My wife Judy and I have moved from Wisconsin to Virginia – to Maryland – to South Carolina. One of the differences between the states has to do of course, with the weather. In Virginia, we found ourselves constantly regulating the thermostat. Depending on the outside weather, we would turn the heat up or down accordingly, and of course, the same with the air conditioning in the warmer months. In South Carolina the heat is on during January and February, and the rest of the year the AC is on. Back in Wisconsin the heat was always “on” and we didn’t really need air conditioning! If you had AC it was a box in the window for occasional use during the two months of summer!

    As it concerns spiritual maturity in our lives, I find that some people are like thermometers: they spend their lives recording the atmosphere of life, and react accordingly. Others however, are like thermostats; they regulate the atmosphere of life. They have matured to the point where they are able to say “This is where I am most comfortable in life, and regardless of the pressure, stress, sunny skies or stormy weather, I have set my course, I have set my priorities, I have set my heart, mind, soul, and spirit, and I shall be content no matter what the circumstances!”
    On the other hand, those who are thermometers would be those who are “tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.” (Ephesians 4:14)  If the situation is hot and heavy, thermometers register tension and irritability. If the situation is stormy they register worry and fear. If it is calm and quiet, they may register comfort depending on how they see their present circumstance as well as the future.
    In Philippians 4:11 Paul says “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Notice that he did not say “I am the kind of person who is content”…He said “I have learned to be content.” Contentment, or becoming a thermostat, is a learned characteristic. It is a sign of maturity. It is that which carries the attitude of the serenity prayer: “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
    Thermostats take control of their lives and regulate their surroundings, rather than let the situation, the circumstances, or the people around them regulate their lives and control them. Thermometers can become thermostats when balance replaces extremes in emotions and actions; When good choices replace bad choices; When their concern for others outweighs their concern for themselves; When they become encouragers rather than critics; When they know correction is in order, and they have a willingness to change.

    If you had to compare Christianity or the Church to a television show, what would it be?

Maybe the “Lawrence Welk Show”, bringing back memories for folks over sixty. There are some that are like “E.R.” they are an emergency room for treating wounded and diseased sinners. Yet, some are like “Public T.V.” in that they are very educational in their approach. Others are like “M.T.V.” in that they are primarily a music video. And, still others are like “A. & E.” mostly a mystery, (as the true gospel is to most of their congregation.) 
    As for me, I would say church ought to be more like one of my favorite T.V. shows “McGyver.” The plot for this show, as well as McGyver’s purpose, was basically always the same: “extract victims of peril from a hostile environment.” What better way to describe what the Church’s mission is? We are to rescue the perishing; care for the dying; and snatch the world from the grasp of Satan
( the enemy ) and the punishment of sin.
    One of the interesting features of this series was to become known as “McGyverisms.” Here are just a few: He disarmed a missile with a paper clip; He stopped an acid leak with a Hershey bar; He used a map and some duct tape to patch a hot air balloon;  He broke down steel doors by igniting gas cylinders and using them like rockets; He even reversed a vacuum cleaner and used it to shoot hot chili at his foes.
    MacGyver could do miraculous things just by using what was available to him at the time. With great resourcefulness, creativity, and knowledge, he accomplished his mission. Isn’t this what the Church ought to be doing? In the end, we will not be judged based on what one church did compared to what another church did. We will be judged on what we did with what we had at the time. Whether large church or small, let’s not lose sight of the mission. “It is God’s will that not even one should perish.” ( 2 Peter 3:9 )  

    Being experienced in carpentry work, I have used many different tools over the years. For instance, I have a sledgehammer in my tool box in the garage. I also have a small finishing hammer. I have found that they are both equally important to me.
    If I had to choose between the two, I suppose I'd pick the little guy. He's been a real help to me over the years -- but I'd rather not choose at all. Both hammers are my good friends and trusted companions…And, they can teach us a valuable lesson; bigger isn't always better! Smaller isn't always better either…The value of the tool is determined by the task ahead.
    Driving stakes for a circus tent? Or, trying to break up concrete? Use the sledge! Repairing the living room coffee table? Or, hanging a picture?  The finishing hammer will do perfectly.
    This brings me to an important point. Why do we compare ourselves with others? Why do we allow ourselves to feel inferior (or superior) to the people around us? We're all equally important -- though we have different roles and functions in life. We're all a part of the same toolbox! 
    In Galatians 6:4 it says; “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load”.
    It would be silly for the finishing hammer to glance furtively at the sledge and murmur, "I'm so small and insignificant! Compared to that guy, He’s so big and strong and able. I'm just useless!"
    Likewise, the sledge could say, "I'm too awkward and clumsy. I’m just so overweight and bulky…I wish I wasn't such a klutz and could be more graceful, like the finishing hammer."
Comparisons with others is always a dead end street – It’s a street that always leads to infer-iority or arrogance.
    The importance of the hammer is determined only by the carpenter, not the hammer (or any other tool in the box!)…Just a thought.  All the hammers -- both big and little -- are needed to build great cathedrals.  When it all is said and done, it won't matter which hammer was used for which part. Nobody will look at the majestic cathedral and say, "Wow, what a hammer!" Instead they will be inspired to glorify God and say, "Wow! What a Carpenter!"

I don't remember where I got this, but worth re-posting.

 

    Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole that was behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed, and made a U-turn to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms, just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a very incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator.
    Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack. On his arms, there were also deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. A newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."
    You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. Not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some are unsightly, and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, whatever it is, He's been right there, holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are His child. He wants to protect you, and provide for you in every way. But, sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That is when the tug-of-war begins.
    Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got them. Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them too.. enough to not let them go!
                                               

Sowing and Reaping

    I have often said that if there were one scripture, one word from God, one thing that would apply to life in every way, it would be this: “You reap what you sow” ( Galations 6:7 )  This scripture starts out with “God cannot be mocked...” God, in His sovereignty, has created certain laws, natural, physical, and spiritual laws, and there is nothing we can do to change them. They are eternally set in the universe. Then there are the words “sow destruction, reap destruction”… “sow eternal life, reap eternal life.” By this we can say that this principle of sowing and reaping applies both positively and negatively. There is also have another principle that goes hand in hand with this one that is related; it is found in 2^nd Corinthians 9:6-11 - “sow sparingly, reap sparingly; sow generously, reap generously.”

    Sometimes we reap what we sow immediately. We stick our finger in the fire: we get burnt! Other times we may not see the effects, or the harvest, for a long time. Drug abuse is a thrill ride! Drinking is cool! Selfish attitudes make us feel powerful and in control… But, God says something is taking place. A pattern is being formed. Damage is taking place slowly. One day there will be consequences. What we do today will affect tomorrow.
    Unfortunately, too many people either do not understand or neglect this principle of sowing and reaping. As for the consequences, we will find a way around them; a pill, a shot, a by-pass, a trans-plant, cloning, whatever. But, in the end there will be consequences.
    What about the consequence for physical and verbal abuse?  What about the consequence of children born in fatherless homes? What about the consequence of sin? Long ago God warned the Israelites that their neglect of truth would “affect the children and their children for the sins of the father to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 20:5 ) We are reaping some of that today! However, remember that the principle of sowing and reaping is also positive. A positive influence has the same positive affect!
    Life is about driving responsibly; having a curfew; getting good grades; being honest; keeping your room and your life clean; taking care of yourself physically, and spiritually; it’s about sexual choices; truth, actions and decisions that will affect our dreams, desires, and goals in life. It’s all part of what is called “the quality of life.” Every season is an opportunity for a new beginning. It’s never too late to change what you are sowing in order to change what you are reaping in life.
    There was an old T.V. show called “Truth or Consequences”… I could sum this up by saying the Truth is, there will be Consequences…good or bad…you reap what you sow.

Words For Living 

     We are from “the north”... northern Wisconsin to be specific. Not to far from where we lived there was a Native American reservation. Their culture and traditions were a prominent part of our community. I don’t know if you have seen or heard of a “dream catcher”, but it’s like a spider web made of leather and feathers. It is very decorative. A dream catcher is usually hung in the window of the bedroom, and Native American lore is that dreams – both good and bad – descend from the night sky. Bad dreams are caught in the web, and only good dreams slip through the web and onto the “dreamer”.

    A few years ago, there was a movie I watched called “Tucker”. It’s the story of a man who tried to fight the Automobile industry by introducing a car named after himself. In one scene Tucker is talking about how his mother came from the “old country”. She was Italian and had a very heavy accent. He remembered that his mother used to say to him “Don’t get too close to people, you will catch their dreams!” What she was really saying was “Don’t get too close to people, you will catch their germs!”, but he grew up believing she was saying “dreams” instead of germs.
    Dreams, described by Webster are -
#1. “a succession of images, thoughts or emotions that usually occur during sleep”.
#2. “A goal or aim for the future”.
#3. “A wild fantasy”. Or,
#4. “To conceive of something in the imagination”.  
Now, in my experience as a pastor, you don’t say “dreams” you say “vision” as in “I have a vision for the church!”…Then, you have people who say “In your wildest dreams!”
    The Gospels are stories of men and women who got close enough to Jesus to “catch his dream”, his vision. There was something very impressive about Jesus that caused the disciples and other followers to leave their families, their jobs, and for some, everything…for an uncertain future. Perhaps this quality is found in all people of vision. There had to be something special about his dream, his vision. What was it that got these fishermen so excited? Why are we not just as excited today?... Perhaps we have lost the vision.
    Jesus had a vision for the world, a dream, a picture of how life was meant to be. He saw a world where God ruled in every heart; a world of peace and righteousness and true justice. A world of love and harmony and unity. Was he talking about the kingdom of God? Yes, He spoke of heaven and life in the hereafter, but He also spoke of a present possibility when He said “the kingdom of God is at hand”…within reach…a present possibility!
    The disciples and the people got excited! They were swept up in Jesus’ dream. They believed such a world was possible, and they gave their lives to see it become a reality. Jesus said “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”. They knew about fishing for fish, but Jesus was calling them to see beyond that to something far more significant. He wanted them to catch the dream of introducing people to this kingdom of love and peace and hope and truth. They were to be active participants in the greatest vision they had ever known! And, they would make a difference in their city, their county, their country, their world.
    Yes, there is something very special about Jesus. There is something very special about His dream, His vision for the world…And He is still looking for co-workers! He is still seeking “fishermen” to share His dream and see it through to reality in the hearts and lives of family and friends everywhere. His words ring just as loud and clear now as they did over 2000 years ago; “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!” What a vision!  What a dream! Transforming lives and changing people from the inside out!  I think if we are Christians, we ought to be dreamcatchers!

 

THERE ARE TWO CONTRASTS IN LIFE

Scripture tells us that the wicked man, or the fool is "unteachable." He will not listen to reason. He will not listen to the Lord. If you try to show him his waywardness he will continually resist and deny the truth. "Wise men change their minds; fools never. A wise man thinks all he says; a fool says all he thinks." - Anonymous

    Too often we change jobs, friends, or spouses instead of changing ourselves." The person who chooses human foolishness over divine truth is a person determined to live his life on his own terms!
    While the fool persists in his foolishness, the wise man will listen when he is confronted with the truth and he will adjust his life accordingly. He has a "teachable" spirit! Proverbs 1:7-9 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” The wise man realizes his own limitations and shortcoming and grasps every opportunity to develop his life into one that is more pleasing to the Lord. The neat thing is that he also finds favor with others.
    These two kinds of people are all around us! There are those who are unteachable. They think they know what is best for their lives and you cannot tell them any different. They are fools! Then, there are those people who know they aren't perfect. They know they need instruction and they receive the truth of God with joy knowing it will change their life for the better. These folks are wise! Who best describes you?

Proverbs 9:6-12

⁶“Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”
⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
⁸ Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
¹¹ For through wisdom^[a] your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”

If you want to do a good study, find a concordance and look up all the scriptures concerning “fools” and “wise.”

Enough said!

LIFE IN A NUTSHELL

Charlie Brown's sister, Sally, approached her brother and declared, "I think I've discovered the secret to life--you just hang around until you get used to it."
    A gentleman once wrote Marilyn Savant with a question about life. Ms. Savant is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records Hall of Fame for highest IQ, and has a regular column in Parade. This particular inquirer said his life was "more exhausting than he ever imagined" and wanted to know, "Is this normal?" Marilyn gave him the following analogy about life. She said, "Much of the time, life is like going through the airport steering a loaded luggage cart with one bad wheel. Sometimes you just feel ridiculous, sometimes you actually look ridiculous, and sometimes all you can do is just try to push it in generally the right direction." (Parade, Oct. 12, 1997, p. 8)

    While there is some truth in both of those statements, surely there has to be more to life than just hanging around trying to get used to it, or just trying to "push it" in the right direction. The entire Bible is really about one thing in life – choices. There are two calls in life; there are two choices in life; and there are two consequences in life.

    There is a call of wisdom - Her house is away from the path of normal human activity. Prov. 9:3 says that she has to send her servants to call people to come. She seeks them where they live and invites them to come to her place for a better life. What is "wisdom"? Wisdom is not intelligence! Wisdom is not high IQ…It is the best use of knowledge. Biblical wisdom is knowing, understanding and living out the Word of God.  
Psalm 119:1-9 give us some of the things required to live life according to God’s Word:
*”Walk according to the law of the Lord”
*”Keep His statues”
*”Seek Him with all your heart and walk in His ways”
*”Obey His decrees”
*”Live according to His Word”
    There is also a call of folly.  Folly also has a house. But, it is built where the fools are already living, (Prov. 9:15)...This makes it far more convenient. This implies that men may enter the house of folly with little or no change in their lives. To get to wisdom, they have to put forth effort, to get to folly, they can continue as they are, where they are. They can just hang around until they get used to it!   Folly is presented as a prostitute. She promises the fool a good time, this is the enticement to evil. This is why there are more people who live lives of sin than there are who live lives of righteousness! People, like water and electricity, almost always choose the path of least resistance. They do what comes naturally and they gravitate toward evil, (Read - Eph. 2:1-3)
    These two calls; whether from Satan or the world; lead to two choices in life. The ultimate choice lies with the individual. Even Jesus presented life as consisting of only two choices, Matt. 7:13-14 ”Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction.” One leads to life as it was meant to be, the other to destruction. Think about this in light of all areas of life…There is a narrow road and a wide road as it concerns relationships; finances; spirituality; and so on…one leads to wisdom, one leads to folly.
In the end, your eternal destiny will rest upon the choices you make in all areas of life. Is it any wonder why we need a guidebook such as this Word of God?
Tomorrow I will look at the two contrasts and the consequences.

    In the book of I Corinthians, Paul twice uses the ox as a symbol for the preaching ministers.

I Cor. 5:18 & 9:9 Paul says those who preach the gospel are worthy of their hire and not to be muzzled --- like the ox who treads out grain and is allowed to eat some of it in the process. Naturally, the Ox is not the symbol I might tend to choose to illustrate the preacher. An ox is not the brightest creature on earth … But maybe that’s part of the point Paul was making!
    While we are dealing with the symbol of the ox, we might also want to pay attention to the symbol of the barn. The Proverb reminds us “Where no oxen are, the barn is clean.”(some versions say “crib” or “manger”) If you take the barn as a symbol of life, the tension is between beauty and productivity. Repeating the question, “Would you rather have your barn clean or filled? Knowing what the purpose of a barn is, - namely - to store a big harvest, the answer should be obvious.
    Let’s make some personal applications to your life. Too many of us waste our time looking for a “clean barn.” We want a job that gives us fulfillment, we want a marriage that is constant romance and bliss, we want children that never make a mess, or parents that always give us what we want. But let me tell you, the “clean barn” is a myth. All families have problems. All jobs are unpleasant sometimes. Life is messy! Instead of longing for the clean barn we need to look for ways to fill the barn (life) we’ve been given.
    Maybe this week we can all make a resolution to be thankful for our messy tasks – the car that needs an oil change, dishes than need to be washed, the diapers that need to be changed. Every messy job you have to do this week proves one thing. It proves you’re alive well, and living on planet earth.
    I think the barn of Proverbs 14:4 can also be a symbol of the church. It’s human nature to want the church to be a constant “sanctuary”- a place of peace, tranquility, and beauty. We want the services to be smooth and perfect. We want the facilities to be attractive and spotless. We want the people to talk in quiet voices and always get along. But that’s just not the way it is in a living and active congregation. Nor is it what God intends. The only way to have a neat, spic-n-span, tranquil, church is to have an empty church. Because PEOPLE (have you noticed) are MESSY.
    So as God’s servants, we enter into people business --- a business that is sometimes messy, loud, and frustrating, unnerving, unpredictable…did I say frustrating? And we need patience, a good sense of humor, tons of grace and forgiveness, the ability to like the unlikable, the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the Agape love of Jesus…And who knows, maybe even an ox or two.

Where no Oxen are the Barn is Clean

Proverbs 14:4
    To those who serve the church – especially in the capacity of pastor – this scripture says serving God will not be easy, neat, and tidy. “Where no oxen are, the barn is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
    This is an obscure verse I’d never noticed before. But the message is an interesting one. Basically, what we see in the Proverb is a tension between the desire for a clean barn and the need for a “filled” barn. I’ve noticed, through the years, that certain tensions are always a part of church life. The tension between being inclusive or exclusive is one example. Are we more like a rescue station or a country club? There’s the tension between “inreach” and outreach. How much effort should we put into discipleship and how much into evangelism? Should we focus on getting closer to each other or on bringing in new people? What about the tension between teaching the word of God and the importance of social outreach? In all these cases, both are needed. The secret is to find a BALANCE that includes both.
    Proverbs 14:4 illustrates the tension between keeping the church organized and tidy and keeping the church full and growing. If you want a sweet-smelling, picturesque little show-place of a barn, you’d better not put any oxen in there! On the other hand, if you want a FULL barn, you’ll get some oxen. And you’re going to have to put up with the mess they’re going to make. Clean barns are nice looking. But if you think about it, the purpose of a barn is not to be CLEAN, but to be FILLED. The best time of the year for the farmer is at the end of harvest time when the barns are full of grain. For a farmer, that’s their payday!
    So what does that have to do with the Ox? Well, when Proverbs was written, the ox was the farmer’s tractor. He plowed with it, he watered his crops with it, he harvested with it, he ground his flour with it. The more oxen, the more productivity! But on the other hand, the ox was also a source of trouble to the farmer. The ox had to be fed daily, and it took a lot of feed to satisfy the appetite of the working ox. The ox had to be sheltered from the wet and cold in order to stay healthy. He had to be penned in so he didn’t wander off and get into trouble. He had to be doctored when sick or injured; and oh, the smelly mess found in the ox stall!
    Do you see the tension here? Dealing with an ox is worth all the trouble if you care about filling the barn. But if what you care about is a clean barn, then by all means, don’t take care of the ones you have and for heaven’s sake don’t bring in any more oxen.

    Let me repeat something I said yesterday - The “heart” guides the outcome of one’s life…or it determines the course of your life…Where your heart is, the rest follows! Your life will follow the desires and the passions of your heart. The heart must be made new by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit…If the heart is not changed, neither is the man.

    The verses that follow; 24-27 talk about the mouth, the eyes, and the feet.We need to be disciplined about what we think; what we say; what we see; and what we do.  (If you think happy, you feel happy, you will reflect happy!) But, the opposite is also true.
    What about what we see?  Have you heard lately about people who are attracted and even addicted to pornography on the internet? I was watching Mike Murdock the other day and he said this “Don’t put anything in front of you that you don’t want in you!”
    He also talked about the “third voice that wants to be heard and have an influence on your life.”  Think about it, in the Garden there was Adam’s voice and God’s voice…Eve’s voice and God’s voice…then there came a third voice, and the third voice wanted influence and control. What about a marriage relationship? It is the third voice that speaks and creates bad thoughts and desires that lead to separation. Anytime we do anything wrong or shameful or sinful it’s because we listened to the third voice. When Peter tried to divert Jesus from his mission, Jesus recognized the third voice speaking through Peter and he said “get thee behind me Satan!”
    “Walking a straight line” or “making level paths for our feet” has to do with our actions, but at the same time there is an obvious implication about the choices we make; where we go; how we spend our time; and who we spend it with. Do we go with the flow? Are we blown by the wind? Are we following the crowd? Are we hiding the truth? The heart is like an internal GPS unit. It is only the heart that is “fixed on Jesus” that truly is the “wellspring of life!”

Proverbs 4:4 and 20-23

Proverbs 4:4 says – “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live…Verses 20-23 – “My son pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words; do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart for it is a wellspring of life!”  In other words, the “heart” guides the outcome of one’s life…or it determines the course of your life…Where your heart is, the rest follows! Your life will follow the desires and the passions of your heart. The heart must be made new by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit…If the heart is not changed, neither is the man. (Ezekiel 36:26 -27 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh…”
    John Flavel very wisely observed that “The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God!”
    Christianity affects the heart. It is not a system of moral conduct. Salvation is the work of God in a person’s heart. It is the conviction of sin, it is repentance, it is faith, and it is worship…all of which are works of the heart.
    J. Stowell in “Fan The Flame” said “Heart is used in scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authen-tic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It is the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thoughts, understanding and will.” The heart is the place to which God turns…and scripture tells us it is the place God sees our true self. “Man looks on the outside, but God sees the heart!” Before anyone can “keep his heart” in a manner that will please God, there must be a reconstruction of the heart!
    How does a worm get inside an apple? Scientists have discovered that the worm comes from the inside. An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom, and sometime later the worm hatches inside the apple and eats its way out. Sin – like the worm – begins in the heart and works its way out through a person’s thoughts, words, and actions. (Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony and slander.”)
    If in God’s Word we need to be reminded about guarding our heart, then it is possible that at times our hearts are “unguarded”…and that would bring us problems. This would mean that our hearts are open to attack. The unguarded heart would allow all sorts of disruptive, useless, and harmful stuff to corrupt our lives, and compro-mise our decision making.
    The world tries to tackle the problem of the heart in a number of ways; Psychology, psychiatry try to change the heart through drugs and human manipulation that will do no good. Some try social reformation by changing the environment…which only transfers the problem; it’s like rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship!     Some say the problem is ignorance and the solution is education and enlightening peoples understanding, but it only makes for “smarter criminals” as the police would say. While all of these may or may not be important, unless the heart is changed, they are of no use.
    The Holy Spirit must come in with sovereign life giving power to create a new heart in Christ Jesus, and through the new birth - we become new creations. “Above all else, guard your heart” – is it God’s job?  (No) It is our responsibility to “keep” or “guard” our heart…”above all else!”  It is more important than church attendance; more than tithing; more than serving; more than _______ you fill in the blank. (Why?) Because it guides and determines the course of our life!

Principle 8 - Just a reminder that I am still looking at Proverbs 3 and I am at verses 27-28 –

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.”
Luke 10:29 - Who is my neighbor? Answer: Anyone who is in need.
1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

    There is a definite difference between “pity” and “compassion.”  Pity looks at our neighbor and says; “Oh, those poor people” and feels sorry for them, and goes on with life…Compassion how-ever, looks at our neighbor with tear filled eyes, and says “I must do something to help.”…. Often we are not physically able to be there and provide personal help, but there are ways we can help. Compassion will surpass sympathy and do whatever it can! 

#1 of course, we can pray. We can pray for God to somehow give wisdom as to providing for the needs of those affected.
#2 For those who are able, we can also provide  by giving to those organizations like the Red Cross and others who provide disaster relief.  We may feel that we can’t do much, if anything personally or on an individual basis, but maybe there is something we can do together, as a church, as the body of Christ.
    Brotherly love, is a love that gives.  The command for God’s people to love each other has been around since the Jewish Old Testament Law. Leviticus 19:18 says, "’Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." In John 15:12 Jesus’ command is for us to love each other... just as I have loved you." It is a sacrificial love…a love that puts others and their needs first in times of need.  In John 13:34—Jesus also said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John takes it even deeper when he says that “If you claim you are a child of God and yet “hate” any man” - in John’s sense of the word - because of his face, his place or his race – “you are walking in the darkness”…And, the love of God is not in you.
    Sure it’s easy loving my wife, and loving my friends, but loving people I find irritating, people who I think are weird, or loving people who just grate me the wrong way...that takes God’s love.  That’s why the word John chooses here is the Greek word “agape”, which describes God’s kind of love. The kind of love that’s given freely and generously, regardless of the worthiness of the person.  C. S. Lewis was right when he wrote in Mere Christianity that we spend too much time worrying about whether we really love our neighbor or not, when we should just act as if we do, and as we pray for them and do loving things for them in their time of need,  love will happen.  When we give way to feelings and attitudes of hatred that John describes we harden our own heart.
    Our love for one another is our badge of identity as Christians.  John is telling us the love we have is the badge that identifies us. When a police officer comes to your door, they will identify themselves by showing you their badge…When we claim to be saved, the badge people will see is the love - or lack there of - we have in our lives.
    Agape love is a love that gives. “For God so loved the world,…that He gave…His only Son” The love motivates the action.  John says “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, (pity is not enough…“That’s too bad” or “I feel so sorry for you”  won’t cut it…) But love with actions and truth…true compassion. We need to put hands and feet on our words and our profession of faith.

Principle #7 – “Have no fear.” ( vs. 25-26)

Psalm 3:25 “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.”

   The words of Christ himself many times over were “fear not.” The words of the angels were always “fear not.”…How can we “fear not” when there are so many things in this world to fear?
    If we didn’t have anything in our life that troubled us - our human nature would trust in self. I think our greatest fears in life come from those things that we have no control over! And, maybe that’s a good thing because we can overcome our fears by having faith in the one who can control things!
    When I use the word fear I mean all levels of fear from general apprehension and worry to dread and terror.
    Fear starts out when we are very young with fears of things like darkness, monsters, etc. and it continues into our teenage years with fears of things like rejection, humiliation and failure. But, Adulthood is also filled with possible fears such as fear of disease, death, financial problems, broken relationships, loved ones being hurt, storms, failure, aging, crime, sudden disaster – The most sudden of all will be when the Lord returns!  
    How can we fear not his return? Focus on God and “fear not” - is the consistent message of the Bible. For example, when Peter walked on the water his fear got the victory only when he lost his focus on Jesus. In Isaiah 26: 3 God has said "I will keep in perfect peace all who trust in me, who thoughts are fixed on me!" We also see the same idea and Philippians 4: 6-7 which says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
    There will be times when anxiety and fear will come into our lives, and it is then that we have a choice to make - we can choose to focus on the problem and be overcome with fear or we can choose to focus on God…and overcome our fear; knowing He will be at our side.

“Fear knocked on my door, Faith answered, there was no one there!”

 

Principle #6 – “Search diligently for wisdom”. (vs. 13-24) Read of all the benefits…

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

    Wisdom has two distinct characteristics: one is “information” the other is “know how.”  In these verses 13-20 deal with knowledge, learning, information, data, facts, and experience.  Verses 21-24 deal with perception, discernment, judgment, reason, and insight or just plain old “common sense.”

    I could use the analogy of a farmer with a tractor in the field; He must have the right equip-ment (you don’t plow with a hay rake!) He needs the right materials; He must know what to do and what not to do with it; He must know how and when to use it and when not to use it;
    Having the right things or knowing what is needed is one thing; knowing what to do, when to do it and when not to it is wisdom. These verses tell us that we need to “search diligently” for wisdom and in finding it we will be blessed! However, we can also find wisdom the hard way – by experience. But then, some people never learn from their mistakes.
    I wish I knew then what I know now!

I have been sharing thoughts from Proverbs 3 and today Principle #4 is “Honor the Lord with your wealth” (vs. 9-10 )

    Because Proverbs is the book of Wisdom, I would say it is wise (for many reasons) to honor the Lord with your wealth. Because this is a blog, I will refrain from writing a six week sermon series on the subject. I will simply direct you to 1st Corinthians 9:7 which says, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” I am a believer in the fact that God does not bless the amount, He blesses the attitude!
Now Principle #5 (we are at vs. 11-12)…“Do not despise the Lords’s discipline”
    These are the chastisements of a father, in which he deals with his children, and uses discipline for the correction, instruction, and teaching. We are not to look at those times as if they were unnecessary and unprofitable, or unworthy without considering from whence they come and for what reason they are sent. On the contrary, those times should be regarded as useful and serviceable. 2^nd Timothy 3:10-17 tells us - “ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecu-tions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
    Right in the very first verse of Proverbs we read “for attaining wisdom and discipline.” There are two different kinds of “discipline”…one is the consequence of an action; The other is an action that develops character. The later discipline is something that must become part of our character if we are to have the “abundant life” that Jesus talked about in (John 10:10) It must become a part of our life if we are to develop a “Christ-like” character, which is God’s desire for us according to (Romans 8:29) “For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”…This is God’s purpose, his reason for saving us!
    What we are really talking about is “self-discipline.” Laziness seeks short term pleasure, while self-discipline seeks long term results.  Self- discipline applied to the Bible will make us wise; Self-discipline applied to Prayer will make us powerful and effective; Self-discipline applied to our character will make us Christ-like. Developmental discipline must become intentional. It is not a “take it or leave it” part of God’s desire for us.
    Discipline is necessary in our lives because of our fallen human nature and our tendency toward laziness and sin. It’s true! We are like water in most cases we will find the path of least resistance! Discipline is not confining, but in fact, brings freedom. Think of the discipline it takes for daily exercise for instance. Most of us (because we are like water) will simply say we don’t have time…really?
    A life of regret can change simply by choosing the discipline of God’s Word over the path of human desire.  One of the things I remember from High School Physics is that “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  (Daily decisions = reaction)
    Ultimately, this is telling us that the Lord will discipline those who are not willing to discipline themselves in order to achieve the desired results.

Proverbs 3:7-8

    The Book of Proverbs is unlike most of the rest of the Bible. It’s not a story like Exodus or Job or most of the Old Testament; it is not a letter like Romans or Ephesians or any of the Epistle letters; it’s not prophecy like Isaiah or Revelation; and, it’s not poetry like Psalms. In other words Proverbs stands alone unlike any other Book of the Bible. It is called a collection of wise say-ings. We usually read it in small doses, like a daily devotional. It seems like a collection of unrelated, unconnected sayings that sort of jump all over the place, but when we look closer we will find that within the Book of Proverbs there are definite themes that emerge. One of those themes is “wisdom” which is connected with the “fear of the Lord.”

    The third part of Proverbs 3 – another directive for our lives says; “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” I know a lot of people who are “wise in their own eyes” but I have learned to be wise in the things of the Lord and never think I know it all. I always try to remember that “my ways are not God’s ways” according to scripture, and that my understanding and wisdom are not always right.

    So, this is part of what it means to “fear the Lord.” - In this age of information knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord—to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his Word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for our understanding of the world, our attitudes, and our actions. Trust in God—he will make you truly wise. Our lives are to be ones that constantly seek the Lord and His wisdom and instruction. There is only One who knows it all and it is not the person that you see when you look in the mirror.

Proverbs 3:5-6

     “God has a plan, a future, a hope, with our name on it, and He is willing to give us every form of assistance we need to live out His perfectly designed plan.” However, as with most of God’s Word or His promises, we find that we must do our part, and God will do His. The reward of “straight paths” is available if we follow the three directives that precede it; Trust the Lord with all your heart; Lean not on your own understanding; and in all your ways acknowledge Him.”

These three are our part of the bargain, so to speak, and if we do our part; He will make our paths straight.
    I want to follow up on those three directives because I think there is more wisdom to be found in this scripture. But I also want us to remember that God uses the plural here - “paths.” We have several paths in life, such as an educational path; a financial path; relationships path; an emotion-al path; a career path; as well as a spiritual path. God will make them all straight if;
#1. We trust Him with all our heart.
    “Trust” is the key. To trust means to rely on for security; to depend upon in many areas of need; and to have complete confidence in something or someone. Trust is the most dynamic concept of any relationship. I think that’s why it is listed first.
    For those who are married or have been married, think about how important your trust in your spouse is or was in your relationship, and how these three areas of security; dependence; and confidence come into play. All kinds of problems stem from a lack of trust in any one of these three areas. And, when there is a lack of trust, the relationship is destroyed. How many know that it takes a long time to restore a lost trust. In many cases it never happens.
    For those who find themselves alone, by choice or by circumstance, let me ask this; who is your trust in?  Is it in yourself? Have you resolved to make your own way in life?  Who do you depend on? Where is your confidence? If it is in the Lord your God, you are on the right track.
    When we begin to put our trust in God, and He becomes our security, and we depend on Him to provide our every need. Because we love Him, we can have confidence that He is always faithful and just, and “in all things will work for our good” which is another way of saying “he will make our paths straight.” 
    Secondly, God will make our paths straight if we can learn to “lean not on our understanding.” This was a hard lesson for me to learn. The story behind all of that is in my book “By His Hand” (Available at Amazon.com) Okay, back from our commercial break….It simply means that we need to be cautious about making decisions or responding to people, or circumstances based on human perspective; or feelings; or reasoning. What do you suppose Moses thought when God told him to put his staff in the water? Maybe he thought God wanted to see how deep it was! Or, find out where the rocks were! Do you think Moses had the slightest inkling that the sea would part and they would cross on dry ground? Again, what do you suppose was going through Joshua’s mind when God said “Just march around the city seven times and give a shout!”… “Lean not on your own understanding.”
    Human judgments are always limited and usually wrong. What we see, hear, feel, from our perspective may cause any one of the big three: doubt and fear and worry. But when that happens we need to go back to directive #1 – “Trust”…and follow it up with #2 Lean not on our own understanding!
    O.K. #3 – “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Remember that little word “all”…not in some ways or not just in some paths…like “I can acknowledge God when it concerns my spiritual path, but I’m not sure about my career path or my financial path…?  All means all! It means to recognize His presence, wisdom, guidance, power, and authority in every area of our life because God is involved in every area of our life!
    “In all your ways” sounds a little like “with all your heart” doesn’t it?  And, it does not mean we can acknowledge Him 9 times out of ten…or 99 times out of 100 but ALways! It doesn’t mean only when we need Him, or only when we are around each other, or in times of crisis, but all the time!
    And, we must acknowledge Him in all our “paths”… for instance: we need to acknowledge God in our relationships; have you thanked God lately for His presence, His power, His wisdom and authority, His guidance in your marriage? Someone may say; “Well, I’m not married”! Well, how about in your family or church relationships?  Now I’m going to step on some toes…Do you really acknowledge God in your finances; or do you decide how much is enough? The Bible says in Deut. 8:18 – It is God “who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” So, what about in your career? God says “whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.” In our spiritual walk we need to acknowledge that we are nothing without God in our lives. If we want the blessing of “straight paths” then we must yield it all to Him!

“Straight paths”… How many straight paths? … ALL of them!

Prov. 3:5-6

#2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” – “Lean not on your own understanding” - “In all your ways acknowledge Him” -  Result? – “he will make your paths straight.” What paths?  What does it mean to “trust with all your heart?” What does it mean to “lean not on our own under-standing?” What does it mean “in all things acknowledge Him?”
    Life is full of right and wrong paths; false steps; dead-ends; seemingly right ways and decisions that may or may not lead to the right goal. These paths are blocked by barriers such as temptation; failing health; and many other things brought on by unwise lifestyle choices and wrong decisions. Sometimes we may have to reverse direction and go a different way… in the church we call this “repentance”. Sometimes we may have to find a way through around or over the barrier in order to find freedom.  For the Christian we can depend on the God whom we serve to help us in those times and decisions, because He tells us that He will “never leave us nor forsake us”…but, He is always there and “if we seek Him we will find Him”...and “He will make our paths straight.”
    The question today is “How do we avoid those paths that led to dead-ends?... How do we spot those false and wrong steps that may look good to us, but lead to destruction and disaster?... How can we make good and right choices and enjoy their fruit in our lives?
    The answer to all those questions is found in the Book of Proverbs. It is called the “wisdom book” as we read; “for attaining wisdom, discipline, and understanding”. Now, wisdom in Hebrew also means “skill”… so wisdom also brings the skills we need to live the kind of right and abundant life that God desires for us as His children. The Book of Proverbs sets forth a path – with the wisdom of God – that will bring us out of the labyrinth of life and give us pure, holy, and righteous direction that always has our good in mind; Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
    With that being said, let’s look at this scripture from Proverbs 3 -  It is obvious that there are four parts to this particular scripture. The first three we could say are “directives” while the fourth is the promise, reward, or result of wisely following what it says.
     What is the first directive? (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart”)… And the second directive? (“Lean not on your own understanding”)… And the third? (“In all your ways acknowledge Him”)… And the reward? ( “He will make your paths straight”.) There seems to be a reference or an underlying assumption that to “make our paths straight” means that there is greater goal or reward in doing so. “Straight paths” are helpful if not life changing, but they are not the reward, it’s what they lead to!
    I want to write more about this subject, but let me close with this thought; Notice that it says he will make our “paths” (plural) – more than one – straight…How many paths do we walk in life?... How about the path of relationships?... This may be actually three paths that God can make straight; There is the path of our personal righteousness with God? There is the path of relationships with others; There is the path of our marriage and family relationships. Or, how about our financial path; our emotional path; our career path; and especially our spiritual path?   If we follow the first three directives, God will make all our paths straight! Do you think this could be the abundant life?...

    In my experience, it seems there are four things that will bring happiness and contentment to life for all of us: Long life; Prosperity; Health; No fear or Peace.

    You could say that these are the things we really desire and seek after in life. All of these “big four” go together - like long life and health; good health can extend life. But, a lack of prosperity or fear or a lack of peace can bring stress, which can shorten life. So in fact, they all go together.
    The Book of Proverbs gives us the wisdom we need to find all of these things and more if we apply its wisdom to our lives. Take for example Proverbs 3:1-35:
¹ “My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in
¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.”

    Solomon starts off with a very matter of fact statement – “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Then he gives some very specific details of some principles that we should live by in order to have long life, prosperity, and peace. He gives a list of six wise things we should apply to our lives. I am going to give you my thoughts on these six things for at least the next six days.

#1. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.’ What Is the result? – “favour; good name in the sight of God and man.” Or, you could say that you will find favor with God and with man. I don’t know about you, but I would like that to be part of my life.
    Two things we need to define then; Love and Faithfulness. As a pastor and a Christian I have to tell you that there is only one true definition of love. It is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. I am sure you have heard this scripture many times at weddings. However, this defines not only the love between a husband and wife, but also the kind of love we ought to have and show toward one another. Look it up and put your name before all the things that are listed about love – Pastor Fred is patient... Pastor Fred is kind… How do you measure up? What part of love do you need to work on?
    What about Faithfulness? Well, it is defined as “allegiance; loyalty; a strong sense of responsibil-ity; reliable. Once again we can apply these things to a marriage; to our relationship with God; as well as to one another. What kind of person are you? Are you loving? Are you faithful?
Do you find favor with God and man…or is your life a constant case of chaos and unhappiness?
I’m just sayin…..

"The mouth of the righteous is a FOUNTAIN of life."

The second thought that I have from this verse is that life comes from the mouth. That may not be the only source of life, but the text is clear that it is one source. The mouth can be life-giving. But, it says the “mouth of the righteous.” The mouth can also hurt and destroy, but the mouth of the righteous speaks life-giving words. Words of hope; joy; peace; and love. Jesus said “the enemy comes to kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have LIFE; and have it more abundantly!”
    Notice that it says a life-giving mouth is like a fountain not a factory. The image is not of labor and sweat and weariness that somehow produces the product of life. The image is restful and clean and cool and refreshing fountain. Life bubbles up and overflows from somewhere deep within with scarcely any effort.  
    The next thing I notice is what makes a mouth into a fountain of life is “righteousness.”… "The mouth of the RIGHTEOUS is a fountain of life." God cares about our mouth. God cares about our lips and our tongue. He cares about what goes in, but he cares a lot more about what comes out. (Matthew 15:11) So I think what God means to do through the message in this simple Proverb is to help us become the kind of person whose mouth will freely, refreshingly bring forth more and more life for other people.
    So our first question has to be: What is this righteousness that makes mouths into fountains of life? How do you become the kind of person whose mouth freely brings forth life? I tried to answer this question by looking other places in Proverbs where it says something is a “fountain of life.” I thought this would show me just what it is that that turns mouths into “fountains of life.” Here's what I found:

Proverbs 13:14 says, "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life." So if the "teaching of the wise" is a fountain of life, and "the mouth of the righteous" is a fountain of life, then one element of this righteousness is true wisdom. Righteous people are people who live by the true wisdom of God’s Word.

    Then I remembered that the most crucial thing Proverbs says about wisdom is that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (9:10). So you have to assume that "the fear of the Lord" is right at the heart of the wisdom - which is the basis of the way righteous people live (fear of the Lord—wisdom—righteousness.) The surprising thing was the way this was confirmed in Proverbs 14:27 which says "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life."

    So I conclude that the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (10:11) because righteous-ness is a life based on true wisdom which is a fountain of life (13:14), and true wisdom is a fountain of life because it begins with the fear of the Lord, which is a fountain of life. (14:27)
    When you think about the fear of the Lord or when you look up Psalm 36:9. The fear of the Lord means at least two things:

1. It means we stand in awe of the majesty and power and justice and holiness and grace of God. We tremble at his Word (Isaiah 66:2);  

2. It means that we shudder with dread at the thought of how terrible it would be to forsake this great God. As Joseph said; “Why should I do such a thing and sin against my God!”

    So those who fear the Lord stay with the Lord. They love the fellowship of God more than any-thing. And because they stay with the Lord and don't forsake him for broken cisterns in the world, their roots are in the eternal fountain of life, God himself.
    This is what Psalm 36:9 says: "You [God] give them to drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life." God Is a Fountain of Life and the Righteous Live on God. Now we are getting to the very bottom of things. Now we know why righteousness makes the mouth into a fountain of life. The reason is that righteousness is a life based on true wisdom, and true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord roots people in God himself and keeps us close to him in personal fellowship, and God—and God alone—is the ultimate, self-replenishing, inexhaustible fountain of life.

"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life" because GOD is a fountain of life and the righteous live according to the life-giving flow of the Word of God in their lives.