Proverbs 20 15 there is gold
and a multitude of rubies But the lips of knowledge are a precious
jewel This is a reminder of course
that we place so much value our flesh Places so much value on
that which is really worthless. I Proverbs 23.4 says, labor not
to be rich, cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine
eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves
wings. They fly away as an eagle toward
heaven. It's not coincidence or random
that says labor not to be rich cease from that own wisdom because
that is the wisdom of the flesh to Enrich ourselves to the point
where we find comfort and security in that But those things can't be found
that way the whole world does this very thing they set their
eyes and Labor to be rich But why
do we labor? Are we different from the world?
Are we separate from the world? Are we, as believers, can we say that this world is
not our home, that we're just pilgrims and strangers on this
earth? What do we labor for then? Do
we labor to glorify God? Do we labor to be a blessing
to his people? Do we labor to tell forth the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do
we labor to enter into his rest, as the scripture says? Is our laboring, our effort, the focus of our faculties, to enter into the
rest of the Lord Jesus, to learn of Him, to live for Him. Do we have our eyes set on things
above and not on things of this earth? And how is it that we
could be maybe a blessing to others? How would we glorify
the Lord Jesus Christ? Our text tells us that by saying
that which honors him by lips that know him, by the knowledge, the lips of knowledge. Those ones who loved that paralyzed
man and lowered him through the roof to the feet of the Lord
Jesus Christ. That's it. That's it. You may not be able to articulate
the gospel well. Some people can't even talk to
people about anything very well. I'm that way. When I'm out of the pulpit, the
Lord gives me grace to just expound the scriptures. But as a believer, we can speak
from our heart about the Savior. We can tell people from our heart
and get those that we care about to the place where Christ himself
speaks. Christ still speaks on this earth.
He still on this earth has power to forgive sins. And so we, as those brought their
friend to the feet of the Savior. How would you do that today?
Well, you'd bring somebody that you love, that needs healing,
that needs life, that needs salvation to where Christ is speaking through
the preaching of His gospel. Job said in Job 23, 12, neither
have I gone back from the commandment of His lips I have esteemed the
words of his mouth more than my necessary food." That's our
text. What's precious? What matters? What's real? The way a man would think that
way, would esteem literally, he's not being hyperbolic there.
The words of Christ are more precious and more necessary food
One thing is actually needful You don't need another meal Ever You don't need it But you need
Christ you need Christ The reason that the lips of knowledge
are such a precious jewel is Because they speak of Christ
And that's not speculation the Lord gave one man one mortal
human being On this earth in this world in all of time more
wisdom than he ever gave any other mortal man And what was
that man's testimony turn with me to Proverbs 3 verse 13 and And you remember from the book
of Ecclesiastes how the Solomon tried everything.
He said, I've tried everything. He had the means to have tried
everything. And it's all vanity and vexation
of spirit. Everything that makes men happy
in this world is vanity and vexation of spirit. But listen to what
he says in verse 13 of Proverbs three, happy is the man that
findeth wisdom. And the man that getteth understanding
for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of
silver. There's gold, there's rubies. But the lips of knowledge,
the gain thereof, is greater than fine gold. Verse 15, she
is more precious than rubies, and all the things that thou
canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in
her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She
is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy
is every one that retaineth her. The Lord by wisdom hath founded
the earth, by understanding hath he established the heavens. By
his knowledge the depths are broken up and clouds drop down
the dew. My son, let not them depart from
thine eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion. So shall they be life unto thy
soul. Golden rubies can't give life
to your soul. But the wisdom of God does, can
and does. And grace to thy neck. Then shalt
thou walk in thy way safely. People look for security in money. Not wise, not wise. Thou shalt walk in thy way in
safety, and thy foot shall not stumble when thou liest down.
Thou shalt not be afraid. Yea, thou shalt lie down, and
thy sleep shall be sweet. You can't put a price on that. Turn over to Proverbs 4, verse
1. Hear ye children the instruction
of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you
good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's
son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He
taught me also and said unto me, let thine heart retain my
words, keep my commandments and live, get wisdom, get understanding,
forget it not. Neither decline from the words
of my mouth. Forsake her not and she shall
preserve thee. Love her and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore get wisdom. With all
thy getting, get understanding. That father that Solomon spoke
of there in verse three, Proverbs four, was of course King David. What was David's testimony? Turn
with me to psalm 19 verse 7 Psalm 19 7 The law of the Lord is perfect When you see in the Old Testament
and in the New, the word law or testimony, that's not the
Ten Commandments. That's not just what we call
the moral law. That's the word of God. The law
of God, they refer to the word of God that way. The law of the
Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord
is sure, making wise the simple. Converting the soul. You can change your mind about things.
But how's a leopard gonna change his spots? How are you gonna
change what you are? The gospel. The gospel. Paul said to Timothy, it's able
to make you wise unto salvation. And the testimony of the Lord
is sure making wise the simple. Those that this world were the
off scouring of the earth. The Lord didn't choose scholars
except Paul, but his disciples were fishermen and people without
education. They didn't have high IQs. but
they were the fountain of knowledge on this earth. They were the
light of the world, the Lord said, when it comes to the wisdom
of the gospel. The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart. If what makes you happy is the
gold and silver of this world, you're in a bad place. It's going
away sooner or later. It makes itself wings. It doesn't
just sometimes do that. It always does. It's going away at some point.
The Lord said to that rich man, who shall these things be? They're going to be fighting
over it. The petty things that people
fight over. I've witnessed it firsthand. Rejoicing the heart. Nothing
else can rejoice the heart of a sinner like the good news of
the Lord Jesus. The commandment of the Lord is
pure, enlightening the eyes. You want to see things the way
they really are? Listen to what God says about
them. You want to see yourself as you are? You want enlightened
eyes with regard to your own wretched soul and the hope that
there is for a wretch like you? Happens one way You want to know who God is all
said the most religious people in this world think about who
that would be now The most religious So-called
godly people in this world they have a knowledge of God they
have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge They don't know
who God is The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever. This whole world, heaven and
earth will pass away, but not my word, the Lord said. The judgments
of the Lord are true and righteous all together. Remember what the
Lord said to the Pharisees? Don't judge according to your
own wisdom. Don't judge according to the
flesh. Judge righteous judgment. That
happens one way. More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold. You know why it says that? Instead
of more to be desired are they than other stuff? Because that's
what people on this earth desire more than anything. The love
of money is the root of all evil. If you ever look watching the
news and really bad stuff is happening, And you're like, why
would they do that? Follow the money. Follow the money. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. This is why our advice to everyone,
everywhere, every time is you need to hear the gospel. And I'm never gonna go past that
with anybody. I get a lot of questions, I get
a lot of, I hear a lot of people's problems.
What do I do about this and what do I do about that? I'm not gonna
bypass that basic elemental need. You've got to hear from God. We can't talk about anything
else until we settle that, until that's fixed. Until you, by God's
grace, make up your mind that you're gonna worship Him, if
nothing ever goes right with you ever again, you're gonna
worship Him. We're never getting past that. Well, what would improve my marriage? Hear the gospel. How do I get out of this mess?
And hear the gospel, listen to God, see what God said. Why is
everything going wrong for me? You got to hear from God. Well, once I straighten up my
life, I'm gonna come to worship. I heard that this past week.
I've gotta get straight. And then I'm gonna come, you
got it backwards. You've got it completely backwards. A straightened
up life is not a life where you don't have any problems. A straightened
up life is one where you worship God and hear his word. Thank God. for the earthly, physical,
temporary, time-bound blessings that He gives us. I'm thankful
for that. Lord, sustain us. Give us strength
and wisdom to support our families, to live comfortably in this life.
Don't give us too much, lest we forget you. And don't starve
us, lest we curse you. Give us just enough. Keep us
comfortable, Lord. Give us enough. Even even thank
you for the luxuries that we enjoy we enjoy a lot of luxuries
don't I thought about that I talked to Vicki about that Just a few
days ago. I said what what could possibly
be better Than this what could possibly
be better I If I had $20 million, how would
I be any better off? We were sitting there eating
a wonderful meal at Big Bad Breakfast. I mean, it's just beautiful. It was just beautiful. It was
so luxurious. Driving a new truck. Wonderful. The Lord saved my family. I baptized
my children. Donald Trump has what now, $15
billion, and he eats at McDonald's. That's what I ate the other night.
I had some Freedom Fries just the other night. You see what I'm talking about?
What could possibly be better? I've spent the night on yachts. One of my favorite things is
fishing, anytime I wanna go fishing. I can go do that. What would
be better? What could possibly be better?
Thank you. Thank God for what we enjoy in
this life. But may the Lord take the fascination
of this world, the cares of this world, the love of the things
of this world out of our hearts. and replace it with the hunger
and thirst of hearing His truth, learning His truth, abiding by
His truth, rejoicing in His truth, worshiping Christ in spirit and
in truth. Listen, turn with me to Isaiah
55 in closing, I'll probably go off. No, we're good. Isaiah 55, one. Listen to this now. While we're
enjoying all the wonderful things that the Lord's blessed us with
and it's like nothing, not a thing wrong with that. Thank God for
that. I don't want to learn the way
Job did. Do you? Losing everything. I want to
learn from Job. I don't wanna learn like that.
But if I have to, would it be worth it? Isaiah 55, one, ho, everyone
that thirsteth. Do you have any desire? Is there
anything that your soul desires and needs and seeks after? Come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, come
ye, buy and eat, yea, come. Buy wine and milk without money
and without price. Wherefore do you spend money
for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which
satisfies not? Why do we do that? Hearken diligent unto me, and
eat ye that which is good. and let your soul delight itself
in fatness. Or what table are we gonna come
to for that? Incline your ear and come unto me. Here your soul shall live. You see our tape. There's gold
and rubies. If I get a little bit of it,
I pray that I'm thankful for that, I don't take it for granted,
that I don't fall in love with it, that I'm like the psalmist
that said, Lord, don't give me too much or don't give me too
little. And climb your ear and come unto
me and hear. and your soul shall live. And
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even as your mercies
of David." What's precious? What's precious and what's not?
May the Lord teach us.