Impartiality and Integrity

Wow, it is a little chillier than I was praying for, but I don't control the weather.

So here we are.

Thank you guys for braving it.

If you're at home, thank you for listening and joining us.

Let's start out in a word of prayer.

Lord, we thank you for the church that you build.

We thank you for your love, and we thank you for sending your son for our salvation, and

we thank you for your word.

Lord, help us this morning as we read a passage from your word, as we seek to gain wisdom

and apply it to our life so that we can help others, so that we are stronger in our walk

with you, and so that you are glorified.

We ask these things in your name.

Amen.

Proverbs 24, verses 23 to 34 is our passage.

Proverbs 24:23–34

We're going to read it in just a minute, but before we do, I just want to let you know

that we're going to be talking about two different topics in this one small section.

One deals with impartiality, which is wisdom in our words, and the second topic has to do

with laziness, and that deals with wisdom in our work.

So we want to look at those two things this morning.

And at first, it might seem a little disconnected.

Even as we read this passage, we're going to see it jump back and forth between these two

topics.

So it may feel disconnected.

But I hope by the end that we'll see how these two come together and how purposefully the

writer of this wise saying goes back and forth for a purpose.

It isn't a mistake because he mentions both topics and jumps back and forth twice within

just 12 verses.

And so there seems to be intentionality there.

And so we want to hone in on that.

And I think the reason for that is because he wants to draw out the importance of wisdom

with our words and wisdom in our work.

He's going to address impartiality that is favoring one person when we should be fair and

honest.

And he's also going to be addressing diligence in our hard work.

So let's read our passage together.

Also realize that it's a little not warm out there.

So if you guys need to stand up and walk around, if you need to move a little bit to warm up,

I totally understand.

Proverbs 24, starting in verse 23.

These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality and judging is not good.

Whoever says to the wicked, you are in the right, will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by

nations.

But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight and a good blessing will come upon them.

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

Prepare your work outside.

Get everything ready for yourself in the field.

And after that, build your house.

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause.

And do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, I will do to him as he has done to me.

I will pay the man back for what he has done.

I pass by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

And behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, and ground was covered with nettles, and its

stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it.

I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will

come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Partiality is favoritism or biasness towards something.

We can be partial to a lot of things.

Much of the time, those things aren't bad.

I can be partial towards a sports team, a color, a type of food.

And everyone has those biases, those favorites, and that's normal.

But the partiality that we see in these verses are talking about something entirely different.

Verse 23 says, partiality in judging is not good.

These verses are talking about judgments that are made in the court system.

A true and an honest judicial system has no place for partiality or favoritism.

An impartial system will take the actions of a wrongdoer and place them on the scales of

justice and produce a decision that is right and fair.

Maybe not a decision liked by both sides, but a fair decision based on the wrong that was

committed.

True justice cannot take place if decisions are influenced by things other than the truth.

Fairness for all.

Impartiality in judging allows for the dismissing of evil, the dismissing of wrongdoing,

the winking of things that we should not be doing, and allowing those to continue.

We see this in verse 24, when those who are judging say to the wicked, saying to the ones

doing wrong, you're in the right.

Those people will be cursed by people abhorred by nations.

When evil actions are committed, people want justice.

We can understand that.

We relate to that.

The problem is that we live in a sinful world where every judicial system, every government,

every political party is made up of people who are sinful.

That's the flaw in humanity.

That's the brokenness.

That's our sin.

And it stands between us and God, and it stands between us and one another.

In every level of society, sin is our biggest problem.

It stands between us and God, and it leaves us with a broken system.

Learning about equality and fairness, those things are good, but that's not the solution.

Putting reforms and protections in place are good, but that's not ultimately what's going

to fix our sin problem.

We see it played out everywhere, talking about human trafficking and enslavement, genocide,

sexual crimes, racism, abortion, abuse, envy, jealousy, murder, hatred, pride.

The list goes on.

These are all sins, and they are all in rebellion to God and his law, and we're all guilty of those

sins.

See, the problem is sin.

We are sinful people, so the solution can't come from us.

The solution can only be found in Jesus Christ.

We are sinners by nature, and so we need a new nature in order to change, and that can

only be done through repenting of our sins and putting our trust in Jesus.

If we do that, then we get a new nature.

We get a new heart.

We get new power that is spirit from God that allows us to overcome that sin.

So as children of God, we can fight against those sins, and we help other Christians fight

against those sins.

And lastly, we proclaim that power to others to help break them free from that power of sin.

So that's why the primary mission of the church is to spread the gospel.

You're probably thinking about right now, Matt, I think you're a little off topic because

it's not what we were reading.

But I bring it up this morning because I didn't think it was going to be a sermon that was really

going to be emotional.

As I read verse 23, partiality and judging is not good.

What came to my mind was the problem in our country with racism.

It probably came to mind because there's a lot going on right now in the area of racism.

It's hard to miss.

It's hard to see the problems.

It's hard not to want to do something about it.

It's something our nation is struggling with.

The hatred, the violence, the partiality that happens in our sinful system.

That affects our country.

Partiality when dealing with people and making judgments is not good.

When those who do wrong are not called out on their wickedness and they are allowed to

continue with their biasness and their hatred, it causes harm.

And as verse 24 points out, it's abhorred by nations.

We see this.

We feel this.

So as I was reminded of this, and it came out so strongly in this verse, it just seemed

like we should take a moment since we're dealing with it as a country to just briefly talk about

it.

What are we to do with that?

What actions are we to do?

Now, those are going to look different based on the individual.

What kind of connections you have?

What kind of influence you have?

Where you live?

How old you are?

But the main things are this.

We are to live like Christians.

We are to share the gospel.

And we are to pray like Christians.

I pull prayer out, even though it's part of how we live as Christians, because I wanted to

draw attention to prayer this morning.

See, I think it's an area that as Christians, we often overlook the power that we have that

we can get from prayer.

It's not the act of just saying request to yourself or out loud to someone else.

But get this, it's an opportunity for us to sit down at the table before our king and lay

a request in front of him to ask him for his help.

Knowing that we lack the power and the resources to fulfill that request, we bring it to our king,

our savior, our creator.

We come asking him to act in ways we can't, to go to places and reach people that we can't reach,

to change hearts we can't change, to supply needs we have no resources for.

Prayer is the strongest weapon that we have available to us as Christians.

Don't underestimate it.

Don't take it for granted.

I say this because when we're talking about racism, then I want you to realize the importance

we have as Christians to pray about that sin problem in our country.

When we come together as the Church of God on Sundays and we do prayers of the people,

this is serious power time.

This is Elijah calling down power from God to defeat the prophets of Baal.

This is praying to God to fix our broken neighborhood and our lost city and our hurting nation.

We pray for salvation.

We pray for the sin of racism and hatred to be fixed.

When we lift up individuals, politicians, and our prayers of the people, we do pray that they lead well.

We do pray that they would be able to do their job as best as they can to their ability.

But we pray that they would make decisions that are wise and impartial, not show partiality.

We pray that they would serve the people in a way that would help and not hurt.

And most importantly, we pray for their salvation.

We pray for the nations.

That while they're being torn apart by all kinds of wickedness, we pray for our God to move in and change hearts.

To fix the brokenness.

To change the things we can't change.

That's why we pray.

So verse 23 and 24 tells us that partiality is not good and people hate it.

Why?

Because it's an injustice.

It's not truth.

Verse 25 says,

There is blessing and favor that comes to those who rule honestly and fairly.

Those who aren't swayed by the wicked who try to influence them with power and money.

They find true blessing.

Verse 26 says,

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

Now this phrase in Hebrew means either a kiss given out of respect or one out of affection.

Not affection like between a husband and wife.

But respect and affection for those who give an honest answer.

It's one of appreciation.

As we continue with this theme of honesty and not being partial.

Let's jump down to verses 28 and 29.

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause.

And do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say I will do to him as he has done to me.

I will pay.

Sorry.

I will pay the man back for what he has done.

We are to be committed to honesty in our speech.

And that includes not saying things for the sake of seeking vengeance.

The example here in these verses is that a neighbor has done something to you in the past.

And you feel you need to avenge that.

You were wrong.

And you want that person to pay, get paid back.

But in order to do that, you need to lie to make it happen.

You need to speak bad about your neighbor.

Or you need to be deceptive when you're with your words about what he's done.

So that they get what's coming to them.

At least in your mind.

But here we are told that that is not how we are to act.

Not to pay them back for what they did.

In addition, we are called to seek and not to find vengeance.

Romans 12, 18 and 19 says this.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.

For it is written, vengeance is mine.

I will repay, says the Lord.

So don't seek vengeance.

And don't drift from your honesty in your words by going after it.

As we look at these verses dealing with partiality and honesty,

even though they are focused towards the courts and the judicial system,

they're applicable to us as well.

They call us to build up with our words and not to tear down,

which is exactly what partiality and dishonesty does.

Think about what that might look like in your life.

If you're a teacher, a parent, a student, an owner or an employee,

what would honesty and impartiality look like for you?

That's the first subject in our passage.

The second subject in our passage this morning deals with wisdom in our work.

So we had wisdom in our words and now we have wisdom in our work.

Verse 27.

Prepare your work outside.

Get everything ready for yourself in the field.

And after that, build your house.

Essentially, do the first things first.

Take care of the necessities before the luxuries.

Make provision for yourself and those you are responsible for

before seeking personal comfort.

Secure your income before you build your house.

Makes sense.

See, in an agricultural society,

the first requirement was to establish your field,

if you were a farmer in that way,

or your flock.

You needed crops or you needed herds

in order to eat and to provide for yourself.

So it was common in these days to live at home with your family

or maybe in a tent in the field as you establish your livelihood.

Once that is done,

then you could worry about building your house.

If we look back at verse 3 of this chapter,

chapter 24,

it says,

By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established.

It's knowing the order of what should be done first

so that you were able to establish yourself in the future.

Don't have the mindset that you deserve luxury

or get stuck with the thinking that comforts are owed to you

because they are not.

If you obtain these things before you have worked for them,

you'll find that they become weights that pull you down.

See, Americans struggle with this a lot

in the area of debt

because they're not satisfied with what they have,

and it's far too easy for us to get those things

that we can't yet afford.

Now, this isn't a sermon on money,

so I don't want you to get too worried about that,

but it is on wisdom

and on establishing your home wisely,

and that involves how we spend our money.

So the wisdom here is to plan before you build

so that you can establish yourself

for the rest of your building of your home.

So work using the abilities God has given you

and then use wisely the resources that come from that.

Next, we're going to look at verses 30 to 34.

This is our last section for today.

They're going to take us a little deeper

into the issue of working,

and these issues we're going to find

have warnings about laziness.

But before we look at that,

I want to draw your attention briefly

to another aspect of these verses

that sometimes can get missed,

and that is in the area of wisdom.

It's not just saying or acting in a wise manner,

but it also includes the observance of things,

seeing situations that are not good,

recognizing the causes of those things,

and then using the wisdom of God's word to avoid them.

In these last couple of verses,

we'll notice that they are broken up into three parts.

First, we're going to see the effect of the problem.

That is going to be laziness.

Then we'll see the cause of the problem.

And in the middle of the two,

we're going to see how a wise person observes that

and tries to avoid it.

So, verse 30 gives us the setting for this.

It says,

I passed by the field of the sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

So, we have an unwise, lazy person

who owns a vineyard.

Back then, the vineyard would have been

the source of income for that individual,

his livelihood.

He owns a vineyard,

so the implication is that

he's responsible to work it or to manage it.

And from that, he earns his living.

In this setting here,

we have a lazy person with a job.

The problem here, though,

is not the person.

And contrary to what some people like,

work is not the problem.

Work is what God has mandated humans to do.

We're not called to play

or to do what we feel like,

but rather, we are called to work.

God gives each one of us a responsibility,

and he calls us to that.

We're going to talk about that a little bit more

in a minute.

So, the problem is not the person.

The problem is not the job.

Rather, it's the laziness.

If laziness is the problem,

then let's look at verse,

excuse me,

verse 31,

as we look at the effect of that problem.

Describing the current state of the vineyard,

verse 31 says this,

And behold,

it was all overgrown with thorns.

The ground was covered with metals,

and its stone wall was broken down.

This property had value at one point.

It was once a source of income,

but it has been neglected and not cared for.

Work is required to keep something nice,

to keep it functioning,

to maintain it.

So, all the blessings that we've been given

whatever they are,

the jobs we have,

the relationships,

the possessions,

even our own bodies,

they require work to maintain.

They require effort to keep working right.

In these verses,

neglect of the vineyard has brought thorns,

and weeds,

and a wall which no longer serves its purpose.

Notice also in these verses

that there's no mention of grapes,

or grape vines,

which is what is supposed to be growing here.

If they're already left,

we can imagine they're struggling to survive

because they're being choked out by the thorns.

And if any do make it,

what grapes are left will be eaten

from the animals,

not being kept out by the wall

that's fallen down.

Now,

as we think about this work,

and as we think about the thorns

that are growing up,

it's important here to see the distinction

between work that we're given

and the curse that was placed on us

from our sin back in the Garden of Eden.

Why is that important?

It's important because work sometimes

can feel like the curse,

but it's not.

Work is what God wants us to be doing.

In the Garden of Eden,

before sin,

God gave Adam a job.

He gave Eve a job.

Genesis 2.15,

it says,

the Lord God took the man

and put him in the Garden of Eden

to work it and keep it.

This is before they sinned.

Sometime after that,

Eve is created,

serpent comes along,

they're tempted,

they sin,

they disobey what God told them to do.

God curses the serpent,

God curses the woman,

and he curses the man,

and they're kicked out of Eden.

Genesis 3.23 says,

therefore the Lord God

sent them out of the Garden of Eden

to work the ground

from which he was taken.

So before sin in the Garden

and Paradise,

they're giving work.

After they're kicked out,

after sin,

they're still giving work.

So it's a responsibility

given to us by God,

not a curse.

But that doesn't say that

the curse did not make it harder.

It did.

From a spiritual standpoint,

because we are sinners,

it's harder.

It makes us lazy.

Right?

We want to do other things

for ourself

and not what the job calls us to.

And also from a physical standpoint,

Genesis 3.18 says,

curse is the ground because of you.

In pain,

you shall eat of it

all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles,

it shall bring forth for you,

and you shall eat the plants

of the field.

So it's made work harder for man.

So these thorns

and these thistles

that we see growing up

in this vineyard

is because of the curse.

And the man,

the sluggard in this case,

has allowed them to grow.

Now as we think about thorns

and thistles and weeds,

it's interesting that

we don't have to go to a store

and buy seeds for those.

We buy seeds for things

that we want to grow,

things that are pretty,

things that bring food.

We,

a couple years back

on the side of our house,

we had a drainage problem.

So we had a few people

from the church

come out and help us

and we dug a big hole

and we laid some pipe

to help with the drainage

and we covered it back up

and it was a job

that fixed the problem.

But what we were left with

was a side yard

that was just horrible.

It was just dirt.

There wasn't anything left.

And I meant to put grass on it

at some point.

It just came a little lower

on the priority list.

But interestingly enough,

what happens is

you don't have to plant anything

for the crap to grow.

The thorns,

the ugly stuff,

the weeds,

that grows without anybody

doing a thing.

And that is what we see

taking place here

in this story

where laziness takes in,

then weeds come in.

Where once was something

flourishing and lively,

we have death.

If we leave it to itself,

the nice things don't happen.

We have to work for those things.

The vineyard did not get cared for

and so the fruit died.

The money stopped coming in.

The land that once sustained life

and generated income

now was worth nothing.

That's the end result.

That's the effect

of laziness.

Verse 32

teaches how we can grow

in wisdom

and it gives us a method

for doing it.

See, I talked about

there was the effect

and we'll get to

the cause in a minute.

But in the middle,

in verse 32,

it teaches us something

that is helpful for us.

Here it helps us

avoid laziness.

But not just that

in other areas as well.

It says this in verse 32.

Then I saw

and considered it.

I looked and received instruction.

We are called to observe,

to think about it.

And lastly,

to receive,

that is be open

to instruction.

If we want to avoid

the pitfalls of laziness,

we need to look

at the pitfalls

of laziness.

Notice,

he came into the field

and he saw it.

He observed it.

It's like he looked

closer to it

and he realized

what was its cause.

Lastly,

we come to

the cause of the problem.

We saw the effect.

We see

a piece of wisdom

to help us observe it.

And lastly,

we come to the cause

of the problem.

Verse 33 and 34.

A little sleep,

a little slumber,

a little folding

of the hands to rest

and poverty

will come upon you

like a robber

and want

like an armed man.

laziness can easily

put us to sleep

with the soothing

sounds of excuses.

I work on that next week

when I feel like doing it.

The chair and my phone,

they just feel

so comfortable right now.

The dishes,

they're not going anywhere.

I'll do them tomorrow.

Let me watch a little TV.

Maybe I'll finish

my homework this weekend

when I'll probably

have more time.

Just a little more sleep.

Just a few more minutes

of a game.

Just a few more,

one more news article

to read.

How about at work?

There's a task

to do.

There's a call

to be made.

There's a project

to finish.

But wait,

let me,

I just need to check

social media

one more time.

Or there's just

a little bit

of the election news

I want to check up on.

Or maybe

the COVID status

changed from yesterday

and I need to check it.

Now,

I'm not getting down

on those things too hard.

Some of those are

good and helpful,

but they have their place.

And we need to keep them there.

If we don't protect

the time,

the limited time,

and the resources

we have

that we've been given,

then laziness

will take them

from us.

verse 34

has some strong language.

It was repeated

back in chapter 6

of Proverbs

and we see it again.

And poverty

will come upon you

like a robber.

No one plans

to run out of time.

No one sets out

wanting to miss

an opportunity

or not take care

of something

so that it loses value.

The slugger

in this passage

had no plans

of letting his vineyard

become destroyed.

But at the same time,

he didn't have a plan

to protect it.

Or if he did,

he didn't follow

that plan.

So poverty

came upon him

slowly,

and yet he never

saw it coming.

The last part

of that verse

says,

and want

like an armed man.

I've never been robbed

by an armed man.

Hope I never am.

But I have been robbed.

I know what that

feels like.

When I was a teenager,

someone stole my moped.

A few years back,

when we were

at amusement park,

someone stole

Cheryl's purse

from our van.

And I'm sure

a lot of you

have similar stories

about how you've

been robbed.

One thing that

you can be sure of

is that an armed man

goes after

what he wants

forcibly.

He plans.

He doesn't act

slowly,

and he doesn't

announce himself.

That would be

stupid.

Right?

We could see him

coming.

We could guard.

It's unexpected

when it happens,

but it is

avoidable.

Not speaking of

being robbed,

I'm speaking of

laziness.

So guard yourself

against laziness,

because if you don't,

it will rule over you.

It will take over

your resources

and your time.

Now these verses

talk about

physical laziness

and physical poverty,

but as we know,

wisdom and

Proverbs has

connections that

go way deeper.

They're connected

to our spiritual

lives.

So if there's

dangers with

laziness

that are true

on a physical

level,

how much more

are they true

on a spiritual

level?

So guard

your spiritual

lives against

laziness.

As we look

to Jesus

and we see

how he came

to earth

for the purpose

of bringing

salvation,

to fix the

sin problem

that separated

us from God,

he knew the

work that he

had to do.

He was honest.

He was diligent.

He was sinless.

And even

though he was

judged

unfairly,

in every way

he did not

avenge.

He continued

on,

and for the joy

that was set

before him,

he endured

the cross

and suffered

the shame

to make

our freedom

from sin

and rightness

with God

possible.

That's what

Jesus did

for us.

So we need

to remember

that as we

are called

to be

wise with

our words

and wise

with our

work.

So as we

looked at

our words,

are you wise?

Do you help

build up

and not hurt

others?

How about

with diligence

or with your

work?

Are you wise

with your work?

Do you guard

and take care

of your

spiritual life?

Do you guard

your work

ethic,

the things

that you do?

If you do

not,

if you struggle

with where

you spend

your time,

then I suggest

that you take

guidance from

verse 32.

Then I saw

and considered

it.

I looked

and received

instruction.

So look

and consider

and receive

instruction.

Instruction

from the

word of God.

Pray and

use that

instruction

to

lead

you

in the

right

path.

Let's take

a minute

just to

think about

that

before we

pray together.