| Proverbs 24 Previous Chapter | Next Chapter 1 Do not envy evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of trouble. 3 Through wisdom a house is built [in your heart]; and by understanding it is established. 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant [spiritual] riches. 5 A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. 6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war [against evil], and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth [in assembly of the elders] at the gate. 8 He who plots evil deeds shall be called a scheming person. 9 To think of foolishness is sin,1 and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is little. 11 If you fail to deliver those who are drawn to death, and those who are ready to be slain [by God]; 12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know [at judgment];" does not he who ponders the heart consider it? And he who keeps your soul, does he not know it? And shall he not render to every man according to his works? [Notice! This verse tells us that ignorance of a coming judgment, or ignorance that judgment also applies to Christians, is no excuse. All men are judged on their words and works! And there will be many who say to Him on the day of judgment, "'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out demons? And in your name done many wonderful works?' and then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from me you who work iniquity,'" (they were still sinning when they died and were defiled.] 13 My son, eat honey because it is good; and eat the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste. 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul. When you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off. 15 Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not rob his resting place. 16 For a just man falls seven times,2 and rises up again; but the wicked shall fall into injury. 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 For fear that when the LORD sees, it displeases him, and he turns away his wrath from him. 19 Do not worry yourself because of evil men, neither be envious of the wicked; 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; and do not associate with those who are rebellious and given to change; 22 For they [Lord and king] shall punish the ungodly suddenly; and who knows the ruin that both will create? 23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to be partial to anyone when judging. 24 He who says to the wicked [those still sinning], "You are righteous;" him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him.3 [Anyone still sinning is wicked. The preachers of Babylon's Christianity tell their followers that despite them still sinning, they have an imputed righteousness because they believe in Jesus. Following that fallacious logic, so are the demons righteous because they too believe in Jesus. Those deceived followers who were told they were righteous and promised heaven when still being captive to sin will curse the blind guide preachers that lured them into the ditch and Hell after death. There is an imputed righteousness that comes with the measure of faith received with the fruit of the Spirit, which is rewarded to those who have crucified their selfish, evil spirit on the inward cross of self-denial, but not before. Believing in Jesus is not the faith that imputes righteousness; see Footnote 2 of Romans 3 for the detail of imputed righteousness. ] 25 But to those who rebuke the wicked [those still sinning] shall find delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.4 26 He [God] shall kiss his lips of him who gives a right answer [to wicked men]. 27 Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house. 28 Do not be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Say not, "I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work," ["for vengeance is mine," says the Lord.] 30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the [spiritual] vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered its surface, and their stone walls were broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well. I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; 34 So shall your poverty come as a thief [without warning]; and your lack as [if robbed by] an armed man.5 Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | |||||||||
1 To think of foolishness is sin. Few people are aware that foolishness is included in those evils of a man's heart that defile him. Jesus said, .. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man. Mark 7:21-23. Notice, until your heart has been cleansed, you are defiled — a ravenous beast that serves yourself, rather than others.
And few know that revelry, (partying), is sin. Paul said: The acts of the sinful nature include sexual immorality (including adultery and fornication), impurity, lust, idolatry (including covetousness), sorcery, hatred, arguments, jealousy, anger, ambition, divisiveness, factions, envy, drunkenness, revelry (partying), and the like, etc. ...those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21
All with sexual immorality, pride, hatred, lying, envy, wanting more, and partying, foolishness ..etc., will be banned from heaven.
2 For a just man falls seven times. He shall deliver you in six troubles: yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you. Job 5:19. And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Rev 5:1. The just man will fall under the hand of God's wrath, to purge a man of the evil in his heart; but in His mercy, God delivers each man seven times to rise again, until finally a man's heart has been circumcised.
3 He who says to the wicked [those still sinning], "You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him." This is exactly what Christendom tells their members today: "despite your sins, you are righteous because you believe in Christ." This is a horrible lie, and all those preachers who are preaching these lies will be cursed by the people and the nations of all the world will abhor them. There is an imputed righteousness when you receive the fruit of the Spirit, which includes the receipt of faith; but that only occurs after you have crucified your sinful nature on the inward cross of self-denial. (See Footnote 2 of Romans 3 for the detail of imputed righteousness.) Until then sin is sin.
Jesus did not eliminate sin. There is still the moral law that is on everyone's heart, which still must be obeyed to avoid condemnation. Jesus did not eliminate the penalty for stealing, murder, lying, coveting, hating, etc. In fact Jesus strengthened the law, making it even harder to be obedient. He changed "an eye for an eye", to "turn the other cheek; love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you." He made adultery, not just the act, but the thought in the heart. He made murder, not just the act, but the anger and hate in your heart. He told us not to repay injury or insult. He told us that restraint of sin was not enough; but that we were defiled by what was in our hearts; so our hearts must be cleansed of the desire or inclination to sin. He said:
Now Jesus is fair. He would not have increased these commands on us, unless there was a way to obey them; the way is to go to him, wait and watch silently, listen for him, hear him and obey him — repentance — the inward cross of self-denial. Your souls are purified in obeying the truth, through the spirit. 1 Pet 1:22.
The blind guides of Christendom tell you that you have the righteousness of Christ because you believe; that also is presumption.
They say to rely on the "imputed righteousness of Christ" to us, based on our faith; as it was with Abraham.
Abraham evidenced his belief by obedience: Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commands, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:5
And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. Gen 22:18
There is imputed righteousness that comes after we have crucified our sinful nature by our repentant obedience on the cross.
Abraham exercised his faith in obedience to God's voice by being circumcised, just as we must receive the spiritual circumcision- our heart circumcised from sin.
Abraham exercised his faith in obedience to God's voice to leave his home for a new land — so we must forsake the world to enter God's Kingdom.
Abraham exercised his faith by obeying God's voice, willing to sacrifice Isaac, so we too must be willing to forsake everything and be obedient to the voice within.
Abraham was strong in faith as evidenced by his belief in the promise and his obedience to Gods' commands that he heard spoken to him.
If he had not walked in the steps of faith, being obedient as commanded, his righteousness would have been cancelled.
See Footnote 2 of Romans 3 for the detail of imputed righteousness.
- Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor 15:34
- Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves to obey, you are the slaves of whom you obey; whether of sin that leads to death, or of obedience that leads to righteousness? Rom 6:16
- Little children, let no man deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. 1 John 3:7-8
Jesus only spoke, judged, and did as He was prompted and ordered by God; to practice righteousness we also must be able to only speak what we hear Him order us to say and only do what we are ordered to do by God. This ability only comes after we have crucified our selfish spirit, as sin has been destroyed by the Spirit through bearing the inward cross of self-denial; then we are walking the same way He walked and in the world as He was with perfection, purity, and holiness.- For we, through the Spirit, by faith, patiently wait for the hope of righteousness.Gal 5:5
Faith comes with the receipt of the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace (quietness and confident trust forever), patience (including longsuffering, steadfastness, and perseverance), kindness (including morality and integrity), goodness, faith, gentleness (including meekness and humility), and self-control (mastery of sensual appetites, passions, and desires). Gal 5:22-23. Only when you have produced fruit, walking in love, fulfilling the law, then you are imputed righteous; and then no law applies to you.- Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:34-35
- You can be sure: No sexually immoral, or impure, or covetous person, who is an is idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with vain words. For because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Eph 5:5-6.
You have to become pure to have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God and Christ.
4 Those who rebuke the wicked [those still sinning] shall find delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Paul instructed Timothy thus: "Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear." 1 Tim 5:20. From the word of the Lord within in 2008: "No one in Christendom is warning the people about sin."
5 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; So shall your poverty come as a thief [without warning]; and your lack as [if robbed by] an armed man. Jesus said: "And know this, that if the owner of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have allowed his house to be broken through. Therefore you be ready also. For the Son of man comes at an hour when you do not expect him." Luke 12:39-40. Remember therefore what you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If you will not keep awake and watch, I will come on you like a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Rev 3:3.
It is clear, this warning about the sleep of the slothful, relates to sleep resulting in spiritual poverty; not the obvious financial poverty.
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