← The Bryce Crawford Podcast
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Bryce Crawford
We're going on tour this fall. We're bringing the live podcast show to four new cities. We're coming to Nashville, San Diego, Chicago, and Birmingham, Alabama. If you've ever wanted to see the live podcast in person, go to jesusinthestreet.org tour and get your tickets. It's going to be a powerful night of worship and the word that God is storing in my heart is going to be different and unique to each city we go to. So come out jesusinthestreet.org tour, get your tickets and we'll see you in Nashville City, San Diego, Chicago and Birmingham this fall. What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the Bryce Crawford Podcast. I'm Bryce and today we are on Proverbs 14 of 31 chapters in the Proverb series. Guys, you know the drill. Jesus in the street.org Proverbs to download the PDF and follow along. And like we said earlier, like this proverb series right now, up until we get to pretty much Proverbs 30, it's just collection of wisdom and nuggets of wisdom. So we're going to dive into the Scriptures again, read it all, talk about what is going on. Verse 1 in Proverbs 14 the wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. Verse 2 says that the one who is upright in their habits, course of life, and their heritage, they demonstrate that they fear the Lord. The disobedient man shows that he despises the Lord but those who walk in uprightness show that they fear the Lord. Verse 3 by the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back but the lips of the wise will perverse them, will preserve them. Sorry. By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back but the lips of the wise will preserve them. What does this mean? The fool deserves the rod of correction. A fool deserves to be corrected because of his own mouth. The rod of correction is made for what? The fool's Pride that Proverbs 3 is telling us. And the wise man, what does it say? The lips of the wise will preserve them. The wise man is rescued and preserved by their own words. Verse 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. Now this verse is interesting, okay, because what proverb, what Solomon's saying here is where there is no work being accomplished, there is no mess or disorder to deal with because oxen, they bring a little bit of a mess. But this isn't a bad mess, because what's happening? What. What does it say? But abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. What does that mean? It means that the mess that an oxen brings is actually worth it. That there is a lot of good increase that comes from the impressive strength and the impressive work of an ox. So Solomon's saying, look, hey, listen, when there's no work being accomplished, you don't have to deal with all the junk. But when there is work to be accomplished, the mess is worth it because there is an increase and a harvest to be reaped from hard work. Verse 5. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain. But knowledge is easy for a man to understand. When someone seeks wisdom and doesn't find it, it's evidence that they're likely a scoffer. Okay, so someone whose pursuit of wisdom and truth, that's superficial. A scoffer is one of those people. So a scoffer is someone who pursues wisdom and truth for a superficial standpoint. But what does Jesus say? But knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7, ask and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find it. Knock, and the door shall be open to you. So there is a promise being given to the sincere seeker. Okay. That they will reap understanding. For seeking Jesus, leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way. But the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. Verse 12. There's a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death. You guys have heard me quote this verse, the entire Proverbs series. What does it mean? We are born into a sinful nature. And because we are born into a sinful nature, the way that seems right to us will lead us to death. Our feelings, our thoughts and emotions outside of God will lead us astray. What is he saying? The way that seems right to you, your feelings. The way that seems right to Bryce and his feelings. It's not right. It leads to death. But when we walk in the spirit of God, he actually leads us down God's will and the right path for us. Verse 13. Even in laughter the heart may ache and the end of joy may be grief. 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. What is he saying? He's saying those that decline in their relationship in the Lord, the backslider that verse 14 is talking about, the one that declines in their relationship and obedience to God will suffer from it. But the wise ones who do good enjoy God's blessing. So everyone's going to reap the fruit that they sow, right? Verse 15. The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. When you're wise, you actually weigh the words and actions of everyone. You don't just believe everything that's said. Verse 16. One who is wise is cautious, like we just reiterated, and turns away from evil. But a fool is reckless and careless. 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. People gain inheritance, the fools gain something. The w. The wise gain something. But for those who willfully reject wisdom, verse 18 says folly is due to them. Verse 19. The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of righteous. What is this talking about? You know, oftentimes we live in this world where it feels like evil is going to win. It oftentimes feel like evil is winning, right? But verse 19 is offering us a perspective and offering us the truth and reminding us that ultimately in the end, evil will bow in submission to good. And who is good? Jesus Christ is good. Verse 20. The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Men and women are made in the image of God. So when you choose not to love your neighbor, you slap God in the face. When you despise your neighbor, you're sinning. And God is saying, don't despise anyone because they are made in the same value you, you are made in. Verse 22. Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. A truthful witness saves lives, but to one who breathes out lies is deceitful. It's crazy how a lot of these proverbs are easy to understand. Verse 26 and 27, in the fear of the Lord, one has strong confidence and his children will have refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life that one may turn away from the snares of death. When we fear God, we're secure in him, okay? And when we fear God, we gain a greater measure of God's protection and providence in our lives. So this type of fear, this fear of God doesn't lead to less of life. It actually leads us to the real life, the rich life, the fulfilling life, the American dream, the real dream, the good life which Jesus describes, which is loving the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength. And a multitude of people is the glory of a king. But without people, a prince is ruined. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding. But he who has hasty temper exalts folly. Great piece of advice. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. The wicked is overthrown through his evil doing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. Verse 33. Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. This idea that wisdom finds a suitable home in the heart is for those who have understanding. And it doesn't just come and go, it actually rests in the heart. So there's this idea that Proverbs 33 is saying, saying, hey, those who have understanding, wisdom rests in their heart. And this is like. Like a promise to believers. And I love this phrase. I heard this quote one time. It says, what we are is eventually evident in what we do. Our actions will testify that what we really believe in is true, right? So our actions and words will testify that what we really say, we believe, we believe. And if our actions are living out the wisdom of God, then it's going to testify that the wisdom of the Lord lives inside of our hearts. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Verse 35. To end it, a servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on the one who acts shamefully. If we could summarize a thesis statement for Proverbs 14, it would be, do not lean on your own understanding. Because Proverbs 14:12 says, There's a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. What ways are you relying on yourself. And how can you learn to lean and rely on the wisdom of God? Yes, I pray that Proverbs 14 was great. Love you guys. See you guys tomorrow for Proverbs 15. Guys, thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. If you guys like it, subscribe to us on YouTube, follow us on Spotify, Instagram, and Tick Tock. Bless you guys and see you guys next week for the next episode.