Hey USA, it's time to wise up and reject the lies. Let's turn back to the God of truth.

“A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.” Prov. 13:5 nkjv

“A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Prov. 26:28 nkjv

We need a great awakening of truth here, and a truth-based renewal for believers! God loves all people, but you know God hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:16-19). The enemy of our souls is described as the “father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). The Devil tries hard to pull each of us away from Jesus by distorting our realities in order to steal, kill, and destroy our lives.

When our lives are stuck in the mire of fake-news (falsehoods) we cannot experience all of who God is. We need the truth of the Gospel at work in our lives to live as free people. Yep, real freedom and the piercing power of God’s truth go hand in hand.

If truth is a fundamental part of who God is, it simply follows that lying is naturally something that He is totally against. God desires us to see the world system clearly. He does not want us to get ensnared by wrong thinking and the brokenness that comes when falsehoods enter our relationships.

Has He, can He twist what's really so? No, never. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.." Titus 1:2 kjv #emph.mine

See John 1:14, Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, full of grace and truth. And John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Scripture calls God the God of truth, Psalm 31:5. It says in Exodus 34:6, He is abundant in truth. It says in Psalm 108:4, His truth reaches to the clouds; that is to say, He is universally and limitlessly true. John 17:17 says His Word is truth. Psalm 119:160, “Your Word is true from the beginning,” and 2 Samuel 7:28, “You are God and your words are true.”

“The wicked are estranged, from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” Ps. 58:3

“If a ruler pays attention to lies or gives himself to lies, all his servants become wicked.” Prov. 29:12

We've had several lying rulers here. In Proverbs 29:12, God says, “If a ruler is given to lies” (this is translated a number of ways, but the basic Hebrew of it goes), “If a ruler is given to lies, all his servants become wicked.” We would put that in the simple category of “birds of a feather” - what? - “flock together.”

“When a heart is untruthful, when honesty has gone from it,” (in other words, when it’s characteristically untruthful, when it is habitually a deceptive heart, when it lies as a pattern of life)..

“then it is prepared to be the seed plot of every evil thing. Any crime is possible to a liar. He who is rotten with falsehood will break at the touch of every temptation.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

So accurate huh! If you are an inveterate liar, if you are a liar by practice and habit and profession, and if you have trained yourself to be good at it, you don’t ever fear getting caught, you don’t ever fear getting confronted because you’re so adept at lying. And the absence of that fear of confrontation removes a great barrier to temptation. Let me tell you what I mean. If you’re devoted to the truth, if you’re committed to truth and speaking truthfully and being honest, you are restrained in temptations because you’re afraid that somebody might ask you about your life, somebody might ask you about your behavior, and you really don’t want to lie. And so that disdain for lying, that reluctance to be put in a position to have to lie becomes a restraint in the time of temptation. You see, for a person whose heart has been cultivated to being truthful, the thought of lying produces fear, guilt, shame, apprehension, anxiety.

You and I must live with people who lie, who deceive, and people who love to tell the truth too, believer. Spend more time with the latter. Be closer to those who say what's really so. We must spend some time with both types of sinners, with the forgiven and not yet forgiven, with the carnal, and the spiritual believers to know their problems, temptations and fears. Limit your time with those corrupt and not open to learn. Live real close with our God of truth in order to be used of Him to win the open unregenerate and to help solve problems. 

The righteous are honest people--we always need to be that way. They wisely encourage others to live with integrity too, to be truthful inwards, upwards, and outwards.. even in tough situations. They urge others to carefully hear the Word daily and to wisely apply the truth as they each draw nearer to God daily (See Proverbs 4). The Spirit woos us near.

Why draw near? Because in the Lord is the One who can find the best type of wisdom for any culture globally and any life.

The Holy Spirit Can Enable You To Walk Honestly. Read Ephesians 4-5.

There is a pathway set out in the book of Ephesians and in Proverbs about how to walk honestly through the messiness of life while staying primarily focused on the certainty that Jesus is real. In Proverbs the father received wisdom for honest application when he was a boy (see Chp. 4), and then he admonished his children to do the same.

I say, choose godly wisdom like he did. Live honestly today as if it’s your last day, so that all your motives, words and actions remain true. So that your straightforward biblical counsel and godly example will positively impact others. You can influence people towards God to repent, to get and walk right with Him. I say live every day real close to Him, I mean in His will, wisely doing His will as the Spirit of wisdom woos and leads you on. So that you can be used of God to point others in the right direction and help them to live honestly. Living wisely glorifies Him!

 

When you have wisdom, you have protection (Prov. 4:6) and promotion (vv. 8–9) and you will have the freedom to make progress spiritually and in others ways too (v. 12).

As you obey God’s Word, the light of life will get brighter on the pathway of life (v. 18). But this is not true if you are on the pathway of the wicked. That route is of darkness getting darker.

King Solomon emphasized having your whole person controlled by God’s Word (vv. 20–27; Col. 3:16). This will guide you on the right path and keep you from lame detours and distractions.

Sadly this era is one of many leadership lies, election lies, news lies, false teacher lies in so called churches and cult groups -- all kinds of lies, all over the place! Many lies are from the father of lies. They just tear down and destroy a country. 

Proverbs is about advisory precept learning. It's there to apply God's wisdom instead of learning the hard way. I mean if you want to grow, if you want to know Him, and if you want to become a blessing for others. 

I prefer good advisory "precept learning" rather than "pain learning" .. cuz the tuition with the later is high! Yet I prefer some learning over no learning.

An honest lifestyle can be learned. Need some examples of learning the hard-way option?

Potential learning via personal pain as the tutor..can happen..but there is a better way to learn. Today you and I can avoid a lot of heartache and other pain through taking heed to the many decent precepts in God's Word. 

Or we can ignore those advisory precepts of warning like in Proverbs and learn the hard way through personal pain. Why do that, the cost is very high. 

Learning what's true to wisely apply sure beats not gaining it. 

Hymenaeus and Alexander were given chances to learn. And there's a second occasion of this same painful type learning in Corinth where a man was sleeping with his own step mother. (Man, sounds like the serious perversion that goes on with people in our day huh). 

Paul said (in 1 Corinthians 5:5, esv): "You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." 

The pervert was put out from of the loving, nourishing, caring, sound Scriptural teaching at the local church. Out into the dark world where he could have an opportunity to learn that second way. Yes, their own freedom away from the Scriptural input and God's church ..in both cases.. would become their disciplinary tutor "for learning sake".. hopefully would. Can the second type of learning from experiencing pain happen with a culture? Yes it can read Romans 1. 

So who was Alexander the coppersmith in the Bible? A fool. 

I say hang tight with the people of God given to the truth instead of with hardhearted fools. Hymenaeus and Alexander were fools in the early church in Ephesus. They had “suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” and so were “handed over to Satan” by the apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:19–20). Hymenaeus and Alexander became examples of those who reject the true doctrine and follow the false. Examples of what not to be! Later on, Hymenaeus is mentioned with Philetus, another false teacher (see 2 Timothy 2:17). An opponent of Paul named Alexander the metalworker is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:15–16, but whether or not this is the same Alexander mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:19 is unknown.

Paul writes to his young truthful apprentice, Timothy, for the express purpose of exhorting him to “fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18–19) while pastoring a church. Paul began his epistle with a warning against false doctrine and myths (verses 3–4) and a charge to remain true to “sound doctrine that totally conforms to the Gospel” (verses 10–11). Paul then provides the names of Hymaneaus and Alexander as examples of what can happen when someone does not fight the good fight and keep the faith and a clear conscience.

And where is that passage mentioning Hymenaeus and Alexander? Here: “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:18–20).

Paul does not expound on the error of Hymenaeus and Alexander. Why? Cuz Timothy obviously knew who they were and he well knew their situation. Second Timothy 2:18 gives more detail, saying that Hymanaeus and his new buddy in sin, foolish Philetus, “have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.” Paul likens their lie (false doctrine) to a gangrene that quickly spreads corruption and destroys life (verse 17).

What have you believed? What's off, or half-true? Deliver yourself (See Prov. 6:1–5) cuz lies only take a person downward. Wicked works will ensnare you (see Prov. 5:22), but can reckless words do that. You and I must be careful when we make any promises. If you and I do not learn to say "no", we will end up in bondage. We might possibly have an opportunity to learn from the pain and consequences, but the tuition cost is high.

Reminds me of an old Chinese proverb that I tweaked little bit: “There is a man who does not know and does not know that he does not know.. and ain’t even hungry to learn yet. Please pray for that poor man.

There is an honest man who does not know, but knows that he does not know and yet he is open to learn what to know. Want to even. Please teach that man what’s really so.

Q: Who are typically the best students in a University? I say they are the 40 year olds give or take a few years or people, cuz they typically aren’t in there merely for the credits, but they are motivated and open to learn what to know. They want to learn for where the rubber meets the road. Yes, it’s those students that know that they don't know as much as they need to, but they honestly want to learn and know.

There is a man who knows, but doesn't know that he knows. Please encourage him in the truth.

And there is a man who knows and knows that he really knows because he’s asked, and honestly questioned, and listened, and studied well. Please follow him as He follows Christ, and as he wisely applies God’s true precepts.

But whenever you get around somebody with dishonest questions—someone that does not know as they should, and is NOT OPEN to learn cuz they’re thinking they already do know. Just pray for them to become open, honest, hungry but if they won’t.. then just run from that guy. Spend your time with the growing, with the honest learners who are humbly open to what’s so.”

It’s better to humble yourself, to learn and pray, and to properly act on God’s precepts. It’s better to keep on with that and live free, seeing others freed. That’s far better than to let your pride run you and ruin you. Why lie to yourself, why wander and flounder deceived and then suffer if you don’t have to? Learn the easy way instead of the hard way.

Please un-deceive yourself in the Word and learn of Him. Stop lying to yourself once and for all.

Only take in and embrace what’s a hundred percent so (true). Yes, filter out that nice sounding music that’s connected to lying lyrics. You know, stuck with worldly (worthless) chaff that the worldlings love to hear and consume. Teach yourself well (vv. 6:6–11).

And learn truth from the world of nature (Prov. 30:15–31). The ant makes good use of opportunities to prepare for the future, rather than suffering hunger at that time, but the sluggard is aimless, foolish, lazy and ends up in poverty.

Live spiritually well, rather than spiritually sick and off. Guard your eyes, your mind, your attitude, yes your heart—guard family too (12–35, Prov. 24:3, 4:23).

Watch out for the worldly and carnal people who would be your closest of friends. Watch out for that lying, perverse, selfish, wicked spiritually dead man (vv. 12–19) and the evil deceitful woman too (vv. 20–35). Influence for the Lord instead of becoming negatively influenced downwards.

Learn to hate what God hates, and why He does, and to the same degree that He hates it. Learn to love what and who God loves, to the same degree that He does, and then you will enjoy what God enjoys.

Listen to what is true. Discern which parts are true of what you hear. Read the truth, meditate upon it, wisely apply and memorize Bible truth. Walk in it daily—walk in the word (see Prov. 8)! Wisdom’s first call was from the crowded city square and streets (see Proverbs 1:20-33) -- she is “where the paths meet” (see v. 2).

When you are confronted with truth, then you are at a place of decision, and the decision you make will have inevitable consequences. You are where you are now according to the decisions you’ve thus far made. Keep your ears open and listen to God’s wisdom (vv. 6, 32, 34). Love Him who is the truth more than any and everything else! Yes, love Him the most among all there is. Wisdom says, “I love those who love me” (v. 17).

Love wisdom rather than wealth (vv. 10–11, 18–21), for wisdom will enrich your life for eternity. Verses 22–31 make you think of Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3). To love the true words and message of the 66 Bible books means you will love God to that degree.

To love wisdom is to love Christ, and when you love Christ, you will live for Him. Linger in the places of truth, not at the places of fake news!

Spend time with growing people who love the truth. Yes, be daily at wisdom’s door as you read God’s inerrant Scriptures. Never stop meditating upon His truth. According to verse 14, God will give you true counsel (on what and when to do), true wisdom (how to do it right), true understanding (why you do it right), and true strength (the ability to 100% do it right for His glory). Instead of serving as a fibbing slave, you will reign as an honest king (vv. 15–16).

The honest person is wise and takes advantage of God-given opportunities (see Prov. 10:5) and will obey authoritative orders (v. 8). Wise people gather knowledge (v. 14) and boldly share it clearly with others so they can understand (vv. 13, 21, 31). They also know when to be quiet (v. 19). They do not jest about sin (v. 23), but are serious about obeying the Lord 24/7/365.

The righteous people have God’s protection and provision (vv. 2–3, 24–25), and God blesses them in life (v. 6) and after physical death too (v. 7). Their true words give life to others (vv. 11, 20–21, 31–32), and their works will be blessed and they’ll prosper (v. 16). Their future is secure (v. 30) and joyful (v. 28).

If you are wise, prayerful and righteous, those good traits will be revealed by your good conversations (vv. 6, 11, 14, 20–21, 31–32) as well as by your works.

The wise person’s words are sincere. They are honest. They are like silver (see Prov. 10:20), a tree of life (Prov. 15:4), food (Prov. 10:21), refreshing water (Prov. 10:11; 18:4), and medicine (Prov. 12:18). They should be well seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) and must never become destructive (James 3:1–12).

Opt to stop lying because the Lord is the God of truth. Yes, the Lord hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17; 12:22). With lies, people cover their true feelings up (Prov. 10:18) and they promote hypocrisy (Prov. 26:23–26). Liars do not last (Prov. 12:19), but lies can go on for years and do so much damage. Wealth gained by lies is fleeting away (see Prov. 21:6), and all liars will one day be punished for their sinful habit (Prov. 19:5, 9). If God hates lies as He does, then we too must hate them like He does or learn to (Prov. 13:5). Ponder and re-ponder Ephesians 4:17–32.

God uses the honest lips of the righteous to bring deliverance (see Prov. 12:6), but the mouth of the wicked brings bondage (12:13).

Tell it straight all nine yards of the truth so to speak, yes, the message of Life. Do you have friends that need His salvation, then go tell? Right words must begin with right thoughts, right motives (v. 5) and a love for learning (v. 1), and this is where the ungodly person fails. Truthful words bring good to others and false words don’t (Prov. 10:21) and also to those who speak them (v. 14; Prov. 13:2). With your words, you can help to heal those who have been hurt (v. 18) and who have suffered because of lies (vv. 19–22). You can bring joy to those who are depressed and worried (v. 25). Be alert today for God-given opportunities to speak healing words to hurting people.

Listen to honest rebuke and instruction based on truth (Prov. 13:1). Learn to take honest advice (13:10) and true discipline (13:24).

Wisely walk with the saved honest people (v. 20) and listen to their conversation (v. 14), and you will become more like them. As you meditate on the Word of God, you walk with the wisest of the wise, so do not neglect the Scriptures (v. 13).

This chapter also offers counsel concerning wealth. Diligent people will work and gain wealth (v. 4) and not get it dishonestly (v. 11). verse 7 cautions you not to be rich in the things money can buy while you ignore the things money cannot buy. The rich are often poorer than the poor when it comes to what really counts!

Watch out for lyin’ fools! Their speech can misinform and tear you down (see Prov. 14:7), for their words are like a rod that hurts (v. 3). You cannot trust what they say – fake news, sometimes all the way (v. 8); they mock at sin (v. 9); and they rage in their self-confidence (v. 16). Be sure to watch out for their temper (vv. 17, 29); it can get you and them into trouble. When you fear the Lord, you say what’s so and your walk is marked by uprightness (vv. 2, 16), confidence (v. 26), and protection (v. 27). The fear of the Lord is better than the folly of fools.

Be wise instead of old-foolish or young-foolish (Prov. 19). Wise people tell the truth, confess their sins, submit to the Lord and walk a straight way, but fools lie. They argue with the Lord and twist the truth and their way (19:3). Wealth is no evidence of wisdom (v. 10); in fact, a fool only wastes wealth. Sincere people daily look to God for His wisdom (see Prov. 20) and choose to remain honest. They consider the consequences of their thoughts, decisions and actions. It’s far better to stop lying and troublemaking at the beginning and just repent (v. 3).

Sleep is essential to good health, but the afterward of too much sleep is poverty (vv. 4, 13). A dishonest business deal may be profitable to crooks financially, but they will not enjoy the aftertaste (v. 17). Don’t be like them. You may enjoy getting your inheritance now, but afterward it may do you more harm than good (v. 21). Remember what happened to the prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff.).

Rash promises have an afterward of regret – be very careful to be honest (verse 25; Eccles. 5:1–7), but loving discipline has an afterward of positive reform. Ponder Hebrews 12:3–11, and especially note v. 11. 

God wants faithfulness and fruitfulness from you (see Prov. 21). He wants full honesty from you, and righteousness and justice in our lives, not simply empty religious ceremonies (v. 3; 1 Sam. 15:22; Mark 12:38–44).

Think on the emphasis of justice (vv. 3, 7, and 15). God sees the wicked—their pride (v. 4), violence (v. 7), evil desires (v. 10), false confidence (v. 12), sinful sacrifices (v. 27), and hardness of heart (v. 29)—and He will judge them in due time.

The wicked may try to outmaneuver God, but God will have His way (v. 30; Prov. 19:21).

The wise person builds while others tear down (see Prov. 24:1–4) and is strong for the battles of life (vv. 5–6). There is no need to faint (v. 10); and if you fall, you need not stay down (vv. 15–16 and Ps. 37:23–24.)

The wise person seeks to deliver people who have been unjustly condemned (vv. 11–12). If you hide your head and fail to help when you can, God will judge you (James 4:17). At the same time, be careful not to rejoice when an enemy falls (vv. 17–18), fret when the wicked prosper (vv. 19–20), or pay back those who may have hurt you (vv. 28–29).

The wise person labors while there is opportunity (v. 27) and does not live for ease and pleasure (vv. 30–34; 6:6–11). Follow the example of your Master (John 9:4).

You should limit your time with the lyin’ fool (see Prov. 26:1–12). Don’t take heed to what they say, but witness to them in love.

Influence for God or avoid. You cannot change them by promotion (vv. 1, 8), correction (v. 3), or admonition (vv. 4–5). If you answer a fool, do not stoop to his level of folly or you will make him think you have elevated him to wisdom. If he becomes open to spiritual things the lead him in prayer.. to the Son of God. Otherwise no matter how much you correct him, he goes right back into folly (v. 11; 2 Pet. 2:22).

The second is the sluggard (vv. 13–16) who has excuses for everything. He has motion but no progress (v. 14) and is even too lazy to feed himself (v. 15)! You are wasting your time trying to help him (v. 16; 27:22).

The troublemaker (vv. 17–28) is the third problem person. This category includes meddlers (v. 17), pranksters (vv. 18–19), talebearers (vv. 20–22), and deceivers (vv. 23–28). Where are you? Are you anywhere in these chapters? 

Photo by Jon Tyson

The honest person is wise and takes advantage of God-given opportunities (see Prov. 10:5) and will obey orders (v. 8). Wise people gather knowledge (v. 14) and share it with others (vv. 13, 21, 31). They also know when to be quiet (v. 19). They do not jest about sin (v. 23) but are serious about obeying the Lord.

The righteous have God’s protection and provision (vv. 2–3, 24–25), and He blesses them in life (v. 6) and after death (v. 7). Their words give life (vv. 11, 20–21, 31–32), and their works prosper (v. 16). Their future is secure (v. 30) and joyful (v. 28). If you are wise and righteous, those traits will be revealed by your words (vv. 6, 11, 14, 20–21, 31–32) as well as by your works.

The wise person’s words are honest. They are like silver (Prov. 10:20), a tree of life (Prov. 15:4), food (Prov. 10:21), refreshing water (Prov. 10:11; 18:4), and medicine (Prov. 12:18). They should be seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) and must not become destructive (James 3:1–12).

Liars need to get real, because He is a God of truth, the Lord hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17; 12:22). With lies, people cover their true feelings (Prov. 10:18) and promote hypocrisy (Prov. 26:23–26). Liars do not last (Prov. 12:19), but lies can go on for years and do great damage. Wealth gained by lies is fleeting (Prov. 21:6), and all liars will one day be punished (Prov. 19:5, 9). If God hates lies, we must hate them, too (Prov. 13:5). Ponder Ephesians 4:17–32.

God uses the honest lips of the righteous to bring deliverance (see Prov. 12:6), but the mouth of the wicked brings bondage (v. 13). Tell it straight the message of Life, do you have friends that need His salvation? Right words must begin with right thoughts, right motives (v. 5) and a love for learning (v. 1), and this is where the ungodly person fails. Truthful words bring good to others and false words don’t (Prov. 10:21) and also to those who speak them (v. 14; Prov. 13:2). With your words, you can help to heal those who have been hurt (v. 18) and who have suffered because of lies (vv. 19–22). You can bring joy to those who are depressed and worried (v. 25).

Be alert today for God-given opportunities to speak healing words to hurting people.

Listen to honest rebuke and instruction based on truth (see Prov. 13:1). Learn to take honest advice (v. 10) and true discipline (v. 24). Wisely walk with the saved honest people (v. 20) and listen to their conversation (v. 14), and you will become more like them. As you meditate on the Word of God, you walk with the wisest of the wise, so do not neglect the Scriptures (v. 13). The chapter also offers counsel concerning wealth. Diligent people will work and gain wealth (v. 4) and not get it dishonestly (v. 11). verse 7 cautions you not to be rich in the things money can buy while you ignore the things money cannot buy. The rich are often poorer than the poor when it comes to what really counts!

Watch out for lyin’ fools (Prov. 14)! Their speech can misinform and tear you down (v. 7), for their words are like a rod that hurts (v. 3). You cannot trust what they say – fake news, sometimes all the way (v. 8); they mock at sin (v. 9); and they rage in their self-confidence (v. 16). Be sure to watch out for their temper (vv. 17, 29); it can get you and them into trouble. When you fear the Lord, you say what’s so and your walk is marked by uprightness (vv. 2, 16), confidence (v. 26), and protection (v. 27). The fear of the Lord is better than the folly of fools.

Both wise and foolish people will give an account. Wise people tell the truth, confess their sins, submit to the Lord and walk a straight way (Prov. 19), but fools lie. They argue with the Lord and twist the truth and their way (v. 3). Wealth is no evidence of wisdom (v. 10); in fact, a fool only wastes wealth. Honest people daily look to God for His wisdom (Prov. 20). They consider the consequences of their thoughts, decisions and actions. It’s far better to stop lying and troublemaking at the beginning and just repent (v. 3). Sleep is essential to good health, but the afterward of too much sleep is poverty (vv. 4, 13). A dishonest business deal may be profitable to crooks financially, but they will not enjoy the aftertaste (v. 17). Don’t be like them. You may enjoy getting your inheritance now, but afterward it may do you more harm than good (v. 21). Remember what happened to the prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff.).

Rash promises have an afterward of regret – be very careful to be honest (verse 25; Eccles. 5:1–7), but loving discipline has an afterward of positive reform. Ponder Hebrews 12:3–11, and especially note v. 11. 

God wants faithfulness and fruitfulness from you. He wants full honesty (see Prov. 21), righteousness and justice in our lives, not simply empty religious ceremonies (v. 3; 1 Sam. 15:22; Mark 12:38–44). Note the emphasis on justice (vv. 3, 7, and 15).

God sees the wicked—their pride (v. 4), violence (v. 7), evil desires (v. 10), false confidence (v. 12), sinful sacrifices (v. 27), and hardness of heart (v. 29)—and He will judge them in due time.

The wicked may try to outmaneuver God, but God will have His way (v. 30; Prov. 19:21).

The wise person builds up (see Prov. 24), while others tear down (vv. 1–4) and is strong for the battles of life (vv. 5–6). There is no need to faint (v. 10); and if you fall, you need not stay down (vv. 15–16). (See Ps. 37:23–24). The wise person seeks to deliver people who have been unjustly condemned (vv. 11–12). If you hide your head and fail to help when you can, God will judge you (James 4:17). At the same time, be careful not to rejoice when an enemy falls (vv. 17–18), fret when the wicked prosper (vv. 19–20), or pay back those who may have hurt you (vv. 28–29).

The wise person labors while there is opportunity (v. 27) and does not live for ease and pleasure (vv. 30–34; 6:6–11). Follow the example of your Master (John 9:4).

You should limit your time with the lyin’ fool (see Prov. 26:1–12). Don’t take heed to what fools say, but witness to them in love. Influence for God or avoid. You cannot change them by promotion (vv. 1, 8), correction (v. 3), or admonition (vv. 4–5). If you answer a fool, do not stoop to his level of folly or you will make him think you have elevated him to wisdom. If he becomes open to spiritual things the lead him in prayer..to the Son of God. Otherwise no matter how much you correct him, he goes right back into folly (v. 11; 2 Pet. 2:22).

The second is the sluggard (vv. 13–16) who has excuses for everything. He has motion but no progress (v. 14) and is even too lazy to feed himself (v. 15)! You are wasting your time trying to help him (v. 16; 27:22).

The troublemaker (vv. 17–28) is the third problem person. This category includes meddlers (v. 17), pranksters (vv. 18–19), talebearers (vv. 20–22), and deceivers (vv. 23–28). Think about it, are you anywhere in this chapter?

Proverbs has a lot of helpful advisory precept learning there for you. It's there for you to learn and apply God's precepts (wisdom) instead of having to learn the hard way. I mean it’s there for you if you want to grow well, if you want to know Him well, and if you want to become a blessing for others.

Personally, I prefer good advisory type of "precept learning" over that "pain learning" .. cuz the tuition for truth with the latter is high! Yet I prefer some learning over no learning. I have had some pain learning too cuz of idiotic choices. 

We all can turn, trust, give ourselves to Him who is the truth. We can learn wisdom and truth from the Lord via praying and wisely applying Bible precepts.

In the church nave and outside of the nave, Proverbs can give prudence to the naive. To any that are. Who is that? That's the young guy or girl in church that needs to be up close where the new hungry converts would sit to learn. My Bible uses that word, which is a good word translated: simple. There’s a positive way to be simple and there's a negative way too.

An immature person is simple. An ignorant person is simple. A child is simple in a good sort of way. BTW Every sound preacher needs the head of a diligent scholar, the heart of a simple child and the skin of a rhinoceros. 

Simple means singular, or a simple number, or a simple element, or a simple chemical -- "that is one singular thing." Yes, for us humans “simplicity” is used in the Bible in both a good sense and in a bad sense. God is jealous in a good way, but we can be in a bad sort of way. Ambition can be good or bad. Are you selfishly ambitious? 

We are to have the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ and not ever become too complex. We're not to be double-minded or with duplicity of motives, but in the area of foolishness you and I are not to be simple. Foolish simpleness is when you always do what you feel like doing, and when you do feel that. It's always doing what people command you to do without testing it against the word. It’s embracing what you externally see when you do see it cuz you saw it. Yes, it’s what somebody tells you to do and then you always do it without thinking it through for yourself. Are you gullible? If you're a foolish dude in the inner city, be not too simple. They often don’t see past the bling, and the women, and the fancy race cars of the drug dealers.

A lot of kids in the inner city struggle because of simplicity. Yes, hose dudes with all the bling and all the "labels and looks" and all the scantily clad women oftentimes are the pimps and drug dealers and yet the simple refuse to look past their facade to the long-term consequences to differentiate and wisely evaluate.

Their path and buddies can take you down. And so Christ would clearly talk about the narrow way and the popular broad way for fools, and the house built on the sand instead of the better house built on the rock. The houses look the same, but they don't end up in the same place. And so wisdom for the godly is when you are not simple in a bad sort of way.

When you can think an antithesis, That's why it has been said that the greatest contribution to the human kind has been made from the believing Jew that taught us how to think an antithesis through. Hey, that is wrong. That is right. That has a few steps that are right, and more that are wrong. I like the "Thus saith the Lord" verses. That is best, that's better for you, but this is best for you -- let the Lord lead you to that Bible teaching church over there. 

And so the ability to have moral discretion is important and so is Proverbs. It is for the simple or in verse 4 for the youth, a child does not have intuitive godly wisdom yet, but he can in Christ. Christ is our wisdom.

That's why children can sometimes embarrass you in public. A child has to learn by what's so in two different ways. They can gain knowledge and wisdom by precept learning or the hard way. Precepts in proverbs go something like: Don't do this and you can learn better. If you don't want to learn by precepts child, you can learn by the pain from ignoring God's precepts -- that's where you experience it firsthand. You can learn by opportunities God gives you too.

Before you do it, please don't do this or that. But if you do what God says don't do then you can learn after you go do it.. where you get your own posteriority kicked by life. Okay, and that's where you violate His Word and you feel the pain of that violation. But God is gracious and often gives us sinners' a second chance. 

And so the book of Proverbs is for the youth to give precept-learning instead of for them to learn the hard way. That's why the Bible teaches us to rise up before the gray-headed, because the gray-headed have already been beaten up in life. The gray head is typically found in the way of righteousness, because if they've been really evil then guess what.. they're probably already dead. 

Do colleges or lower schools teach students moral discretion today? Nope, but they used to. Many (not all) Christian Bible colleges and seminaries do. 

And so if the Bible is not being taught in there, the students won't be given the chance to make moral discernment a priority as they should. So they're going to have to learn two generations later when their civilization collapses, right? It appears to be happening here in the USA. Check out the history of Cuba, and Germany and Russia. All of the foolish leaders and others who have punted biblical truth away. They suffered. It will catch up to you after a while (now see verse 5 and 6).

It's so important to be a righteous, wise man or woman, boy or girl, and to hear the living Word address you. Yes, to hear His voice, to follow the Holy Spirit's lead and to increase in learning Bible truth for wise application. 

It's imperative to be what is called humbly teachable and growing spiritually in Christ. 

“And the serpent said to the woman, you shall not surely die..” Genesis 3:4 (and that from the snake directly went against what God had already told Adam and Eve) 

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another." Leviticus 19:11 esv

“I hate and abhor lying: but your law do I love.” Psalms 119:163

"Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One." Hosea 11:12 esv

“...but Judah still rules with God, and remains faithful, along with the godly ones." int’l.s.v.

“The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:13

“You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44

“But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” Acts 5:3 

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

“Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds..” Colossians 3:9

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron..” 1 Timothy 4:2

“My brothers, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” James 3:1

“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.” Revelation 22:15