Micro-Bytes in a Giga Mega World (July 5th)
Proverbs 10:1 – 9
1.) My sermon series is entitled Micro Bytes in a Giga Mega World. What I want us to focus on are the small pieces of information (micro-bytes) that are essential for living in a world where massive amounts (giga-mega) of information are available in an instant.
Consider how you make maple syrup. In order to make maple syrup you have to collect and boil a lot of sap. Do any of you know how much sap you need to collect in order to make one gallon of maple syrup?
According to one web site you need 43 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. That is a lot of sap. Or if you collect one gallon of sap that would make about three ounces of syrup, enough to put on a pancake.
The process of producing that one gallon of maple syrup involves boiling the 43 gallons of sap continuously for hours and hours, for several days. Maple syrup is the concentrated sap that is sweet and great for pancakes, French toast or other items.
2.) In today’s age because of technology we are able to collect a lot of information. But is all that information helpful? Is 43 gallons of sap helpful? What kind of process can help us boil down all the unneeded information we receive to produce the good concentrated stuff? That is a great question.
If I told you we didn’t have to wait hours and hours for several days to get the information down to the good stuff? You might think, that sounds great!
I want to propose to you that there is a source of concentrated truth for living. There is information, inspiration and insights into living that has gone through the process of being boiled, purified and made good. In fact this is not just “good” stuff but this is “God” stuff.
3.) The book of Proverbs is a book of concentrated truth nuggets, like pure gold, for living. The words in Proverbs are the valuable micro bytes in a giga mega world. These words are valuable and precious even though they are over 2,500 years old. They are important and vital because they speak of the human creation, condition and covenant all in relationship to Almighty and Everlasting God.
The words of Proverbs have insight for each of us. The truth is relevant for each generation because the human creation, human condition and the human covenant from God have not changed. God created each of us, God gave us freedom to choose good or evil, and we are recipients of God’s covenant love.
4.) Today we are looking at Proverbs 10:1 – 9. The introduction to this chapter tells us that these words are from King Solomon. Solomon asked for wisdom from the Lord and God blessed him with that.
I looked at each verse individually. It seemed to me that these proverbs could be connected verse to verse but in this section are designed to stand alone.
So as we read them we expect to find some concentrated truth for living. These are the topics that the verses speak about.
5.) *Relationships of Children to Parents (1)
*Temporary and Eternal Treasures (2)
*Compassion and Justice (3)
*Work Ethic (4)
*Work Ethic and Family (5)
*Blessings and Burdens (6)
*Legacy of Life (7)
*Listening and Talking (8)
*Confidence or Confession. (9)
These are all important topics. Is there one that speaks to you about your life and faith? Let’s read them again and consider the recent news and your own life as you look at the application of this scripture.
6.) “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” (vs. 1) This truth reminds us of a parent’s love for their children and how children can affect a parent’s heart. When children are wise or foolish it touches the life of parents.
When a child does well in life, to the best of their ability, it makes a parent proud.
“Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.” (vs.2) When we live faithfully, seeking God, the Lord will keep us from spiritual death. When we deceive, steal, cheat to gain treasures what we receive will not last.
As I think of this proverb I think of Bernie Madoff and his scandal. He had treasures for a season out of deceit but now they are of no value to him in jail.
“The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” (vs. 3) The Lord knows our needs and as we seek Him He will honor us. He will not allow all the lusts of the wicked to be fulfilled.
As I read this proverb it made me think of the men, women and children who right now, literally are hungry. What about our brothers and sisters in Christ is Africa and in other desperate countries? So, this proverb leaves me searching for more insights.
“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (vs. 4) Each of us has an ability to do something for ourselves and others. If you are lazy, without direction or motivation you will be poor in many ways. Keep working, be smart and you will have wealth in many ways.
I thought about a man who was laid off from International Harvester years ago. He was married and had small children. He did not wait around. He found work wherever he could and because of his diligence in time found another job.
“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” (vs. 5) This truth seems so obvious about what you need to do. Ask any farmer about harvest. They all probably live on less sleep because when you need to bring in the crop at harvest you get them in. You must be ready to work at the critical times. You also need to know how to balance your life.
“Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” (vs. 6) When you seek to be righteous, doing the right thing, obedient to God’s will, you will be blessed. Your blessing will be from head to toe. Your whole being will have a sense of peace and joy. When you seek wicked living violence will be upon your mouth coming from your heart.
“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (vs. 7) When you think of a person who has been a blessing to you it is because they lived a righteous life. Some quality of grace was shared with you and you remember that right now. A person who is wicked has a bad smell, a bad taste, a bad case of decaying character. It is like something in them is rotting and getting worse. You want to be far from them. When a person has blessed you you want them to be close to you, to bless you more. Be a person who is pleasing to remember.
“The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.” (vs. 8) A wise person will listen to others counsel. If all that you do is talk you won’t succeed.
Can you think of a person who talks a lot? If they don’t have the spirit of listening they will eventually come to ruin. We all need counsel, help from others.
“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” (vs. 9) Confidence comes when your inner and outer life match up. When you walk a path you are not supposed to be on eventually you will be found out.
I thought of the Governor of South Carolina whose location was unknown for days. Some of his staff said he might be on the Appalachian Trail but he was actually in South America with a woman that was not his wife.
Seek to live confidently and walk with the Lord.
7.) Was there a proverb in particular that spoke to your heart? These nuggets of concentrated truth are mean to be meditated on. Ponder their truth and see how they apply and connect to your life. Study them and look at the words from different perspectives. Take them apart, put them back together. Agree with them, disagree with them. Consider each of them as a treasure.
One way you can continue to find treasure from this book is to read a Proverbs a day. All you need to remember is that date. You find that proverb and read it.
8.) You are about to leave this sanctuary and worship service. You might be bombarded with lots of information from your cell phones, internet, TV, radio, and other people. What will be the most relevant information that you receive? You will have to decide.
I pray that as you find your direction, your path, your light you glean the truth from Proverbs.
Next week we will look at some more proverbs. I invite you to read Proverbs 13:1 – 14.
