God-Centered Wisdom: Love God, Love Your Neighbor
Proverbs 3:27-35
This is our last in our series on Proverbs.
Next week we want to start studying Philippians. Americans are obsessed with happiness, and yet it is something that is illusive in our culture. Philippians is a letter in which Paul expresses true joy and contentment in the strangest of places. He has been imprisoned in Rome awaiting a trial that might end in his execution. He’s gone through a horrendous shipwreck. He’s been deserted by most of his friends and some Christian leaders have even spoken out against him. Yet he is able to say, “I am glad and rejoice” (2:17). This is not to say that Paul doesn’t feel the pain. But he finds deep joy under fire through his mission, his friends, his humility and above of all, his Lord.
When we began this series, I mentioned how wisdom begins with the acknowledgment of God. God is the greatest character in the story of the universe. Everything revolves around Him.
I mentioned how if you’re playing basketball, everything changes if Lebron James is on the court. The game plan completely changes. All of a sudden, it matters very little what you do and matters an awful lot what Lebron does. It would be foolish to play without recognizing Lebron on the court.
Wisdom begins with the acknowledgment of God. I’d like to explore this a little further through studying one particular passage.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.
The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. (3:27-35)
This starts with some instructions on being good to our neighbors.
Do good to those who need it, perhaps deserve it, to whom you have some obligation to give, when you have the power to do so. (27)
Do not delay in giving, do not hesitate; or more positively, be ready to do good. (28)
Imagine you live in peace with someone (neighbor, co-worker), his guard is down; there’s no reason to attack; do not attack unprovoked, do not act in malice, greed, or aggression. (29-31)
Why?
Because “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Put yourself in their shoes (some sense of justice or equity, or compassion or empathy)?
Because people are important, people have rights, people have dignity (human dignity)?
Because we have laws, laws to create a civil and just society?
Proverbs is much more God-centered (32-35). Because there are things God is pleased with and things God abhors. Wisdom recognizes there is a God and He cares what we do. God does bless, reward, curse and punish. God blesses the righteous and curses the wicked. He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Notice vs. 34. God is judge and balances the scales; there is a sense of justice. These oppressors will get from God what they gave to others: as they scorn others God scorns them; as they tear everything down with their mouths, so the Lord will tear them down with his curse.
If there are things that God loves and blesses and things God abhors and curses, wise is the one who acknowledges and respects that. Wisdom conforms our values with God’s values.
Wisdom says God is God and we are not. We don’t make the rules, we don’t determine what’s good or bad. We do not live as we please. We realize it doesn’t matter so much what we think, what is far more important is what God thinks. We put God at the center.
If I go into your house, it doesn’t matter that much if I like the paint color, style of furniture, how clean or cluttered things are. It’s not my house. I’m the guest, it’s your house. Wisdom sees this is my Father’s world. This isn’t my house, it’s His house. Wisdom recognizes this is “God’s house,” and His opinion matters most. It doesn’t matter that much what I or you think. It matters what God thinks because what God thinks is what God does. And what God does is far more important than what any of us does. Wise is the one who acknowledges whose house this is and respects the master of the house. Wise is the one who acknowledges who has all power and authority. Foolish is the one who thinks its all about ourselves and ignores God.
So what are things God is pleased with, what does God abhor?
God cares about how others are treated. God values kindness and generosity.
1. God is pleased with neighbors loving one another
We can rearrange the thoughts: There are some things God is pleased with, some things God abhors, some things he rewards, some things he punishes. So
Do not withhold good when you have the power to do good.
Let me suggest we have the power to do lots of good. We have talents, abilities, opportunities and resources. Summer missions (going/supporting), befriending someone, offer words like honey that are both sweet and healing, talent/abilities to offer, etc.
Do not hesitate or delay to do good; be ready to do good.
What good are we slow to do, we put it off? How can we be ready?
In our personal finances, we budget our tithe, but we also have a charity fund, ready to give.
Do not attack unprovoked; do not act in malice, greed or aggression.
Are you attacking anyone, not because they did anything wrong, but you have some malice, greed, prejudice, personal “issues” (angry, so you kick the dog). Maybe we’re taking advantage of someone’s weakness or neglect. Be warned.
More positively, we know the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. These are more specific ways we love our neighbors. In the NT we read,
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:9-10)
Do good, serve and bless one another; don’t get weary or lazy or reluctant. There is a reward. This is God’s value system. He is pleased with and rewards those who are kind to others. We want to live a life that God wants to bless and rewards, not curses and punishes.
So what are things God is pleased with, what does God abhor? God cares about how others are treated.
2. God abhors oppression and cares for the poor.
We saw that God speaks against harming others for no reason, for acting violently and deviously.
In our world there are those who are powerless and defenseless. Unless government or some other power protects them, they are vulnerable to oppression and exploitation. The strong dominate the weak.
I recently heard a podcast about modern slavery [2 pictures].
27 million slaves today where they are forced to work without pay and cannot leave. That’s double the number of slaves that came from Africa in the entire transatlantic slave trade. Many are victims of sex trafficking. This happens were governments are corrupt and do not protect those who cannot protect themselves. Human life is now cheap, about $90, and some places $5 or $10. They are like Styrofoam cups: buy them cheaply, use them up, and when you’re done, you just throw them away.
Why? Why show kindness to the poor and powerless?
Because humans have value in themselves (human dignity)?
Because we should have compassion on their suffering (compassion, charity)?
Because charity and mercy are good values and slavery is a moral evil?
These are all reasons any atheist could agree to. What reason does Proverbs offer?
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (Pr 14:31)
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. (Pr 17:5)
The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all. (Pr 22:2)
Why? It is because God is their Maker. This is my Father’s world, and these are my Father’s creation.
I can’t go into your house and bash your furniture and beat up your kids. To do so is not just disrespecting your furniture or kids, it is disrespecting you. It is not just because we care about people, it’s because we respect and honor God. God is their Maker. It is rooted more in worship than human compassion.
Let me ask one more time, what does God value and reward?
3. God is looking for those who love and trust Him.
If we take a broader perspective and consider the whole Bible, we see that more than good works, even good works of mercy and compassion, God values love and faith.
The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who rely on Him, will He find faith on earth (2 Chron 16:8-9, Luke 18:8)? The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
This is at the center of the Bible and the Christian life: to love and trust God.
We are kind to our neighbors because we love God.
We care for the poor because we love God.
It is our passion for God from which all our other passions must flow.
Jesus/NT makes this even more explicit. We don’t just show kindness for kindness sake. We show kindness for Christ’s sake.
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Mt 10:42)
Because that little one is a follower of Christ, that makes me want to bless him.
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (Mk 9:41)
If others are kind to me, not just because they like me, but because they value those who belong to Christ, they will find reward.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:9-10)
We just saw this passage. We want to do good to all. All are God’s creation, all bear His image. But we really want to bless those who are now adopted into God’s family, the very children of God. These are the children of God, and so to them, I want to give particular kindness.
The greatest commandment is that we love God with everything we have. All other commands flow from this. All other commands are empty without this.
Some of you may know the story of The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini). [I heard about it and then read the plot summary.]
Amir and Hassan and bossom-buddy childhood friends in Afghanistan. Amir is the son of a wealthy man, Baba, and Hassan is the son of one of Baba’s servants. Assef is an older boy who harasses Amir for associating with Hassan, who Assef considers lower class. Assef was going to attack Amir, but Hassan stands up to Assef and his gang, who then back off.
Amir wins a kite competition and Hassan goes to get Amir’s kite when he runs into Assef and his gang, who beat and rape Hassan. Amir wondered what was taking Hassan so long, so he searches for Hassan. Amir witnesses the rape but is too afraid to do anything. Amir struggles with deep shame and guilt for his cowardice.
Five years later the Russians invade Afghanistan and Baba and Amir escape and end up in California. Many years later, Amir is married and has a writing career, when he gets a call from a dying old friend from his hometown, who asks to meet him in Pakistan. Amir finds out that Hassan had a wife and son, Sohrab. Hassan and his wife were both murdered by the Taliban. The old friend’s request was that Amir go and rescue Hassan’s son Sohrab from an orphanage.
As Amir goes on his adventure, he’s asked why he is returning to Afghanistan. “I’m going to find a boy. His father meant a lot to me.”
Out of his love for Hassan, Amir goes to rescue a boy he’s never met.
[I understand there were other reasons too, but for illustration purposes, let me leave it here.]
That’s the fuel of our kindness and goodness to others and particularly to Christians: His Father means a lot to me. His Father has done so much for me, has been so good to me. Of course, a thousand times, yes, I’ll do good to His son. Our goodness and good deeds are grounded in worship.
The problem is, if we’re honest, we don’t really love God, not that much. We love ourselves. So many times our love for God is not enough to show kindness to His children or care for the poor. We might do it out of guilt or duty or human compassion, but often not so much because of our love for God.
4. We need the Gospel.
The Gospel helps transform our hearts, our love. We’ve been studying this in our CG’s.
A. The Gospel says are objects of wrath, we are the sinful ones God abhors. We are not blessed but cursed by our actions, choices and desires. The first and greatest command is to love God, as I mentioned, we don’t. Even when we do “good deed,” we do it out of guilt or duty or human compassion, but not out of love for God—our good deeds fall shortall our “goodness” is but filthy rags (selfish).
B. But God pours his wrath on Christ; Christ takes our curse on the cross. We’ve sinned, but Christ took our bullet. He paid the price. And now we’re completely accepted and loved. We are more sinful that we realized and more loved than we could possibly imagine.
C. We respond with praise and love. We see He is a gracious, loving, merciful, powerful, strong, gentle God. We know we’re received so much more than we deserve and humbled and thankful. We find that we do love Him and trust Him more.
The Gospel is not the story of how we try harder to do good things and help others. It is the story of how God mercifully loved and saved us. God’s the hero. So we grow to love and trust Him more. And as we love and trust Him, we want to be good to His children and His creation. This is His house, and we want to live in a way that pleases and honors Him.
Wisdom says we want to center our choices and values, our hearts and lives on the Master of the House. The Gospel shows He is amazingly gracious and good. So it is now our joy and desire, out of love for Him, to serve His creation and His children.