All right, let's take our Bibles
and turn with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 28, Proverbs
28. Proverbs chapter 28, I'd like
to look at one verse, verse 11. The rich man is wise in his own
conceit. or in his own eyes, but the poor
that hath understanding searcheth him out. Our passage today deals
with two kinds of men, rich and poor. Immediately we'll
think to ourselves, rich and poor physically, are
rich and poor spiritually? The answer is yes. The rich man, physically, that's
what scripture says, is wise in his own conceit. He's wise
in his own eyes. And we're given some understanding
why even those that are rich physically, monetarily, think
themselves to be something. And it's because of what they
don't possess. If they don't possess what the
second half of this passage says, but the poor that hath understanding
searcheth him out. The poor that has understanding
of himself, life, physically speaking. He that has understanding
searches him out, he examines, he investigates, he explores. Now sadly, and I always, again,
I like to just tell, let's just look at it physically because,
I mean, you know, naturally, because the book of Proverbs
is sets forth natural truth, natural wisdom. You know, that's
not where we're going, but it is so. Physically, a man that
is rich, wise in his own conceit, but lacks understanding. He lacks that perception, that
shrewdness, that skillfulness, that prudency. prudent. But he thinks he's wise in everything
he does. When I was living in Tennessee,
there was someone that I knew. And they they inherited a lot
of money, a lot of money. And I made it I just watched
just how quickly it was all gone. I mean, cars, stuff, businesses
were purchased that didn't know anything about. I'm
telling you, in no time, they were broke. They were broke.
They had so much, but riches, are deceitful. Make you think
without understanding it make you think that you've got the
ability. Now riches in the scriptures
are not set forth as being the problem. There's those mentioned
in the scriptures that were truly monetarily rich. There was Abraham,
David, Solomon, men who had riches but were given understanding.
They were given discernment, insight. They were discreet.
They were prudent. They'd been given understanding
from the Lord. Men that knew something about
the deception and danger of riches without understanding. 1 Timothy
6 says for the love of money, the love of it. What a blessing it is. if the
Lord blesses someone that has some money and they have some
understanding. They're taught the love of money
is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after,
they have earned from the faith that pierced themselves through
with many sorrows. Riches, physical riches without
understanding, without that perception, to consider or to perceive does
not make one wise. Rather, it exposes a man's foolishness. Solomon was moved by the Spirit
of God to say in Ecclesiastes 5.10, He that loveth silver shall
not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance
with increase. He said this also is vanity. Solomon penned Proverbs 26, 12,
seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There's more hope
of a fool than of him. Also, Paul wrote to Timothy,
directing him, he said this, he said, charge them that are
rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust
in uncertain riches. but in the living God, who giveth
us all things to enjoy. So, to trust in physical riches,
the rich man, physically speaking. Rich man, wise in his own conceit,
his own eyes. That's true, but the greatest
danger, and here's where there's some profit for us, spiritually
speaking. The greatest danger is when one
thinks themselves to be rich before God, but they see themselves
as being rich in their own conceit, in their own eyes when it comes
to the things of God. That word conceit right there
can also mean mental, spiritual faculties. He's wise, he thinks
himself, this is This is where the true danger lies. This is the natural state of
every man and woman born in Adam. We're all born, turn with me
to Jeremiah 4, Jeremiah 4.22. We're all born spiritually dead,
blind, wise in our own eyes, in our own conceit. But for the
grace of God, we're going to grow up with that foolish and
deceived attitude. Jeremiah 4 verse 22 says this,
For my people is foolish. They've not known me. They're
soddish children, foolish children. And they have none understanding.
They're wise to do evil, but to do good, They have no knowledge. And what is the evidence? Now
the scriptures, back in Proverbs 28 11, the scriptures declare
the rich man, and looking at it spiritually, that man that
thinks himself rich, like those at the church at Laodicea, thought
they were rich and increased their goods, and had need of
nothing. The Lord told him, he said, you're wretched. What is the evidence? One who
has no understanding. The poor that hath understanding.
What's the evidence of one that has no true understanding of
God and from God? Here's the evidence. It's when
a man thinks himself to be spiritually rich toward God and his spiritual
riches are owing in his mind, in his own eyes, totally to himself,
to his ability, to his will, to his work. It's a man, a woman
that thinks that they can add to that which only can be done
by the Lord and can progress in that. I've heard people speak
of progressive Sanctification. You know what they're saying?
That they can become more holy. By their own ability. I want
you to hold your place and turn to a scripture that we've read
Ephesians 1, 4. Ephesians 1, 4. Ephesians 1. Verse 4. I'll read three and four. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,
according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be, what's the next word? Holy. Holy. And without blame, before him
in love. Now let me ask you something.
Where does a man think he's going to become more holy than being
found in Christ? The rich man is wise in his own
conceit, thinking himself to be really the author of salvation. and the progressor are having
the ability. Now, grow in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Savior, yes. But to grow in holiness? No, no. That rich man is wise
in his own conceit, but the poor that hath understanding searches
him out. The Apostle Paul said in Romans
chapter 7 verse 11 for sin taking occasion by the
commandment deceived me and by it slew me. Paul was saying
that his sinful nature would look, perceive, use, think he
was using the law and that he was progressing. He said, the
sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me. Paul was using what
he thought was the ability of the law to progress. We read that in Philippians 3.
Talk about all his credentials and all this. By sin, We are deceived. I want you to turn to Titus 3.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes. Oh, but the poor that hath
understanding. Look at Titus 3. Listen to this
beautiful proclamation of the Apostle Paul under the inspiration
of God's Spirit to declare what God delivers us from. Titus chapter
3, verse 3 to 7. For we ourselves also were sometime
foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers' lust and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after
that, the kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness, which we've done, But according
to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through
Jesus Christ, our Lord, that being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The rich man, he was in his own
conceit. But the poor man that hath understanding,
searcheth him out. That man who's been made by the
grace of God spiritually poor knows something of himself. Poor,
but he's got an understanding. Truly, there's a wise man. That's one thing. And with wise,
he by understanding, understanding from above, beholds what is truly
evident. That man that is poor in spirit,
he has understanding from God, understanding about himself,
understanding what God's demands, somewhat what God demands according
to the law. And he sees, he sees that body
of death like Paul the Apostle in Romans 7. I see in me, that
is in my flesh. Now here's understanding. I see
it. There dwelleth no good thing. That's understanding. The will is present with me. There's an understanding. I have
a desire to want to walk after Christ and honor him. I want
to. I want to. But how to accomplish that which
I would, I find not. Oh, wretched man that I am. There's
an understanding. He sees that sin within and he
wars against it. That man is one that perceives
something of the deceitfulness of sin. thereby knows something
of his need of Christ. That man is rich. He's rich in what a possession to by faith
believe God. He's been given some understanding
from above, understanding that set forth in the gospel, gospel
of God's free and sovereign grace, understanding that's totally
of the Lord. That man that is poor, that hath
understanding, searcheth him out. Actually, when I looked
this up and went to that particular passage there, Blue Letter Bible,
I found it. When it says, searcheth him out,
he's talking about himself. It means self-examination. Look,
he sees something of himself. According to 1 Corinthians 15,
10, by the grace of God, I am what I am. Turn to last passage
and we'll stop for this one. Lamentations, right after the
book of Jeremiah. Lamentations three, verse 40. This man, poor, poor in spirit,
the one that searcheth him out. He knows he's not wise in his
own conceit. He knows he's not. poor, wretched sinner. He searches
him out. Look at Lamentations 3. What
a beautiful confession. Verse 40. Let us search and try
our ways and turn again to the Lord. That's a man, that's some
wisdom. Let me consider what I am. A man that thinks himself rich
before God, He's wise in his own conceit. He's conceited.
He thinks he's something. He's nothing. Oh, but a poor
man. A poor man with understanding. He's going to search. He's going
to search these scriptures. He's going to find out something.
The Spirit of God will bless it to him. Blesses him. Teaches
him something. Shows him his need. He's thankful. Thankful. Lord, don't leave me
to me. Have mercy on this sinner, like
that old publican. Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner. May the Lord bless it to our
hearts.