Seven Things God Hates

Proverbs 6:16-19

How would you explain the difference between things you don’t like, and things you hate?  Sometimes we use the word “hate” when we ought to say “dislike.”… Like: “I hate it when someone drives too slow on the freeway”…or do you “dislike” it? Do you dislike adultery or do you hate it? Do you dislike child abuse, or do you hate it?  To dislike something means that you may not like it but you can tolerate it; however, to hate or detest something goes deeper than that.

    Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us that these are not things God dislikes, but things He hates! He detests them. The list is not all inclusive. It is only a representative portion of the whole. We know that Solomon could have listed far more, but they would all probably fall under one of these categories.
#1.“Haughty eyes.”  Basically, this is Pride: self-exaltation, conceit, arrogance, haughtiness, putting oneself above others, looking down upon others, scorn, contempt. Pride can be hidden in the heart as well as openly displayed. This is what causes racial, financial, and social prejudice. It is the Pharisee, who says, “Thank God that I am not like other men”…Over-valuing ourselves and under-valuing others is called “haughty eyes” and God hates it!
#2. “A lying tongue.” If Satan is “the father of lies” as the Word says, then why do you suppose God hates lies?  The Word also says that a “liar is one who neither loves the truth nor speaks the truth.”  There are two words that come to mind as it concerns lies; deception and destruction. People lie to deceive most often. We may be embarrassed, or unwilling, or caught doing something we ought not do…and we lie in order to to deceive. What is worse than that is lying in order to destroy someone or make them look bad.
#3. “Hands that shed innocent blood”. What comes to mind on this one? I am not going to elaborate on this other than to say that for me it brings to mind things like; 9-1-1 and abortion and the capital punishment or the death penalty issues.
#4. “A heart that devises wicked schemes.” This is a person who is always planning evil so that there is an ever-on-going lack of peace. The Middle-East crisis comes to mind here, but we have plenty of people right here in our own country who would fit this bill.
#5. “Feet that are quick to rush into evil”. They just don’t care about life nor do they value life, they are quick tempered, and violent. They have an “only the strong survive” attitude. They thrive on the fact that people are afraid and they feed on fear. They don’t care about “consequence” and their conscience is “seared” as Paul would say; “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Isaiah 59:6)
#6. “A false witness”. It is one thing to lie, it is another to give false witness. A false witness spreads rumors or slanders another for the purpose of “covering up” something, or malicious intent of harm. The easiest way of destroying another persons character or integrity is “false witness.” The whole premise behind the capture and persecution and death of Jesus was “false witness.” Once again – lying in order to destroy…maybe there is a reason this is mentioned twice!
#7. Finally, and I think this may be the one that stands out among the seven…”Six things God hates, seven that he detests”…Maybe because this one destroys the work of God in building His kingdom. This one will destroy the church. This one will prevent growth. This one will damage the spiritual relationship between us and God, This one will destroy our relationships with one another…which breaks all 10 commandments!  “A man who stirs up “dissension”… Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself…This one – this dissension - destroys both! You could apply this as well to the work place; or to any kind of team effort…dissension will destroy it.
These things it says, are “detestable” in His sight…Remember, He does not just dislike them…

From my book "By His Hand"
Straight Paths –
Life has been rightly called a “labyrinth”. Webster defines a labyrinth as “an intricate combination of paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way or reach the exit.” Life is certainly full of many different paths, false steps, dead-ends, wrong turns, and we can easily make unwise decisions. The question is; “How do we make good, right choices that will lead us through the maze of life and avoid the pitfalls and consequences of unwise decisions?”
    The Book of Proverbs, says “for attaining wisdom, discipline, and understanding”. It not only shows us the right way to get through the labyrinth of life, but also describes for us in no uncertain terms, that we “reap what we sow”.  Let me give you just one: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
    These words encompass several things. First, there is the insinuation of guidance; “He will make” means that God will guide us when faced with choices and decisions. Second, is the issue of “straight” paths verses “crooked” paths. Crooked paths symbolize the junkyards and swamps, the ditches and scars and bitterness that are the consequences of wrong and unwise decisions. The wisdom of “straight paths” means freedom from the baggage many of us are dragging through life; and not being encumbered with painful memories and indiscretions of the past.       
    There is a goal in mind, and an end in sight. There is an exit to find and a hope for true freedom. God created us for a purpose. He has a goal in mind, and he desires to help us find it while achieving our purpose along the way. However, all this is preceded by something required of us – “Trust in the Lord with all our heart”; “Leaning not on our own understanding”; and, “in all your ways acknowledge Him.” This promise comes with some “ifs”... If we do our part, God will do His part.

 

    According to the Bible, God has given man two free gifts that solve the two problems of mankind. Man’s #1 Problem is SIN.  God has provided the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ His Son and his sacrificial death on the Cross of Calvary. Man’s #2 problem is that he is a SINNER.  That is, we have a sinful nature that is bent toward sin and pleasure and power. To help us with this battle with the sinful nature God has also given the free gift of the Holy Spirit. Both gifts must be accepted to do us any good at all. However, we must receive the first before we receive the second. These two gifts from God - along with the “inspired” owner’s manual - give us “everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)
    In His Word, God offers us four things that can become a part of our lives when - and if - we accept His gifts, and allow the Holy Spirit to “do His thing!”  The first is that God offers through His Holy Spirit to “lead us.” The primary goal of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into “Christ-likeness.” He will guide our thoughts, and direct our paths according to God’s will. I have looked back on my life and found that God was guiding and directing my paths in life even when I didn’t know it.
    Second, God offers us the “power” of the Holy Spirit. Someone once said that “knowledge is power” and perhaps that’s the real power we receive; the knowledge of truth. The Bible says that the “things of the Spirit are foolishness to those who are without the Spirit”, but the Spirit opens blind eyes and deaf ears, and softens even the hardest heart. We receive power over Satan and temptations. We receive the power to witness and to stand on, and grow in, our faith. We receive the power to use the gifts and talents we have been given for God’s glory. The knowledge of God and His Word is a powerful thing!
    Third, we receive and begin to bear, the “fruit of the Spirit”. If you read (John 15:1-17) you can better under-stand the Spirit’s role in “bearing fruit” in our lives. I personally believe that the proof or “manifestation” of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our life is not “gifts” it is “fruit!”  Whatever spiritual gift we have received from God is virtually useless without the “fruit of the Spirit” to back it up.
    Fourth, of course, is that we receive the gifts of the Spirit. 1^st. Corinthians 12:7 tells us that the gifts are “given for the common good.” These are to help us become participators rather than spectators of God’s work in the world. The gifts of the Spirit are given - not to bring “competition” but rather “contribution.”
    We have been given a two-fold gift from God; the work of Jesus, the Son of God “for us” and the work of the Holy Spirit “in us.” One is our eternal gift…the other is our internal gift. Both are intricate parts of our growth as Christians.