Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20000305.htm

PROVERBS: ALIGNING TO GOD'S FIXED MORAL ORDER FOR BLESSING
Part II: Sparking The Reader's Motivation To Heed God's Fixed Moral Order
E. Explaining To YOUNG MEN The INTRINSIC Values Of Heeding God's Fixed Moral Order
(Proverbs 3:13-35)
  1. Introduction
    1. When seeking to motivate a young man or young woman to heed God's fixed moral order, the youth may ask: "Well, if I am to heed God's fixed moral order, what's in it for me? Of what value is it to heed it?"
    2. Solomon answers this question in Proverbs 3:13-35, offering us parents parenting insight as follows:
  2. Explaining To YOUNG MEN The INTRINSIC Values Of Heeding God's Fixed Moral Order.
    1. We recall Solomon structured Proverbs after the Egyptian literary sboyet, a genre designed to train young princes about an observed fixed moral order that must be heeded if one were to succeed as a ruler.
    2. So in seeking to motivate young princes to heed the true Author of that fixed moral order, Israel's God, Solomon answered the question of the youth, "Of what value will it be for ME to heed God?" as follows:
      1. Heeding God's fixed moral order will produce blessing that simply gaining much wealth cannot buy:
        1. Heeding God's fixed moral order brings more profit than silver, gold or rubies, Proverbs 3:13-15a. In fact, nothing gained in business can satisfy like heeding God's fixed moral order, Proverbs 3:15b.
        2. Namely, heeding God's fixed moral order yields a long life and honor along with riches, something many an investor has failed to produce with his financial gains, Proverbs 3:16.
        3. Namely, heeding God's fixed moral order yields a life of pleasantness and peace along with riches, long life and honor, something many who have become wealthy have not been able to attain, 3:17.
        4. Namely, heeding God's fixed moral order is a source of life and blessing all who adhere to it along with pleasantness, peace, long life and honor, things many who are wealthy alone do not have, 3:18.
        5. This is because the God of the fixed moral order adhered to His fixed moral order in creating the universe, and only adhering to it while living in the world can bring such manifold blessings, 3:19-20.
      2. Heeding God's fixed moral order will produce comprehensive blessings in relating to others, 3:21-35:
        1. It will produce comprehensive blessings in dealing with evil ENEMIES, Pr. 3:21-26: (a) If one keeps watch over sound judgment and discretion that fits into God's fixed moral order, he will enjoy life and honor, Proverbs 3:21-22. (b) This will in turn keep him secure in his life's pathways (3:23) and free from fear (3:24), even of the fear of sudden disaster or what overtakes the wicked, Pr. 3:25. (c) This is because Israel's Jahweh will exist for those of sound judgment and discretion as his Confidence, preserving his foot from being snared by (even) his evil opponents, Proverbs 3:26.
        2. It will produce comprehensive blessings in relating to others to sustain friendships, Prov. 3:27-35: (a) Heeding God's fixed moral order leads one to do good to others for whom it is due, when on has the power to do so. That activity generates good relationships , Prov. 3:27-28. (b) Heeding God's fixed moral order leads one to avoid plotting harm against an unsuspecting neighbor, Prov. 3:29. That activity preserves good relationships. (c) Heeding God's fixed moral order leads one to avoid accusing another for no reason -- when he has done us no harm, and that avoids creating enemies, Prov. 3:30. (d) Heeding God's fixed moral order k eeps us from envying a violent man, and thus from following his ways, and that avoids lots of dishonor and trouble from God, Proverbs 3:31-35!
Lesson: We can EFFECTIVELY answer the young man's question of what VALUE to HIM will be his heeding God's fixed moral order as follows: (1) heeding God's fixed moral order will bring its adherent not only ample material supplies, bu t a pleasant, peaceful, long life with honor, things many wealthy people fail to gain as these are things wealth CANNOT buy. (2) Heeding God's fixed moral order will also produce sound judgment and discretion that secures one's pathways, and frees him from the fear of even sudden disaster and entrapments in relating to his ENEMIES! This is because God will keep his steps in life from being used as a snare by his opponents to his harm. (3) Heeding God's fixed moral orde r will lead to actions of considering one's neighbor so as to prolong and make good friends, and bring God's blessings that enable friendships to last well.