Proverbs 20; Romans 4

Proverbs 20
Think ahead!

Consequences to consider:

• Drinking alcohol.  v. 1 "Wine produces mockers, alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise."
• Starting trouble (v. 2-3) may risk your life.
• Procrastination. v. 4 "Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest."
• Dishonesty. v. 10-17, 23 "False weights and unequal measures--the Lord detests double standards of every kind." "Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
• Disrespect for parents. v. 20
• Early inheritance. v. 21 We've all heard of people whose lives were ruined by too much too soon.
• Rash promises, v. 25, may lead to regret.
• Discipline, v.30, purifies the heart.

We see plenty of positive reminders in this Proverb as well.

• Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor. v. 3
• Heed good advice. v. 5, 18
• The children of godly people will be blessed. v. 7
• We are all known by the way we act. v. 11
• We have many gifts from the Lord, including ears to hear and eyes to see! v. 12
• Wise words are more valuable than gold and rubies. v. 15
• The Lord will handle our troubles. v. 22
• The Lord directs our steps. v. 24
• It's good to be young, and it's good to be old! v. 29 "The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."

Romans 4
The Jews were proud to be descendants of Abraham, and they knew about King David from the Old Testament. And so Paul uses them as examples of people who were saved by faith, just as we are. "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." David committed adultery and murder. Though God let him feel the consequences of his sin, he too was saved by his faith and not by working for it. "But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners." v. 5

Circumcision is used as an example of a "work" here because it was part of the Jewish law, and the Jews had come to regard it as necessary for salvation. Paul is teaching them that it is not, just as other "works" such as baptism, church membership, etc. are not a means to salvation. We can be right with God only through faith in Him.

"So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift." v. 16 "And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous...assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." vv. 22-25