardship over the earth:

Genesis 1:28 … Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over (every living thing on the earth) …

Man chose to disobey God. Why is there evil in the world? Because of man. Because of our decisions. Because we will not heed God.

Romans 5:12 (KJV) … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Why does a loving God allow evil to continue in the world? Again, let’s go back to Genesis. God gave man the world, gave man free will, and asked man to follow Him – and man followed not God but himself. We do that today. Sin is in the world because of us. If God were not longsuffering, He would have wiped us all out long ago. But He did not.

Why is there cancer in children? Because of sin.
Why do innocents get murdered? Because of sin.
Why do flash floods kill people? Because of sin.
Why are there wars? Because of sin.
Why is there sin? Because “by one man sin entered the world”.
Why does it persist? “Because all sin”.

The god of Larry King would have destroyed this world and started over – and Larry King would never have been born. Larry interviewed John MacArthur and Billy Graham (both who are now with the Lord Jesus). Like most unbelievers, he discounted or blamed God rather than turn to Christ.

Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth {sālap̄, to overthrow or ruin} his way: and his heart fretteth (zāʿap̄, is enraged) against the Lord.

It is the “FOOLISHNESS OF MAN”, the desire to be god rather than follow God, that “PERVERTS”, that is “ruins or overthrows” his way of life. Rather than repent and turn to Christ, “HIS HEART FRETS or is ENRAGED” against the God Who made us. It is HIS fault. He CAN’T exist. But He does. Why do children have cancer? Because sin entered the world. Why did a flash flood hit Texas’s Camp Mystic, an all girls Christian Summer Camp in Hunt, Texas? Because creation is tied to the stewardship of man. When man fell, “sin ENTERED THE WORLD, and DEATH by sin”. 27 Campers died. It’s tragic.

For those who have received Christ as Savior, death is not an end but a beginning. “Whoever believes in Him is NOT CONDEMNED”.

Many horrid things happen in this world, but this is not how God made it. It is how man made it by disobeying God. So we have a choice. Turn to the God of the Scripture and trust in Him, or do as Cain did. Refuse God, and hurt ourselves and others.

We cannot make the world sin free, but we can defeat the consequence of sin in our lives by giving ourselves to the Lord Jesus! Sin has made the world a dangerous place. In Christ we overcome the world by living in His Kingdom. We glorify God no matter what we go through, knowing we are present recipients of eternal life.

We are told:

Proverbs 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

You love your soul by pursuing God’s Wisdom. You live the best life by trusting in God’s Word. It is sufficient to our every need!

Sin Causes Us To Devalue Life And Overvalue Stuff

Proverbs 19:4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

Sin in the heart of man leads us to value or devalue people based upon their wealth (or poverty). I have heard it said in other Churches, “I hope that fellow joins our Church! We can use his influence and wealth.” Such thoughts are contrary to the Christ-like walk. My commentary notes:

“a rich man’s wealth can attract people like a picnic draws ants. Many of these so-called friends do not really care about the rich man; they simply hope to receive his favor in the form of financial gifts. … The same type of so-called friends who flock to a wealthy person will abandon someone if they cannot benefit from their friendship.”

Proverbs 19:6-7 Many will entreat the favor of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

Illustrate: Those who are lost often place a premium on money and fame, and yet disdain those who have little. I’m reminded of the show “The Beverly Hillbillies”, a cute show that was on television back in the golden age of comedy. They were a bunch of hill folk – ignorant of the ways of the modern world – who owned land that an oil company found to be oil rich. In every episode people would always down play or mock them – for riches didn’t change them – and even at one time had them arrested. But when they found out that they were worth millions of dollars, suddenly they had great friends!

Every person has value, and life itself is priceless. True believers understand this principle. New Birth should change how you look at human life. People are not objects, but creations with infinite potential.

In the early Church when people were “born again” through the preaching of the Gospel, their eyes were opened in that they understood that the wealth we have been gracefully given by God is given so that we might benefit others. If God saves a soul, He saves the wallet as well! We read of the early Church:

Acts 2:44-47 (KJV) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men], as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

A “saved” person who loves his wallet more than his God is not saved at all, but deceived. The saved know that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35, NIV).

The lost devalue people. The lost also devalue truth. We read:

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

I despise a liar. I was raised to be true to my word, to do what I said I’d do. Daddy would whip us terribly if he caught us lying – and I did the same thing to my children. It is even more terrible to tell a lie on someone, to demean their character. The ninth commandments states:

Exodus 20:16 (ESV) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

When you speak falsely against your neighbor, you damage their reputation. God despises the lie that hurts others. This is why God says that those who are eternally damned are:

Revelation 21:8 (LSB) But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

God’s people are to be “truth speakers”. We are not to gossip, or to spread untruths about or through the Church. The Pharisees hired false witnesses to testify against Christ (Matthew 26:59-61). The Pharisees also accused Jesus of casting our demons by the power of Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24). The mark of a lost person is their willingness to twist the truth to the hurt of others. Those who lie and stand against the truth will suffer for it. God will balance the scales in time.

Illustrate: False witnesses maliciously accused the Prophet Daniel, causing him to be thrown into the lion’s den. No harm came to Daniel. But what of those who stood against Daniel? After his release, the Bible says:

Daniel 6:24 (ESV) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

The sin of lying and standing against God and His people caused not just the false accusers, but their children and their wives were all cast into a pit of death. Failing to tell the truth can harm more than just YOU – it can harm the innocent as well.

To deny the truth of Scripture is to bear false witness against God Himself. The Bible is a Faithful Witness. Our Lord Jesus is THE Faithful Witness (Revelation 1:5)

Illustrate: One of the lies that has crept into the Church over the last twenty or thirty years is the lies against Genesis. Many Christians have been persuaded that the earth was not created in six days and six nights as Genesis tells us, but that the earth is millions – maybe billions of years old. Sadly, many have fallen for this Trojan Horse because of what “scientific research” has said. Some “theologians” have suggested theories like “Day-Age Creationism”, which suggests that God did not create in six literal days, but in six ages or epochs that may have been millions of years. Others suggest that there is “GAP Creationism”, that the time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 may be billions of years. Then “Theistic Evolution” teaches that God used scientific evolutionary methods to, over billions of years, to bring about creation.

The problem with all the various views of creation that well meaning theologians have developed in order to cause the Bible and Science to walk hand in hand is that these views do not take the plain sense of the Scripture. Our Lord Jesus believed what the Bible said. Jesus never contradicted the Scripture. He said:

John 5:46-47 (NKJV) … if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?

The clear reading of the text of Genesis (Moses’ writings) is that the earth was created in six literal days – and God ordered a Sabbath on the seventh day. Nothing else fits the context. We cannot modify Scripture in order to please the world. We receive what God has said by faith, even if every scientist in every age says what we speak is false. We need to boldly speak HIS TRUTH, just as Jesus did, saying:

Matthew 22:29 (KJV) Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Jesus believed the Genesis account (see Matthew 19:3-8), and told us that:

Luke 11:49-51 (KJV) (God said) I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: [50] That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; [51] From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

If you stand with Jesus in the truth, believing the Bible to be literally true, you will be persecuted, found odd, made light of. I believe the Scripture, and seek to live by its directives. I’ll end with this warning and prayer from Solomon:

Proverbs 30:5-9 (NKJV) Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. 7 Two things I request of You {O Lord} (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to 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.

Teach us, O God, to be content with Your Word and Your Truth. Let us live for Your glory. Amen.