Let's take our Bibles this morning,
and I want you to turn with me to the book of Proverbs 15. Proverbs 15. I'd like to look at verses 16
and 17. Proverbs 15. Going through this blessed book,
I never can say it enough. This is how the Lord taught.
This is how He preached when He was on this earth. He would
preach in parables. And people would hear. A lot
of times His disciples heard. And the Scriptures said they
understood not. And He would explain it to them.
Now this morning, as we continue going through the book of Proverbs,
we have the explainer. with us the Spirit of God, and
the Spirit of God who takes God's Word and explains it, reveals
it to God's people. I pray the Lord might be pleased
to reveal to us today what the Lord Himself has to say. Proverbs
15, verses 16 and 17. Scripture says, better is little
with the fear of the Lord. than great treasure and trouble
therein. Better is a dinner of herbs,
where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Based upon the revelation of
God's Spirit in our passage today, Things are either better or they're
worse. One of the two. Every man, every
woman is in a state that's either better or worse. And the only thing that makes
the difference is the grace of God. Better, the scripture says. Better is little with the fear
of the Lord. than great treasure and trouble
therein. It's better to have no more than
something to eat today, something to wear today, have a place to
lay my head. It's better to be sick. It's better to be destitute of
great riches and to possess the knowledge and a heart that truly
knows and loves Almighty God in the person of the Lord Jesus
Christ than it is to possess the whole world and to be without
the fear, the respect of Almighty God. Matthew 16, 26 says, For
what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose
his own soul? I've said this before, I'll say
it again. Every time I hear of someone,
someone died, someone passed away, The first thing that goes through
my mind, I wonder if that person knew God in mercy and compassion. If not, I know what happened. I know exactly where they went. Truly, a person is better off. Let me ask you this. You know
we read, or we have read, you know the story about the rich
man and Lazarus. And here was Lazarus, and the
scripture says Lazarus, he lived out on the street, and he had
boils and sores. He'd take a piece of broken pottery,
a potsherd, just a piece of pottery is all it was. It just had some
little sharp edges, probably felt good to him, probably itched
and hurt. And he scraped himself. And the
Scripture said that the dogs came and licked his wounds. Can
you imagine living out on the street and just flies, just nasty,
just sitting there. I just imagine he hadn't been
able to bathe. He's in misery. And there was
a rich man, the Scripture said. He fared sumptuously every day. Lived in luxury. Had everything
that anybody could possibly want, I'm sure, in this world. But
he won that he didn't know God. shunned God. And both of them
died. I wonder who was better off when
they died. Well, you know. The day of their
death told the whole story. Lazarus died. And he didn't hurt
anymore. He didn't ache anymore. No dogs
licked his sores anymore. He didn't have to scrape his
balls anymore. He went right on into the bosom
of Abraham. And he was at rest and at peace.
He was right there in the presence of God. And that rich man had
had everything. That rich man that wouldn't lift
up his hand to help Lazarus if his life depended on it. That
man died. And the Scripture says he lifted
up his eyes, Pat, out of hell. And he called unto the Lord.
Out of hell. Not for mercy. They didn't have
a new heart. Men in hell, women in hell, they'll
never cry to the Lord for mercy. It takes a new heart to do that.
It takes a new will, a new mind. He cried and everything was still
about Him. Father Abraham, I'm in torment in these flames.
Would you have Lazarus Just dip his finger one time. That's all I'm asking. Just dip
his finger. Just put it on my tongue. I'm in misery. The Lord said no. No, just remember. Remember. When you were in this life right
here, you had everything you wanted. Everything that was important
to you then. Everything that was important
to you. You had it. Whatever you wanted to do, that's
what you did. No, there's a great gulf fixed
and no passing before. Lazarus is here and you're there.
That's where you're going to be forever. Father Abraham, would
you send Lazarus back? He said, I've got some brothers
that don't know you either. Would you send Lazarus and have
Lazarus go and preach to them? Because if one be raised from
the dead, they'll hear him. And the Lord said, No. No, they've
got the law and the prophets. If they don't hear my word, though
one be raised from the dead, they won't hear him. They will not hear him. Lazarus
was raised from the dead. Lord Jesus Christ was raised
from the dead. And you know what man wanted to do? He wanted to
kill Him again. Kill that, let's kill Him. Let's
kill Him. Truly. It's better off, man's
better off to go through this world and have nothing, little,
and possess the fear, the respect, the heart for Almighty God, then
to amass great riches." We get his statement every month.
Check it out. How are we doing? Oh, we're doing
good. We're doing great. We've got all we've got. There
ain't no way in the world we'll ever be in trouble. Great treasure. Without the fear of the Lord,
without the knowledge of Christ, the Scripture says it's trouble,
confusion, uproar. Man without a heart for God's
honor. Man without a heart for God's
Son, God's Christ. Man that's only concerned with
this world's fleeting care. The only thing that is on his
mind when he spends his time is how to get and keep all I
can of this world. Better is little with fear of
the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Verse
17, better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled
ox and hatred therewith. Dinner of herbs. Just a poor
man's meal. Just meager. Just cornbread and
milk. Some beans. Better is a dinner
of herbs where love is. Love for God. Love for God's
Son. Love for God's righteousness.
Love for God's gospel. Love for God's people. Oh, to
be able to come and just hear the gospel one more time. I think about based upon that
rich man that went to hell. I don't know. What would that
man have given to be able to hear the gospel? I don't know.
He didn't have a heart for God. Let me tell you something. We're
sitting this morning and we have no idea the mercy of God that
has been shown us to be able to hear the gospel of free grace,
sovereign, saving grace, and not sitting under a message of
lies that exalts man and man's will and just abases God, that
message that just puts God in a box and says, Or if you would
just help him out. To hear the message of truth. It's better just to have just
some herbs to eat. Something that God Almighty just
raised and gave you. Drop them in a pan of water and
eat them. That's all I've got. Than to
have a stalled ox. Security, I got some security. Man, you realize, that's an angus. Man, I got the finest ox out
there. But I don't love God. I have
no time for that. Have a freezer full of fillet
and a hatred for God? And to die in that state? Now, these precious truths, I
believe, are fully, beautifully expounded and explained in the
New Testament. I want you to turn to 1 Timothy
6. 1 Timothy 6. Let's read verses 6 to 11. 1 Timothy 6. 6 to 11. But godliness, that is a true knowledge of God's
grace in Christ. Godliness, that's what it is.
But godliness. It doesn't mean to try to impress
people and make them think how pious you are and try to put
on a show, be a hypocrite. No. Godliness is a true knowledge
of God's grace in Christ. But godliness with contentment.
Satisfied. I'm satisfied. His grace, His
sacrifice, His love, His presence is sufficient. to be where He
is, to be where He's honored, to be where He's present. That's
sufficient. Godliness with contentment is
great gain. But we brought nothing into this
world, and it's certain that we can carry nothing out. And
having food and raiment, let us be there with content, but
they that will be rich, That's my aim, that's my goal. Fall
into temptation and a snare into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition, for the love of
money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows. has set forth under the inspiration
of God's Spirit in that same chapter, 1 Timothy 6, in verses
3 to 5. He said, 1 Timothy 6.3, If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting
about questions and strifes and words whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evils, surmisings, perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain
is godliness, from such withdraw thyself." The Lord was here revealing. that the gospel of God's grace,
God the Spirit was revealing that the gospel of God's grace,
blessed by the Holy Spirit, produces a humble spirit, a spirit of
humility before God. But the doctrines of men That
doctrine that is man-centered, free-will doctrine, that doctrine
of men, it does nothing but fill the mind with pride and self-esteem. It just elevates a man. Because what a man is going to
think, as I've said before, he'll think in his mind, I know that
I've not done much, but at least I believed. At least I've given my heart
to Jesus. Other men, it does nothing but
just point a man to himself. He looks within. These teachers,
these men that stand in these pulpits, they know nothing of
spiritual things, and they spend their time in nothing but controversy
and disputes and strife. And the ministry of these lies,
it produces nothing but questions. It's inconsistent. It's inconsistent
with the gospel of God's grace. I've said before, the gospel
of free grace is the only message that makes sense. It's the only
message that makes sense. I've told you this before, I'll
tell you again. When men say, Jesus Christ died for the sins
of all the world, paid for everybody's sin. Well, if everybody's sin has
been paid for, and God sends one man to hell, God's not just. There will be people in hell
whose sins were paid for. They had no debt before God. If God Almighty in the person
of His Son paid for everybody's sin, paid them off, and God sends one man, God's
not just. God's not bad. They'll say, yeah,
but wait a minute. No, no, no, no, no. He paid for
everybody's sins. But what it is, is you've got
to accept it. Then I said, well, then salvation
is by works then. I mean, he paid the debt. But
if you don't accept it, then really salvation is left up to
you. Now, how are you going to answer that? False, free will, man-centered
religion. Doctrine produces questions.
Quarrels. Insults. Insults before God and
men. Dissension. You know what Paul
said about that? Verse 5. 1 Timothy 6, 5. Last line. Last line of verse
5. From such, withdraw yourself. Withdraw yourself. Don't ever
sit under it again. Withdraw yourself. Stay away
from it. They are destitute of the truth
of Christ. They have not the Spirit of God. That is not God's
Spirit teaching. God's Spirit does not set forth
a lie. God's Spirit does not make God
to be a beggar. They suppose that religion and
Christianity is just nothing but a source of profit. Spiritual,
they think, or money making, business. I'm going to go to
church. I've got some business. Make
some money. Kind of get in there and let
these people think I'm religious. They've got one purpose. Make
merchandise of men's souls. Oh, but to the settled heart,
that heart that's thankful and satisfied with the knowledge
of God in Christ, that is great gain. You know why? We're going to die. We're going
to die. We're going to leave this world.
If the Lord has given me a heart for Himself, has taught me where
He bought me, where He's kept me, redeemed me, taught me who
I am in Christ, revealed to me His everlasting interest in me,
In that covenant of blessed grace, mercy, giving me faith to believe
Him, regenerated me by power, by Spirit. I'm a rich man. Rich in faith, the Scripture
says. And therefore, I have all. You say, well, don't you think
you need to be... Making sure that you're watching
out and doing everything you need to do. I'd say so, but don't
ever do it at the expense of hearing God's Word. Don't ever
do it at the expense of God's glory, God's honor. Better it
is with little with the fear of the Lord than to possess only
that which this world has and be without Him. Let me just read
this, and if you're still in 1 Timothy 6, verse 7, we brought
nothing into this world, it's certain we carried nothing out.
Having food, verse 8, and raiment, let us be there with content,
but they that will be rich fall into temptation, snare, many
foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction, perdition. Our coming into this world added
nothing to the property of God. All is His. And when we leave,
I'll tell you this, nothing is diminished from Him. All souls
are mine. And you know why we're going
to leave? As I've said before, everything that God allowed us
to just borrow for just a moment, it's not ours. I've worked for everything I've
got. They're good for you. But I'll tell you this, you don't
have anything that Almighty God didn't allow you to borrow for
just a moment. And to set our hearts on that, and to absolutely stand in just
thinking that we've done something. I've got all these barns. I'm
going to build some more. I'm going to tear down what I've
got. I'm going to build some more. Psalm 49, 17 is concerning the
spiritually dead and what a man has of this world. It says, "...for
when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall
not descend after him. Having food and raiment, let
us be there with contentment." And if the Lord does allow you
to have a few extra bucks, If riches increase, what does the
Scripture say? Don't set your heart on it. I
heard Brother Henry say one time, be real careful how tight you
grip some things, whether it's this world stuff or your kids
or anything else. The Lord knows how to abase His
people. Having food and raiment, let
us be therewith content. Let me just read Philippians
4. Philippians 4, 11 and 12, the Scripture says, not that
I speak in respect of want, but I have learned in whatsoever
state I am therewith to be content. I know how to be abased. I know
how to abound. Everywhere and in all things
I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
and to suffer need. Knowing that the Lord works all
things after the counsel of His own will. Knowing that the Father
knows the needs of His people. He said, don't you know? God
knows what you need. May I be content with His light
for me and seek first, first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. All these things shall be added
unto you. But they that will, be rich."
Will to be rich. Oh, the great temptations. Snares. Many foolish, hurtful lusts. Drowned men in destruction and
perdition. Believer, be content. Lord, help me to hear this. I'm
going to tell you something. Nobody in this congregation this
morning doesn't need to hear this more than me. Lord, teach
me this. It is dangerous to pursue earthly
riches at the neglect of the worship of God. If the Lord has
prospered you, give accordingly. If God has prospered you with
the knowledge of Christ, give of your time, give of yourself.
If God has given you a heart after Him, seek Him. God's prospered
you monetarily as the Lord prospers a man. How does a man give? How
does a believer give? And all believers do. How does
he give? As God prospered him. Give. Pray for this assembly. Pray
for those that we've mentioned. Pray for those that are lost.
Ask Him. Just usually the carnal desire
for riches to have more at the expense of seeking God and His
kingdom first puts us in the company of those that truly are
just like we are. The love of money, the root of
all evil, which while some coveted after, they've erred. They've
been seduced, that's what that means. Seduced from the faith,
pierced themselves through Many sorrows. Now, I know this in
closing. A believer is not going to depart
from the faith. I know he's not. You know why?
Because God is going to keep him. God is going to keep him. Kept by the power of God through
faith. But here, the Apostle reveals that the love of money,
and Brother Henry says this, he said, that includes an immoderate
desire for all earthly treasure. The love of money easily, easily
causes that nominal professor. Now, a nominal professor is one
that professes to know God, but has no heart for Him. He goes
through the motions. But he says the love of money,
which includes that immoderate desire for earthly treasure,
usually is going to be found to be the evidence of those that
have no heart for Christ. The cares of this world easily
draw away one that doesn't know or love or is kept by the Lord
in glory. When there's no heart for the
gospel, just give it time. They will leave. They'll leave.
They'll leave. But thou, O man of God, flee
these things, and follow after righteousness, his righteousness. Father, follow after godliness,
that is, walking after God Almighty in the knowledge of Christ by
God's Spirit. Follow after faith, believe in
God, love toward God and men, patience and meekness. You're God. Lord, I'm your servant. I'm your child. Lord, keep me
by your grace, for Christ's sake.