Proverbs 11 - Living in Line
Continuing the series on the Book of Proverbs, specifically focusing on chapter 11. Proverbs offers wisdom and a guide on how the world generally operates according to God's design - following these principles leads to a better life, but they are not strictly promises. The sermon touches upon several key themes from the chapter, including the importance of truth and honesty in all aspects of life, including business, as God detests dishonesty because it doesn't align with his reality. It also contrasts pride and humility, linking humility to wisdom and suggesting pride can hinder growth. Furthermore, the sermon discusses the worthlessness of wealth in the face of judgment and death, contrasting it with the delivering power of righteousness, which is ultimately found in Christ. Finally, it explores the significance of living in community and the destructive nature of gossip and disunity, while encouraging generosity as a reflection of God's nature and a step of faith in his provision.
Deep Dive Podcast
Proverbs Chapter 11 Study Guide
Overview
This study guide focuses on key themes and insights drawn from a sermon on Proverbs Chapter 11. Proverbs is presented as a book of wisdom that illustrates how the world, as ordered by God, generally works. The message emphasizes that aligning one's life with God's design typically leads to well-being. Chapter 11 offers various snippets of truth, encouraging individuals to identify and apply specific lessons to their lives.
Key Themes and Concepts
Truth and Honesty: God detests dishonesty, particularly in business practices (dishonest scales). Truth is defined as a property of assertions that corresponds with reality. Dishonesty is seen as an assertion of one's own reality, attempting to usurp God's place as the ultimate reality. Living truthfully aligns with God's reality and is essential for thriving.
Pride vs. Humility: Pride leads to disgrace, while humility leads to wisdom. A struggle with growing in wisdom may indicate an issue with pride, as pride suggests a belief that one already has everything figured out and doesn't need input from others. Humility allows for openness to receiving wisdom. Pride is described as sneaky and difficult to identify.
Integrity vs. Duplicity: Integrity guides the upright, while unfaithfulness and duplicity destroy. This reinforces the importance of honesty and straightforwardness in one's actions.
Wealth vs. Righteousness: Wealth is deemed worthless in the "day of wrath," while righteousness delivers from death. Relying on wealth for security against evil and death is ultimately disappointing. Righteousness, particularly the righteousness of Christ, is presented as the true source of deliverance. Living right aligns with reality and is ultimately beneficial.
Placing Hope in Mortals: Placing hope and trust in human power (wealth or position) is futile, as it comes to nothing. True hope should be placed elsewhere, ultimately in God.
Community and Interconnectedness: Our actions, whether wise or foolish, impact those around us. The sermon highlights various aspects of community life addressed in Proverbs 11, including the impact of the godless on their neighbors, the city rejoicing when the righteous prosper, the destructive nature of the wicked, the foolishness of deriding neighbors, the betrayal of confidence by gossips, and the importance of wise advisors for a nation.
Gossip and Disunity: Gossip is identified as a significant destroyer of communities, particularly churches. It involves betraying confidence and spreading information that can lead to disunity. Practical strategies for addressing gossip are offered: suggesting the speaker talk directly to the person concerned or removing oneself from the conversation.
Kindness vs. Ruthlessness: Kindness leads to honor and benefits the self, while ruthlessness and cruelty bring ruin. A good name and being honored are worth more than wealth.
Pursuing Good vs. Evil: Pursuing evil leads to death and wrath, while pursuing righteousness (living in line with God's design) leads to life and freedom. Wickedness will be punished, and the righteous will be set free.
Discretion and Inner Character: External beauty is less valuable than inner character, specifically discretion (wisdom in conduct). Lacking discretion can negate external attractiveness. Righteousness and internal alignment with God's design are paramount.
Generosity vs. Hoarding: Giving freely leads to gaining more (not necessarily financially, but in terms of personal and spiritual growth), while withholding unduly leads to poverty. Generosity is presented as a heart issue and an act of faith, trusting God as the ultimate provider. Giving should be motivated by belief in God's work, not as a transactional means to gain wealth (the prosperity gospel). Generosity is modeled after Christ's ultimate generosity and helps individuals align with God's character.
Review Questions
According to the sermon, what is the primary purpose of the Book of Proverbs?
How does Proverbs Chapter 11 illustrate God's view on truth and honesty, particularly in business?
Define "truth" as provided in the sermon. How does dishonesty relate to God's reality?
What is the connection made in Proverbs 11 between pride and wisdom?
Why is wealth considered worthless in the "day of wrath"? What is presented as the alternative source of deliverance?
How do the actions of individuals, whether wise or foolish, impact the community according to Proverbs 11?
What is identified as a significant destroyer of churches in the sermon?
What are two practical responses suggested for dealing with gossip?
How does the sermon contrast external beauty with internal character, using the analogy of a gold ring in a pig's snout?
What is the key difference between the biblical concept of generosity discussed and the "prosperity gospel"?
Answer Key
The primary purpose of Proverbs is to provide wisdom, showing how the world works according to God's design, and illustrating that generally, life goes well when lived in line with that order.
Proverbs 11 illustrates God's view by stating that the Lord detests dishonest scales, linking it directly to the importance of truth and honesty in business transactions. It emphasizes that dishonesty isn't just about lying verbally but also operating unfairly.
Truth is defined as a property of assertions that corresponds with reality. Dishonesty is seen as asserting one's own reality, attempting to be like God by defining what is real, which is contrary to God's established reality.
Proverbs 11 connects pride to disgrace and humility to wisdom. A struggle with growing in wisdom might stem from pride, where a person believes they already know everything and don't need further insight, while humility fosters openness to receiving wisdom.
Wealth is considered worthless in the "day of wrath" because it cannot deliver from evil or death. Righteousness, specifically the righteousness of Christ, is presented as the true source of deliverance from death.
The actions of individuals impact the community because Proverbs 11 describes a communal people. Examples include the godless destroying neighbors, the city rejoicing when the righteous prosper, the destructive nature of the wicked, the foolishness of deriding neighbors, the betrayal by gossips, and the need for advisors for a nation.
Disunity within the community, often fueled by gossip, is identified as the most common destroyer of churches.
Two practical responses suggested for dealing with gossip are to tell the person they should talk directly to the individual concerned ("You should talk to him/her about that") or to simply remove yourself from the conversation ("I just don't want to get into that").
The sermon contrasts external beauty with internal character by comparing a beautiful woman who lacks discretion to a gold ring in a pig's snout. Just as a valuable ring is out of place on a dirty animal, external beauty is diminished or negated if a person lacks wisdom in their conduct.
The key difference is that the biblical concept of generosity in Proverbs 11 is about giving freely as an act of faith and trust in God as the ultimate provider, with no expectation of a specific return. The prosperity gospel, in contrast, preaches giving to ministry with the explicit promise or expectation that God will return it tenfold, treating giving as a transaction for personal financial gain.
Essay Questions
Analyze the interconnectedness of truth, reality, and dishonesty as presented in the sermon's interpretation of Proverbs 11. How does a lack of truthfulness, even in seemingly minor actions like dishonest scales, represent a departure from God's order?
Discuss the contrasting portrayals of pride and humility in Proverbs 11. How does an individual's level of humility affect their ability to acquire wisdom and benefit their community?
Explore the sermon's emphasis on the worthlessness of wealth in comparison to righteousness. What does this teach about where true security and deliverance are found, and how does it challenge societal values that often prioritize financial gain?
Examine the various ways in which Proverbs 11, as interpreted in the sermon, highlights the impact of individual actions on the wider community. Provide examples from the text and discuss the responsibility individuals have to contribute positively to their communal environment.
Evaluate the sermon's strong warning against gossip and disunity within the church community. Why is gossip considered so destructive, and how do the suggested strategies for addressing it align with biblical principles of communication and community health?
Glossary of Key Terms
Proverbs: A book of wisdom in the Bible that offers guidance on how to live a life that aligns with God's design for the world.
Wisdom: Understanding and applying knowledge in a way that aligns with God's perspective and order.
Dishonest Scales: A metaphor from Proverbs 11:1 representing unfair or deceptive business practices.
Truth: A property of assertions that corresponds with reality; aligning one's words and actions with what is real according to God's order.
Reality: God's established order and how the world truly is.
Pride: An inflated sense of self-importance that hinders the acquisition of wisdom and can lead to disgrace.
Humility: A modest view of oneself, openness to learning and receiving input from others, which leads to wisdom.
Disgrace: Shame, loss of respect, or dishonor that is associated with pride.
Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; straightforwardness.
Duplicity: Deceitfulness; acting in two different ways concerning the same matter, often to mislead or deceive.
Wealth: Abundance of valuable possessions or money.
Righteousness: Living in accordance with God's standards and moral principles; acting justly and righteously.
Day of Wrath: A time of judgment or reckoning.
Delivers from Death: Saved or rescued from physical and/or spiritual death.
Mortals: Human beings, subject to death.
Community: A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common; also, the body of believers in a church.
Godless: Those who do not acknowledge or fear God; impious.
Derides: To express contempt for; ridicule.
Gossip: Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as true.
Betrays Confidence: To reveal a secret or trust that was confided in someone.
Trustworthy Person: Someone who can be relied on as honest or truthful.
Guidance: Advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by someone more experienced.
Advisors: People who offer counsel or recommendations.
Kind Hearted: Having a kind and compassionate nature.
Ruthless: Having or showing no pity or compassion for others.
Discretion: The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing confidential information; wisdom in conduct.
Perverse: Showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in opposition to God's ways.
Blameless: Innocent of wrongdoing; without fault.
Hoarding: Accumulating a stock of something, typically valuable items or money.
Generous Person: Someone who is characterized by a willingness to give freely.
Prosperity Gospel: A belief among some Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth.
Image Bearers: Human beings created in the likeness of God.
