Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 19. Proverbs 19. I'd like to read one verse. Verse 22. Proverbs 19, 22. The
desire of a man is his kindness. And a poor man is better than
a liar. Well, this is what God's Word
says. The desire, the wish, the longings
of a man's heart, his appetite, the desire of a man is his kindness,
is his goodness, is his faithfulness, his mercy, his loving kindness. And a poor man is better. A poor man is more valuable of
good understanding. is right, is pleasant. That's
what better means. A poor man is better than a liar. Well, I began to look at that
verse of Scripture, and I will be honest with you. As often the case is, when I
look in the Proverbs, I will at first sight I will look at
a verse of Scripture and I just don't know. I just don't know. But this is what I know. This
is the consolation that I have. I know that these Scriptures
are concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that. So, I know
the direction that I must go. I must see Him. But I started thinking the desire
of a man. I thought, what man? Well, the
first thing I know is that the man, Christ Jesus, I know that
I can find Him in that Scripture, the desire of the man, the man. The Lord, the God-man. Who is
He? Well, He's God. That's what I
know. And He's man. The Scripture declares that the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. And John 1.14 says,
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, And we beheld
His glory, the glorious, the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. So I know I can see Him in that. The desire of that man, that
precious man, glorious man, is His kindness. Well, He came. Why did He come? Why did the
Lord Jesus Christ come into this world? I know He did. Why? Well, listen to this, Matthew
1, 20, 21, "...Joseph, thou son of David," that's what the angel
of the Lord said to Joseph in a dream, "...fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, For that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. She shall bring forth a Son,
and I shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people
from their sins." So I know, I can look at that passage of
Scripture right there, and I can say the desire of the man Christ
Jesus is His kindness, His mercy, His compassion. to his people
in the days of his flesh. I know he came. I know he did. What was his desire? The desire of a man? Well, he
said, my meat, my desire, my satisfaction of my mind, my being,
my meat, is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish
His work." I know this, the desire of that
man is his kindness to his people according to his Father's will,
according to that everlasting covenant of grace, according
to God's purpose to show mercy, and compassion to whomsoever
he will. I know that. But there's something else that
I notice here. I know I can see that in it. But it says, here's
the wording of Scripture, the desire of a man is his kindness. And a poor man is better than
a liar. Well, I know this. According to that scripture,
the longing of one's heart of a man is his kindness. What that scripture
is saying is this. Every man. I can see the glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I know that that's so, Brian.
I know that's so. But that's not what this scripture
is dealing with. It's just talking about any man. Every man. If it were to say
the desire of the man, the particular man, I know where I'd go with
it. But I've got to go with this
where it is. This is saying the desire of a man, every man. How many different kinds of men
are there? There's only two. There's only
two. It doesn't matter what color
they are. It doesn't matter where they are. There's only two. There's
only two different kinds of men. There's an old man and a new
man. That's the only kind there are. You say, well yeah, but
there's Chinese, there's still only two. There's no difference,
Chinese or Russian or me or you. There's an old man and there's
a new man. And what this scripture is saying
is the desire of both of them is their kindness. The desire of a man, the wish,
the longing, the lust, the desire of every man is his faithfulness. You think,
what in the world are you talking about? Let me just come right
down to the brass tacks here. Why does a man do what he does? Why does he do? What is the desire
of the old man? Alright, let me just break it
down. I'll look at both of them. The
desire of the old man is his kindness. Why does he show kindness
outwardly? Kindness, I'm talking about affection,
sweetness, benevolence, the desire, the lust, what he wants out of
what he's doing. What is his desire? When he does
something, what does he really want? That's what I'm saying.
The desire, the hunger, the lust. Now that old man is exhibited
when he does something. Well, what does the Scripture
say? Because I can't look in his heart. I can't look in a
man's heart. You don't know why I'm standing
here right now. Why am I standing here? Is it
just a job? Is it just a job to me just to
stand here? Or has the Lord truly given me
a heart to preach the gospel, to tell men and women, without
Christ, you're lost. You're going to go to hell. You're
going to be in hell. Do I truly want to do what I
do for God's glory or my glory? The desire of a man is his kindness. What does the scripture say about
the old man? Here's what it says. Luke 20,
verse 46. Beware of the scribes which desire,
which will, which intend, which have pleasure in." Words. Beware of the scribes which desire
to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets, in
the high seats, in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts. Concerning those scribes and
Pharisees, the Lord said concerning what they do, their works, He
says, All their works. Now I'm talking about an unbeliever.
I'm talking about an unbeliever. The scribes and the Pharisees,
these snakes, he said, you're white sepulchres, you look good
on the outside, man alive you clean up well. And you say all
these flowery words and you just, you love people you say, but
inside, You're full of dead men's bones. Now listen to what the Lord said.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men. They make
broad their phylacteries, enlarge the borders of their garments.
They love the uppermost rooms at feast, and the chief seats
in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called
of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, Oh, no, don't make a big deal
over me. Yeah. They love it. They love it. They do it. Scripture
says, Matthew 6, 5, the Lord says, they love to pray standing
in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they
may be seen of men. So what is the desire of a man
without Christ? What is his desire concerning
his kindness? He prays and he helps people. Oh, yeah, you need some money?
Here, let me give you a dollar. Here, I hope that helps you out.
Lord bless you. What is the desire of his so-called
kindness and his show and his piety and his so-called godliness
What is his desire? It says the desire of a man is
his kindness. The desire of a man concerning
what he does. What is he really thinking? That's
what the Lord said. His desire, the unbeliever, is
the praise of men. That's what they want. That's
what they want. People can say, no, I don't think so. The Lord
said it is. John 12.43, they love the praise
of men more than the praise of God. They pretend to show kindness
because they covet the things of this world. 2 Peter 2.3, and
through covetousness, through greedy desire for more, shall
they with feigned words, formed or molded words, they sound so
Good! Man, you guys are good! And the
way you pray, man, I wish I could pray like that. They pretend, and it's a show. It's a mockery. And they pretend
to be kind and considerate, and they pretend to love people because
they're thieves and robbers. They make merchandise of men's
souls. You say, well Marvin, you know, I don't know. Listen,
this is what God had to say. This is the way it is. Every
man at his best stage is altogether vanity. The Lord looked and saw
that every imagination and thought of his heart was only evil. Continually. Every day. Every
day. This is it. The desire of a man
without Christ is His kindness. It is exhibited when He shows
kindness. What's He really wanting? What's
His desire? Look at me. Look at me. But now
there's a new man. And that new man is one that
is born of God. He's born from above. The Scripture
speaks of a new man as one that sinneth not. I have said, you've
heard me say this so many times before, I know that there is
a new man in every believer. I believe the Lord saved me. I believe He's given me a new
heart. I believe He has. And if you'd ask me, say, Marvin,
can you pick out and differentiate You know, the scripture says
that new man which is born of God sinneth not. Can you tell
me what you did today that was perfect? I said, nope. I don't remember any of it. I
don't remember anything that I can think of that was not mixed
with sin. And the scripture says that that
man's there. I said, Lord, as you say it is,
it is. But I'm telling you, I can't
see it. I can't see it. Oh, wretched man that I am, I
can see that. I see that. Who shall deliver
me from the body of this death? I can see that. But I know this,
there's a new man there. And that new man does not sin,
Pat. He does not sin. He can't sin. That which is born of God cannot
sin. It cannot sin. It's born of God. And there's no sin there. It is the life of Christ. These
are mysterious things, Mitch. But there's a new man there.
And that new man exhibits his nature. Faith without works is
dead. There's a new man there. And
he has a new desire. He has a new desire. He has a
new desire and it's exhibited. His desire is exhibited to follow
Christ, to walk after the Lord. Here's my question. Why does
he show kindness? I know why the old man does it.
The desire of the old man is his kindness. Well, the desire
of a new man too is his kindness. I know that. Well, here's the
first thing I know according to Scripture. The first thing
I know concerning that new man that shows kindness, that does
anything, is for the glory of God. I know that's right. I know
that's right. Whether therefore you eat or
drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. I know this. I want to do what I do for God's
glory. And I just don't see it in me.
I just don't see it. But I want to. I want to. I desire to. When I pray, I want
to pray to the glory of God. I truly want to talk to the Lord
And I want to stay consistent. I really do. I don't want my
mind to wander. I don't want to get off on that
stuff I start thinking about. I just don't want to do that
anymore. And I do it. And I catch myself and I ask
the Lord's forgiveness. When I give, I want to give for
the glory of God. You know, sometimes I wonder,
Mike, if I've ever given anything totally for God's glory. Have
you really? I don't know. I don't know if
I have. I don't think I have, Chuck. I don't think so. But
I want to. I want to. Matthew 5, 16, Let
your light so shine before men that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is in heaven. I truly desire
that my kindness be for God's glory. And secondly, I desire
that it It be for the sake of God's people. I really want that. Be ye kind one to another. Be
kind. Now here's what I want to do.
I want this. My desire, the desire of a man
is his kindness. Be ye kind one to another. Tender
hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake
has forgiven you. I know that there's an old man
and he wants the praises of men and I see him. Man, I can spot
him in me right now, right now. That old man wants to be congratulated. He wants people to know what
he's doing. Pat him on the back. Man, that was good. But there's a new man and that
new man truly desires for the left hand to not know what his
right hand is doing. He's there. He's there. He's
there. When He prays, He truly wants
to enter into His closet and pray in secret. And pray to the
one that sees in secret, hears in secret. That new man that
has been made a poor man. A poor man. A poor man. There's that new man right there.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the poor, the poor
in spirit. Because that poor man is better,
and here's what better means, of good understanding. Not better
in himself, he knows that. He knows that. He's not like
that Pharisee. I am just like other men are.
This man is better. He's of good understanding. He's
better than a liar. He's better than one that Lies
on God, lies about himself. He's better. He's of good understanding. The desire of a man is his kindness. Or in other words, what does
he really want when he does something? He wants the praise of men? Or
does he truly want the praise of God? Does he want to truly
be honoring before the Lord? And a poor is better than a liar. Lord bless our hearts for Christ's
sake.