WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 18, 2011

GOOD ADVICE
(Good words bring life and health)
(Proverbs 15)

In today’s world, and, in times past, it may seem to some that GOD has let evil run amok in society. However, GOD tells us clearly in HIS Word that, “The wicked will strut about on every side, when the vilest of men are exalted” (Psalm 12:8). Well, don’t look now, but we have been exalting and supporting the vilest of people, who outwardly profess to being anti-CHRIST, in our music and entertainment industries for instance, for years, and we also exalt vile church leaders whom we know in our hearts are clearly anti-CHRIST, by way of their double life, and, public behavior. It is not GOD who allows evil to run rampant among us, but rather, it is us Christians, who, by way of our behavior, seem to have a greater desire to conform to the world in the Church, than we do to transform from the world to the will of GOD.
Sure, it is a fact that GOD sees all, hears all, and knows all that we do (Prov. 15:3), and HE is by no means an indifferent observer. GOD cares very much about the state of this evil society we’ve allowed and live in, but, because we are so far from GOD’s will and plan for us, we can’t sense HIS unseen navigational favor, presence, and blessings in our lives.
In Proverbs chapters 15-17, we find a variety of good advice and GODly wisdom that we can use to make life more tolerable and beneficial to ourselves, and, to others. The person who is willing to seek GOD’s advice, more often than not, is the same person who has gained enough patience to ponder their thoughts and attitudes, before they take action. They pray and desire GOD’s insight, because they want to live right before HIM. Their desire to change is greater than their willingness to remain the same.
Proverbs 15:14 states in the plain English version of scripture (the NLT), that, “A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash”. What we feed our minds is just as important as what we feed our bodies. This means that the kind of material we read, the kind of music we listen to, and the kind of movies and television that we watch, all play a very important role in our mental and spiritual health. In fact, what we read, hear, and see has a very strong influence on our total health and well-being as well.
Only a fool thinks that there is nothing wrong with the way that the Hip Hop sub-culture influences our children and young adults through all of the witchcraft and satanic messages that it thrives on, and plays into their spirits. Only a fool thinks that our exalting of homosexual behavior, adultery, and fornication both, in the movies, and in real life, doesn’t have a negative spiritual effect on our society, and stirs GOD’s anger to no end, because sexual sin, is the greatest form of “self-worship”. Only a fool thinks that pornography and all forms of anti-CHRIST literature and propaganda doesn’t affect us spiritually, mentally, and physically. Anything that is wicked is anti-GOD, and therefore, automatically anti-CHRIST, automatically anti-mankind, and automatically anti-life, for the LORD is far from the wicked (Prov. 15:29a).
When people cease to care about what GOD says, or, have an attitude of indifference toward GOD, then religion, morality, social customs and values, will all cease to function as mortar, that holds together a society, and maintains the doctrine of ancient Christian faith. We as Christians must, at some point, stand up and defend the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST with the dignity and respect that it requires. We must challenge ourselves, and others who call themselves by CHRIST’s name, about our own personal relationship and obedience to GOD. Are we acting like the Christians that we say we are.
True Christians shouldn’t be satisfied with living a life that is governed by an attitude of indifference toward GOD, nor should we ever support the anti-CHRIST agenda with our GOD-given time, money, or talent. People with an attitude of indifference toward GOD can rationalize anything because they have no standards for judging right and wrong, and, as a result, they end up compromising what they know is right, with what they know is wrong, which is, of course, ridiculous (Proverbs 25:26). We have had set before us in JESUS CHRIST, the greatest standard for living life on earth, that the world has ever seen, or, ever will see. And HE gives us great advice on how to overcome the world, just as HE did, and HIS words and actions also bring with it, life, health, and strength.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


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