Proverbs 11: 1-14 – NIV -
1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.
q Dishonest scales:
o Obscure truth
o Cheat people
o To get what you don’t deserve
o What’s wrong with that?
q Accurate weights
o They are what they are.
o They reflect qualities God values:
§ ____________________
§ ____________________
§ ____________________
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
q How does pride lead to disgrace?
o Exposure (as Frauds)
o ___________________
q How does humility lead to wisdom?
o We don’t miss our lessons.
o The Julia Child model.
o The 99% factor.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
q Integrity guides the upright because of vv. 1-2 principles.
o Those principles show that the upright are guided by truth and
o They are guided by humility.
q What is duplicity?
q How can understanding duplicity help us to understand integrity better?
Some Verses on Righteousness
Righteousness makes a straight way.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
q When can money help?
q As you grow in these qualities, truth will become more recognizable to you.
q When is money no help at all?
q What do we need then?
Righteousness makes a straight way.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
q Key Word 1 – Righteous
q Key Word 2 – Blameless
q Key Word 3 – Wicked (Wickedness)
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
Righteousness delivers from the TRAP.
q Deliverance vs. the TRAP of evil desires.
q The TRAP
o T – Temptation comes first.
o R – Rationalization comes next.
o A - Acceptance of evil as an option follows.
o P – POW! You’re trapped.
Righteousness preserves hope.
7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.
q Compare the expectations of the righteous with those of the wicked. What is their source and power?
Righteousness rescues from trouble.
8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.
q Trouble boomerangs back to the troublemakers.
Righteousness enables us to escape the power of malicious words..
9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
q The mouth of the wicked is destructive toward his neighbor.
q Knowledge characterizes the righteous.
q What are some ways that this might work?
Righteousness produces a cheering section.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
q Will people rejoice in your prosperity or
q In your destruction?
q Dorothy in Oz: Ding Dong the _____ is dead.
Righteousness exalts a city with blessings.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
q What does it look like when a city is exalted?
q How do the righteous bless a city? See the following verses.
Blessing the City
By choosing our words carefully
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
q 90% Silence
q The art of holding one’s tongue.
q Refusing to participate in negativity.
By not participating in the disease of gossip.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
q Betrayal
q Confidence
q Healthy secrets vs. unhealthy secrets.
By participating in the decision making process.
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory sure.
q For average citizens – Give guidance
q For leaders – Seek guidance.
Lessons from this Chapter
1. Wisdom is of vital importance.
2. Get it and use it.
3. Receive the blessings or take the consequences. It’s a choice.
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