IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT I DID. IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE.

October 17, 2017

IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT I DID. IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE.

Proverbs 14:12-24

Clayton Dias

Central Truth

We all have a choice to forge our own path of destruction or to follow the narrow path of life that Jesus provided by laying down His own life.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
(Proverbs 14:12)

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^{1

14:12
Hebrew ways of death}
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 One who is wise is cautious^{2

14:16
Or fears [the LORD]} and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet^{3

14:22
Or show} steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.

Footnotes

[1] 14:12 Hebrew ways of death
[2] 14:16 Or fears [the LORD]
[3] 14:22 Or show

Growing up, I believed I was saved because I did good things for other people. I was so convinced that salvation was based on my actions that I never took the time to develop a relationship with God or to discover why I could trust in His amazing love. I believed that God loved me because of what I did for Him. I later learned the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me was because He loved me, not because I loved Him.

This was the way that seemed right to me (verse 12). And it led me to being burned out on church and God after high school. I was trying to save myself so that I would not have to rely on God. I used God as a means to an end instead of enjoying Him for who He is and how He loves me.

Verses 13-19 remind me that appearances can be deceiving. So those people who look like they have the perfect life could be living a charade. When I chase the material blessings of the world, I lose out on many spiritual blessings. (Read Ephesians 1:3 and www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-blessings.html.)

Ephesians 1:3-14 describe spiritual blessings. In Christ I am immensely blessed. The spiritual blessings I receive from God are eternal, not finite like material blessings (Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 16:19-31).

I realize now the good I used to do for others was actually for my own benefit. That's selfish! That's not love. I did not genuinely care for the people I was trying to help because I did not see them as God sees them: His dearly beloved children. But God, in His great undeserved mercy, gives us His riches at Christ's expense (grace). He asks that we come to Him in faith. So will you?

1. How has God blessed you in the past week?

2. If you're a believer in Jesus, what ways has Satan used this past week to distract you from God? How do you respond to these distractions?

3. If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven or hell? Why? Would that change how you live today? If so, confess that right now to God. Tell Him you believe. Confess your sin. Accept the grace offered in Christ. And then post a comment about your decision in the Comments section below so I can pray for you.