PROVERBS
LESSON 5
GODLY MEN
By PAULINE SMITH
When Mr. Johnson came in, his teenage class seemed to be all talking at once. Jim asked him if he had read about Andy Johnson being killed. "Yes, said Mr. Johnson, " and it makes me very sad, He was only 22 and he was he only son that the Johnsons had. They are very deeply grieved, not only about his death but the cause of it. He was very foolish to listen to the young woman who lived on Wilkes Street. According to the news item Andy had foolishly told the young woman who phoned him that he would be right over. She had told Andy that her husband was out of town on business and would not be back for two days. She had cooked a cake and insisted he stay and eat some. She also got herself and Andy each a beer. They were eating and drinking and laughing and talking when her husband walked in. Andy and the woman got up and Andy said he had to be going. Her husband said, "Come into the bedroom first." When Andy came into the bedroom, he shot him dead saying, "This will be the last time you come to my house when I’m away from home. "
Of course he was very foolish to kill Andy but it happened like Solomon told of in Proverbs 7. I will read you verses 19-27 from it, It tells in verse 19 that the woman said to the young man, "’My husband is not home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon. With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn turn in her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death."
Then Mr. Johnson said, "Proverbs 6::20 says ‘My son , keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teachings." He goes on to say in verse 24 that heeding what our fathers tell us will be ‘keeping us from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife."
Lawrence said, "I think that is why my father told me to stay away from the pool hall on State Street. He said that immoral men and women like to go there and try to get boys to do things of which we would be ashamed .. I thought he was being critical of them but I guess he could see things going on that I didn’t"
"Yes, Lawrence, he is old enough to see things that young people don’t. Did you have a question, James?"
James replied, "Yes, I did, Mr. Johnson. I have a friend who goes to some church that goes by a name that I’ve forgotten. He says they have members in their church that are gay. He says they even have gay preachers. He says their church teaches that God loves gay people who are just born that way and it is fine for them to live their lives as they desire.. Does the Bible teach that?"
Mr. Johnson replied, "All people sometimes have sinful desires sometimes but we are not to give over to them. We are to put down sin and live according to the commandments of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5::29 ‘ If your right hand causes us to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of the body than for your whole body to go into hell.’ Jesus did not mean this literally but meant that we must give up anything that causes us to sin--even though it is like cutting off our right hand.
Being gay is not a new way of life, The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had many such men and much wickedness. Because of this God destroyed them by raining burning sulfur (sometimes translated fire and brimstone} on them. You may want to read Genesis 18 and 19 if you do not remember the story In the King James version of the Bible such people were called sodomites.. In most states sodomy was a crime in the past and in a few states it still is.. In Leviticus 20:13 the amplified version says, "The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have brought it upon themselves". The penalty for adultery was also death. Again I quote the amplified version for I Corinthians 9,10 in which Paul says ‘Don’t you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshippers, adulterers or homosexuals--will have no share in his kingdom, Neither will thieves, or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers.’ So Paul tells us that if we believe God approves of homosexuals (or gay people), we are fooling ourselves. In Proverbs 8:12 Solomon tells us that wisdom says, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil, I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
There is one more thing that I want to talk to you about before the end of the class. That is the importance of marriage. Most of you aren’t dating yet but you need to give serious thought to this because your happiness is largely determined by this. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 19:13,14. ‘A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping, Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.’
One time my nephew, who had been discharged from the army and was wanting to get married and settle down, complained that he wasn’t meeting girls he wanted to marry. I told him that he wasn’t looking in the right places. I knew that at that time he was going to places where he definitely was not going to meet the kind of girl who would be a good wife. Maybe he thought about my remark as he married a fine Christian girl who has been a good wife and mother through the years Proverbs 31:10-12 tells us, ‘A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.’ If you will read Proverbs 31:10-31 you will find a description of the good wife. I hope that all of you that marry will find this kind of wife. In verse 30 we read, ‘....a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." That is the most important trait of the woman you plan to marry.
I hope you boys will grow into godly men with godly wives and I will see you next Sunday".
1. To love the Lord is to __________ evil..
2. Solomon tells us to keep our __________ commands and not to forsake our __________ teaching.
3. We (should, should not) ____________ go where immoral people like to meet.
4. God loves homosexuals but he _________________ their way of life.
5.Sodom was the home of (many, few) _________ homosexuals.
6.Sodom and Gomorrah were ____________.
7.A quarreling _________ is like a constant dripping.
8.A _________ of noble character is more precious than rubies.
9. A prudent wife is a gift from _________.
10..A woman who fears the _____________ shall be praised.