Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples
Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Proverbs on Friendship, Part 4 Neighbors • God has designed us to need good close and intimate friends • Be careful that your close and best friends are positive influences on you - avoid those who are not
Proverbs on Friendship, Part 4 Neighbors • The goal of your existence is to glorify God which is done in part by helping others become like Jesus • The Hebrew term reya’ (ray’ah) can be translated as either friend or neighbor
Evil Neighbors • Since we live in a fallen and sin cursed world, do not be surprised that people desire evil Prov. 21: 10 • The root of the evil of the wicked is selfishness which does not have compassion for others.
Evil Neighbors • The wicked will slander (Prov. 25: 18) ➢which spreads strife (Prov. 6: 19) ➢& lies are treacherous (Prov. 14: 25)
Evil Neighbors Proverbs 24: 28 -29 • Warnings about being a witness against a neighbor 1) Do not be a witness without cause or you will be a gossip, whisperer, talebearer (11: 13; 18: 8; 20: 19)
Evil Neighbors Proverbs 24: 28 -29 2) Do not be a deceitful witness Prov. 12: 17; 19: 5. • Proverbs 11: 12 -13 - despising your neighbor lacks sense – ➢Proverbs 27: 10 ➢Proverbs 25: 9 -10
Evil Neighbors Proverbs 24: 28 -29 3) Do not seek revenge - Leviticus 19: 18 ➢ Matthew 7: 12; ➢ Deuteronomy 16: 19 • A false witness can wreck havoc and even cause death - 1 Kings 21
Evil Neighbors • Proverbs speak against evil actions: ➢Murder (1: 10 -19; 6: 17); ➢Adultery (7; 6: 29); ➢Theft (29: 24)
Evil Neighbors • It is worse to entice someone to join in the evil - Proverbs 16: 29; ➢Proverbs 1: 10 -14; 2: 12 -15 ➢Proverbs 3: 30 -32
The Contrasts • Contrast in desire and direction: ➢Proverbs 12: 26; ➢Proverbs 11: 23; 4: 18; ➢Proverbs 3: 29 • Contrast in speech: Proverbs 10: 11 ➢Proverbs 29: 5
The Contrasts • Contrast in honesty: Proverbs 3: 27 -28; ➢ Psalm 37: 21 ➢ Proverbs 19: 7
The Contrasts • Contrast in courtesy & manners: Proverbs 3: 3 -4; 13: 15; 14: 9 ➢Proverbs 26: 18 -19 ➢Proverbs 10: 23; 15: 21 ➢Proverbs 25: 16 -17 ➢Proverbs 27: 14
The Loving Neighbor Leviticus 19: 18; Galatians 5: 14 • Luke 10: 25 -37 • The Priest - should have been the most likely to help • The Levite - well positioned to help • The Samaritan - most likely to not help
The Loving Neighbor Luke 10: 25 -37 • A neighbor could be anyone • Matthew 5: 43 -48 extends loving your neighbor to your enemies too • There is no restriction on who is your neighbor
Conclusions • The priority commitment is to other believers - John 13: 34 -35 • Galatians 6: 9 -10 gives us the balance • Do not follow the example of the wicked, but strive to be a godly influence upon them
Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
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