Proverbs 3: Role Models

Proverbs as Wisdom Literature and the Purpose of the Book

We've been studying the book of Proverbs. We're going to continue with that this morning. And the title for today's session is, Who Are Your Role Models? And just a little bit of a review and introduction to the book of Proverbs.

Remember, Proverbs is wisdom literature. I keep emphasizing that because it's different than the epistles. It's different than the Gospels in how we are to learn from it. So we have to keep in mind that it is wisdom literature.

And everything in here is not necessarily commands, et cetera. It's how to take the rest of scripture and apply it to your life. So the purpose of the book, obviously, is to make one wise. And wisdom is the ability to handle life with skill.

That's one of the reasons why it's so important that we study the book of Proverbs, because it takes the moral law of God and puts it into practical terms. What does this look like in everyday life? And so Proverbs addresses all areas of life in a very practical manner.

And so this morning, we're going to examine, who do we look to emulate? Who do we want to be like? Remember that little commercial, I want to be like Mike?

All right.

Do Not Envy Violent Men or Choose Their Ways

And our beginning text is Proverbs chapter 3. And we're going to just look at verses 31 to 35. Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord, but he is intimate with the upright.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though he scoffs at the scoffers, yet he gives grace to the afflicted. This is one of those portions of Proverbs that is related.

One of the cautions that I've given you as we're studying the book is that Proverbs can appear to be a series of disjointed principles, or maxims, all right? But not all of it is that way. And this is a section that needs to be studied at whole, because otherwise, you're going to miss the little innuendos.

So I'm sorry, the wise will inherit honor, but the fools display dishonor. OK, here's an important preliminary question. Who are your role models? We all have them. Before you say, well, I don't have any role models, we all have them, whether we look to them very specifically and say, he's my role model or not, there are certain people that we have a tendency to look at and either admire or try to emulate.

So the point is, we all, whether consciously or not, have role models. And so the question then is, who are those to whom you envy? Because we are all influenced by other people, one way or another. It can be negative or it can be positive.

And too often, we're influenced by people with poor character. And what do I mean by that? Especially for young people looking at, who do our young people admire today? Sports figures, entertainment, rock stars.

What type of character do most of the people? Somebody was just joking this morning about Alex Rodriguez and J-Lo breaking up. And somebody says, well, what a shocker. Apparently, he cheated on her or something like that.

The point is, we look at some of these great sports stars and you can't separate them from their character. Their character is part of who they are. And all too often, we find ourselves emulating or looking and admiring these people who have all the morals of an alley cat.

So our text gives a stern warning concerning role models. And the first point, the first chapter, verse 31, do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. Basically, what it's saying is don't choose poor role models.

That's the essence of it. Now, this is not the first time in Proverbs we've been warned to avoid evil men. If you go right back to the beginning of the book of Proverbs, when we started, we looked at verse 10.

My son, as sinners entice you, do not consent. And that warning is followed by showing all the results of evil companions. So just go back and review Proverbs chapter 1, which is the foundational chapter.

And what do we see? Even in the first chapter, the end of the evil man is destruction. But here, the admonition is a little bit different. Notice it's talking about, in verse 10 of chapter 1, is if sinners entice you, do not consent.

But here, it's a little bit different. It says don't even envy the evil man. In other words, don't look to him. Certainly don't admire them, but don't want what they want or don't want what they have.

Because the first step to sin is always in the heart. I mean, we know that the scripture is very clear. James chapter 1 says, but each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. What is the first response of 99 of people who are caught in sin? It's not my fault. Even if they're admitting that they did it, it's not my fault.

The first response is, I didn't do it. Where have we heard that in the last week in Albany? I didn't do that. But after that, the thing is, well, it's not really my fault. I was tempted. I wouldn't have done this or I wasn't trapped.

The big one with criminals, whenever you're arrested, I wasn't trapped. That's a big defense nowadays. But the scripture says, no, we're tempted when we're carried away and enticed by our own lusts. You know, if somebody comes up and offers you something, if you don't have it within your heart to participate in it or to take it, it's not going to happen, OK?

Men of violence have a certain appeal to them. And do I have to go any further than just point to the movies that, you know, The Terminator, how popular is the whole Terminator thing? And then look at the video games.

I don't play video games, but I understand that it's all about Grand Theft Auto, and this one is murdering this one, and it's just blood, guts, and gore, all right? So there is a certain appeal to our sinful nature that's always there.

And in fact, one of my shows, I'm going to show you a little bit of my base nature. Do you remember the movie The Untouchable starring Kevin Costner? Do you remember the scene with him on the rooftop with Frank Nitti, you know, Al Capone's right-hand man?

And Nitti is holding on, you know, by just one hand, and Eliot Ness, played by Costner, is he's the noble guy, and he pulls him up, all right? And then Nitti starts to rank on him. You're weak, is it?

And he just takes him, and he runs him right off the roof,.

And he's gone.

That had one of the biggest audience reactions in the whole film. Everybody cheered when that happened. It was murder. And yet, especially the little bit of cop that's left in me, I said, yeah, I loved it.

And one last trial to go, too. But the scripture says, don't admire them, don't envy them. And here's why. Evil men are an abomination to the Lord. So much for God loves the sinner and hates the sin. An unrepentant sinner is an abomination to the Lord.

For the crooked man is an abomination to the Lord, but he is intimate with the upright. Now, there's no contradiction to this, where God sets his love, his affection upon unregenerate sinners, regenerates them, and whatnot.

But in an unregenerate state, God hates the sinners. Sin is not a nebulous concept that's out there. Sin is an offense to God. Sin is violating God's law. So the person who violates God's law, the crooked man, is an abomination to the Lord, a criminal's abomination to God.

And by the way, in case you'll hear a lot of fanciful interpretations of what the word abomination means, abomination means detestable. It means to loathe or hate. If you want to do a study of the Hebrew, and then even the Greek in the New Testament that translates it, it's the same thing, to loathe or to hate.

The same word is used in Deuteronomy to describe God's attitude to the false religions with their human sacrifices. That's the same word that's used. It's the same word that's used to describe the practices of the Canaanites.

And you remember what the Canaanites were doing. They were sacrificing their children to fire through Moloch worship. There were perverted sexual practices that were going on. And that's the same word that's used here.

That's how God looks at that type of sin. Proverbs 11 .20, the perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless walk in their walk are his delight. Notice there's two difference. So an unregenerate sinner is an abomination to the Lord.

And the only way that changes is when he repents and his heart is changed. Then God sets his affection upon him. And if you remember, the apostle Paul talks even in the New Testament about how, apart from our regeneration, we were under the wrath of God.

He says, we were children of wrath, even as the rest were, all right? So we don't wanna get caught up and placating or watering down what the scripture says. Proverbs 59, the way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

Notice there's always two ways. And Jesus taught the same thing. There's two ways, two paths, the broad way to hell, the narrow way to heaven. And there's no in between, there's no shortcuts to the twain shall never meet.

But notice the other side of the coin, all right? Crooked man's an abomination, but he is intimate with the upright. And intimate in scripture is that knowledge, knowing,.

All right?

And it's that close intimate relationship, all right? And that's the opposite side of the coin. And you see this all up here. In all the Proverbs, notice there's always, almost always, I can almost say 100%, but it might be one or two exceptions.

Whenever you see the perverse or the crooked and how God feels towards them, there's always the opposite side of the coin. The blameless walk in their way are his delight. Proverbs 9, same thing, but he who loves him pursues righteousness.

There's a big difference between the wicked and the righteous. Second reason, his house is cursed. Verse 33, the curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

There's a great reason right there. You don't wanna be hanging out with wicked men. The curse of the Lord is on their house. The wicked may not have to wait for judgment day. The curse of God is on his house now.

The wicked brings consequences to his entire family. And I just wanna clarify something. Children are never held responsible for the sin of their parents. That's a biblical principle. But they may, and in fact often do, suffer the consequences for having wicked parents.

And we can see that, all right? We can see that in general life. Those who are wicked, for whatever reason it is, their whole family suffers. Deuteronomy 28, 15. This is that great chapter in Deuteronomy 28.

In fact, we read it in Sunday morning not that long ago.

All right?

The first 15 verses of Deuteronomy 28 are how blessed the children of Israel will be when they enter the land of Canaan, if they obey.

All right?

Then at the end of verse 14, talking about all of these blessings, and they're manifold blessings. He says this, but it shall come about if you do not obey the Lord your God to observe all his commandments and his statutes which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.

Notice again, blessings for obedience, cursings for disobedience. All these curses will come upon you and overtake you. So this is part of the law of God. And what we're seeing in Proverbs is the practical application of that.

Deuteronomy 28, 37. This is, I just pulled this one verse out. From Deuteronomy 28, 15 to the end of the chapter is all the curses. Through verse 14, you had all the blessings. And then the rest of the chapter is all the curses.

I just pulled out one verse. You shall become a horror, a proverb, and a taunt among all the people where the Lord drives you. Notice, they'll become a proverb. You know what that means? That means people are gonna point at them and say, this is what happens, you know, when you don't follow the wisdom of God when you go your own way.

You become a proverb. And then Proverbs picks up on that and says exactly the same thing. So why would you envy any of these people? I mean, we see all of these Hollywood types and entertainment types and sports figures living in these multimillion dollar mansions, driving expensive, driving cars that are worth more than my house, all right?

Why would you envy them? Because what they appear to have, the success that they have, is a mirage. It's fleeting at best, and it is going to fade. Think of how many rich and famous people are envied and yet are among the wicked described in scripture.

By the way, just so I make this clear, not all rich people are evil. I don't mean to insinuate that. There are some very, very godly, wealthy people. But the point is, a lot of the people that our culture looks to and admires because of their wealth, because of their fame, are among the wicked.

And it's very simple to point that out. And in fact, there was a saying a number of years ago about Father's Day in Hollywood. It's the most confusing day of the year. But once again, we're given the other side of the coin.

His house is cursed, we're still under that. But the blessings, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Notice the difference. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 21, 28 -1. Now it shall be if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

And that's only the beginning of the blessings. Then he specifies what they are. And this is the consistent message of scripture. Psalm 84, verses 10 to 12. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand outside.

I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in thee. Next reason not to emulate the wicked. He's an object of God's sworn. Verse 34, though he scoffs at the scoffers, yet he gives grace to the afflicted.

All right.

So the first question, what is a scoffer? I know I could give you some great definitions of it. He's a prideful man, one who sets himself up above everyone else. But Proverbs 21 describes him. Proud, haughty, scoffer are his names who acts with insolent pride.

And what does scripture say about the prideful? Pride comes before a fall. So how does God treat these people? He scoffs at them. God scoffs at those who are scoffing at others.

All right.

Psalm 2, he laughs at them. They are nothing in his sight and yet they set themselves up. I don't think we've seen the amount of scoffers as we have seen in the last couple of years in our society. People who stand and set themselves up and blatantly and openly defy God, like pointing their finger at God, if he's truly God, then why doesn't he do this and that, et cetera.

I mean, it's just incredible. We have a governor, all right, hopefully for not too much longer, but we have a governor who in the, when the crisis, quote, the COVID crisis was starting to wane, came out boldly and says, God had nothing to do with this.

People were thanking God and whatnot. Just God had nothing to do with this. Who, what was he saying?

I did this.

Boy, I'll tell you, I should have taken him as an object lesson for today. How does God treat these people? He scoffs at them. Galatians six, verse seven, do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, this will he also reap.

And again, we have to look no further than our present governor. He's been treating people horribly. He's been a bully. What's happening to him now? They've all turned on him, all right. And he is now the object of scorn.

And I can only imagine what Saturday Night Live is going to do to him, all right. And then a bunch of the other pundits. Psalm two, he who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then he will speak to them in his anger and terrify them in his fury.

You do not want to be on the wrong end of God's wrath. I mean, there's no way. And what happens in this life is only a precursor to what these people will suffer in eternity. Psalm 1015, whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy.

No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure. You know, you don't even have to be outwardly haughty and prideful and scorning or scoffing at people. That's the attitude of your heart.

God knows the heart. Hebrews 10 31, it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. A lot of people like to try to make a separation, say, well, God manifested himself in the Old Testament in one way, but in the New Testament, all he is is love.

This is New Testament. And the author of Hebrews says, it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. You do not wanna be on that side of the coin. He's an object of God's scorn, though he scoffs at the scoffers yet he gives grace to the afflicted.

Look at the other side. Yet he gives grace to the afflicted. This verse is quoted twice in the New Testament. And each time the word afflicted is translated as humble. See, this is one of the problems that we have with some of our translations is we have to make sure that we understand what the word meant in its original language and its original context.

James 4 6, but he gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. That's that same word that's translated afflicted in verse 34. First Peter 5 5, another one.

You younger men likewise be subject to your elders. We got any young people here today?

Hear that?

And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. This is one of the biggest lessons of scripture, isn't it? Because nobody will come to Christ until they are humbled.

Only those who come with a humble and a contrite heart. The humble man is the object of God's grace and the scoffer or the prideful man is the object of God's scorn. So why would you envy the man who is the object of God's scorn?

It just makes no sense. And yet we see people doing it all the time. Why not rather look to the humble man as a role model? And here are three characteristics that are present in a humble man that would qualify him to be a role model.

And now this is not exhaustive. I just picked out three, what I think are the main points that you want to look at if you want to use somebody as a role model. First, he does not draw attention to himself.

Proverbs 25, 27. It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glory to search out one's own glory. I've actually heard a Christian in prayer meeting, in a prayer meeting, praying in such a way that he was trying to be humbled, but was giving glory to himself in his prayer.

Talk about how smart he was as a gift from God. And I mean, it's the self is insidious, you know, and I used to wear a T-shirt. It's hard to be humble when you're Danish.

All right.

And go ahead. All of you have different ethnic backgrounds. You probably all would do the same thing with your own ethnic background. But I mean, that was meant to be a joke, but it is hard to be humble.

If you've accomplished something, if you've done something that's worthwhile or whatever, it's hard. Let another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips. Second, he's teachable and correctable.

It is unbelievable how many people you just can't teach them.

All right.

And in fact, Norwegians are noted for this. My father had a saying, he says, you can always tell a Norwegian, you just can't tell him much. Proverbs nine, verse seven to nine. He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself.

And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. You ever try to correct somebody and they just lash back at you? Do not reprove a scoffer lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase in his learning. That's one of the keys of knowing if a man is humble or not. My father, as many of you know, my father was a master chef.

He was, in fact, he's gone now. He's home with the Lord now. But he's a member of the National American Academy of Chefs Hall of Fame. And my brother's got all of his medals to prove it and everything else.

And yet, one of the big chefs, I don't know if you, everybody know who Paul Prudhomme is? All right, the Cajun chef. He was a good friend of my father's. And he made a comment about my father once. He says, one of the things I like about Doc, that's what they call my dad.

He says, he'll always listen to think, see if you maybe have a better way of doing it than he did. It shows you, you know, that's what we're looking for. Third, he puts others first. Romans 12, three, for through the grace given to me, I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted each measure of faith.

In other words, you need to get a realistic view of yourself. We all have a tendency to think more highly of ourselves. Philippians 2, three, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

Those are the three main characteristics, putting others first and the other two that we've mentioned. Fifth, he's a fool. This is the kind of the summation of the whole thing. Verse 35, the wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.

So why should you not envy the wicked? They're fools. And in their end, there will be dishonor. In other words, they will be seen for what they are and they get what they deserve. One of the things about being a Christian, and I tell this, if I wanna sum it up quickly for somebody, the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian.

A non-Christian gets what he deserves in the end. A Christian doesn't. We get grace. We get mercy. We wind up with heaven. We don't deserve that. We didn't earn it. Christ earned it in our place and has given it to us as a gift.

Christ as the Ultimate Role Model

Conclusion, who are your role models? That's the first question you need to ask in light of the teaching of Proverbs. Secondly, are you a good role model for your children, for those around you, for your workmates, et cetera?

Are you a good role model? Who should your role models be? The godly men and women of the past and the present. It's one of the reasons why I'm always pushing people to read biographies of the great men of the faith in the past.

If you notice, of course, in Scripture, start with some of those in Scripture. And one of the things I love about Scripture is it paints their heroes warts and all. You get to see, you can learn not only from their good points, but from where they made tragic mistakes.

But ultimately, of course, our role model is Jesus Christ. Peter tells us, for you have been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps.

Any questions?

Yes, Joe.

Yes, that's in the law. That's the consequences of the sin, not the sin itself.

Yes.

Yes, there's always the point that, well, look at it this way. You're the head of a household. You lose your job for ungodly reasons. Are you the only one who's gonna suffer? But the Scripture also makes it very clear.

I don't have the verse right, the address right in my head, where the sins of the fathers will not be counted to the children, nor the children's sins accounted to the father. And that's a principle of law.