Being an Example (Proverbs 24:30-34)

There are plenty of examples of how we should not conduct ourselves around us in the world. All we need to do is look around.

"I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man who was void of understanding; and, lo, it was all overgrown with thorns, and nettles had covered its face, and its stone wall was broken down." Proverbs 24:30-31, Amplified

Solomon is speaking of a personal experience that he had walking through his kingdom. He was traversed by a field that had become dilapidated and in disrepair. The condition of the field was obvious to the viewer. We must ask ourselves how we look to passers-by. Are we in ruin and in disrepair? Has our spiritual condition become so that it is covered in thorns? Have we become so lazy in our faith that we have forgotten our first love?

"The I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction." Proverbs 24:32, Amplified

Whether we like it or not, we are always going to be an example to someone. That example can be a positive or a negative one.

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man." Proverbs 24:33-34, Amplified

We can take a break from anything. Here in California a 10 minute break is earned after working four hours and a 30 minute break is earned after working six hours. We can take a break from watching television and many other things. But as we take those breaks, we move out of the loop and out of the know. Ask anyone who goes to the gym how detrimental a break from the gym can be. A break from the Lord can be just as detrimental. We become less in tune with His voice. Our devotional time needs to be redeveloped. I myself have fallen into this trap too many times.

Life or Death (Proverbs 21:5)

Patience is a virtue that most do not have. However, if we posses it, we will surely be blessed.

"The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want." Proverbs 21:5, Amplified

It takes diligence to get to a goal. The higher the goal, the more diligence one needs. It is like the fable of the tortoise and the hare. The hare ran with speed and became overly confident and hastened toward the goal only to convince himself that his win was sure. Meanwhile, the tortoise was slow and steady. His speed never faltered, but his diligence to win the race brought him to his goal.

Goals are never intended to be reached quickly, they are challenges set up to bring out the best in each one of us. Athletes set many goals for themselves just as chefs and other professionals do. We, as Christians, are given the goal to be like Jesus. Upon our conversion, that goal seems so very far away. But through a series of trials and tests, more of the flesh is taken away so that more of Him might shine through. To be like Jesus is not something one attains overnight, rather it is actually something achieved upon death. But our diligence to exemplify Him in our lives will be rewarded and to hasten that goal will only lead to tragedy.

Do it for the Children (Proverbs 20:7)

It is so wonderful to have a legacy.

"The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed - happy, fortunate [enviable] - are his children after him." Proverbs 20:7, Amplified

There is a phrase used four different times in the Bible which speaks about a father's children. "...visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations..." (Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9) If the iniquity of the father shall come upon the children, how much more will his integrity? We are the examples for our children. What we do, what we say, how we react. If we translate those into the spiritual, then it could be concluded that we again our the examples for our children. I am not saying that they will be perfect little angels (because they will make their own decisions) but they must have an example. Be the example for the children so that they may be blessed.

Examples (Proverbs 12:26)

If a man were to be defined by his surroundings, then you could tell what was in his heart. The same can be said about the company he keeps.

"The [consistently] righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causes others to go astray." Proverbs 12:26, Amplified

If you are reading the New King James version, the first half of this verse reads so very differently. "The righteous man should choose his friends carefully..." (Proverbs 12:26a, NKJV)

It does not make a difference to the message of the verse, however. In choosing his friends carefully, the righteous man is making decision about who to surround himself with. In doing so, he becomes a guide, or example, to his neighbor. It is how we live our lives as Christians that speaks the loudest. Our examples will convert faster than the best sermon, because we are that sermon in motion. If a sermon were to have a name and a face it would look like me and be named Jeffrey. People do not want to hear the Word, they want to see it in action. The world has been letting them down with broken promises for years. When expectations are constantly unmet, words become cheap. Lets make a promise through our actions, win people to Christ with our lifestyles.

The Wicked One has been leading people astray for years with his words and misdeeds. If he can lead others astray, so too can we lead others to Christ.