Nuggets of wisdom from the small and insignificant Rev Chong Fui Yung

Topic: Nuggets of Wisdom from the Small and Insignificant

Text: Proverbs 30:24-28

Rev Chong Fui Yung

15 October 2017

Proverbs 30:24-28

24 "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:

25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26 conies are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;

27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;

28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.

INTRODUCTION

We can learn spiritual lessons from four small creatures which are insignificant but unusually wise. Nonetheless, God has seen it fit to mention them. In contrast, the horse, lion and eagle are larger and more powerful. Verses 29 to 31 say that a lion, a strutting cock, a he-goat and a king with his army around him, move with stately bearing.

1.         THE ANTS – A Good Concept of Time

Verse 25 – “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.” Myrmecology is the scientific study of ants. There is some wisdom that can be gained from ants. We may think there is not much to an ant. Ants are not strong but there is something about them that we can learn from. They are wise and well prepared for adverse situations. Proverbs 6:6-8 - Learn from the ants. They prepare for tomorrow. They don’t lie around and wait for handouts. They are aware of the times and the need and act on it. Ecclesiastes 3 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” The ants know this concept. When winter comes and is freezing cold, when food is scarce and hard to get, they don’t need to go out and worry about food. They have a great concept of the future and wisely know how to prepare for it. The most important preparation for us for the future is to be ready for Jesus’ return. Have you made peace with God? Is your future and eternity secure? Are you ready at any minute to meet with your Creator? Ants are wise and store up food in the summer. Are you storing up treasures for yourself in heaven?

Do we have this right perspective of time like the ants?

Ø  NOW is the time to respond to the Lord.

2.         THE CONIES (ROCK BADGERS) – A Great Concept of Security

Verse 26 – “Conies are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags.” They live in the small cracks and shallow crevices of the rocks. Their home is on the solid rocks. Their main defensive move is to hide in the cracks and crevices of the rocks where their predators are not able to reach them. Similarly, Christ is our Rock and Redeemer. We sing, “Rock of ages, Cleft for me. Let me hide myself in Thee.” Psalm 18:2 – God is our Rock. We stand firm and secure in Him. That’s what the rock badgers are reminding us of – Trust and hope in God. He is our Refuge, Protector and Strength.

How does the badgers’ choice of living environment give them security and protection?

From where or from whom do we receive protection and security in life?

3.         THE LOCUSTS – A Great Concept of Strength

Verse 27 – “Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks.” Locusts are rarely mentioned in the singular. They know the strength of numbers. They move together in swarms. The direction they pursue seems to be almost instinctive. They have no king and are leaderless. They do not need directive, but each doing their part together as they move forward. Our primary loyalty is to God and His kingdom. Our priority is to win people to God’s kingdom. Like the locusts, we need to do it in unity. We are knit together, united in love and closely linked. We have that strong bond together. We have the same God, same spirit.

How can we move forward like the locusts together in ranks?

In terms of goal and purpose; in terms of each doing their part according to gifts and abilities for the advancement of God’s kingdom, and for the building up of one another for the extension of God’s church. There is strength in unity. That’s what the locusts are teaching us today.

4.         THE LIZARD – A Great Sense of Place

Verse 28 – “A lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.” There is no place exempt from the lizard. It is a difficult visitor to keep out. They seem to have the sense of belonging wherever it goes. However, once it is caught, its life is over. Yet they can slip past vigilant palace guards and be found even in kings’ palaces. What wisdom shall we take from the lizard? As God’s people, we need to live in God’s kingdom and remain faithful till we meet our Lord. We have a place through the One who is the Creator. We need to live as God’s people and see our self-worth in God’s creation.

Life is transitory but we have our place in God through Jesus Christ. We have a place in the King’s Palace. I have prepared a room

1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.”

John 14:2, 3 – “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

How does this give us an assurance in view of the transitoriness of one’s life?

We can and will dwell in palaces in the presence of Almighty God.

CONCLUSION

The common factor is that these are four small things, but extremely wise in their own ways. We would be wise to learn from them. At times, we may feel small and insignificant. Nonetheless, God values you. He has a purpose towards which you can contribute and play a significant role, just like these four small things.

In Christ we have

1.    A present and future

2.    Our security

3.    Our strength

4.    A place and position

Let’s take another good look at ourselves, recognize all that God provides for us and recognize the ways God can use each one of us. Let the wisdom of these four small things, seemingly so insignificant, bless and enrich our lives. May we know our worth and value before God. Let’s be a blessing to others.

REFLECTION

How can these nuggets of wisdom be applied to our walking wisely in life?

The Foolish, the wise and the Prosperous

The Foolish, the wise and the Prosperous

Proverbs 28:25-27, 14:24

Pr Janice Chin

1 October 2017

Formulas from Proverbs 

- much wisdom to be found in Proverbs; one theme is money, many sayings touch on this topic;
- prosperity in context of this sermon to be generally defined as wealth, riches, success, etc.

Some formulas from Proverbs? 

1) Prosperity = God's blessing

    Prosperity = God’s blessing (Proverbs 3:9-10; 10:22; 13:4) 

- prosperity is good; sign of God's favour;
- think abt OT characters like Abraham, Joseph and David; material blessings a sign of their chosenness, as God's blessed ppl/man;
- we generally consider favourable circumstances to be blessing from God; rightly so, when we perceive a blessing we should credit it to God;
- Does this formula mean: If you are prospering, God is blessing you? And if you are not prospering, God is not blessing you?
-  

2) Foolish living = Not Prosperous

2. Foolish living ≠ Prosperous (Proverbs 12:2; 14:24; 21:17)
-  cause and effect; a retribution kind of idea, which is good behaviour guarantees good outcome; e.g. if you are kind, you will receive kindness;
- Job's friends believed Job's suffering was due to his doing; blind man was blind because of either his sin or his parents' sin;
- a friend who is an auditor, she chose to reject boss' instruction to cheat, she lost her job and promotion, but now several yrs later she has a great job and earning much more; 
- Does this formula mean: If you are living God’s way, then you will prosper? If you are not living God’s way, then you will not prosper?

- why do the wicked prosper? how can formulas #1 and #2 be true and right? Psalm 73 talks about this conflict of reality;
- these two formulas are absolutely true IF we view prosperity (its definition) and life timeline differently; the psalmist in Ps 73 realised each of us have a final destiny, that we will receive our final judgment before God;
- e.g. principle of sowing and reaping, yes it is absolutely true, but we may sometimes not see the final reaping until the ultimate end; 

Psalm 73

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.

5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.

11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"

12 This is what the wicked are like- always carefree, they increase in wealth.

13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

3) Wisdom > Wealth
(Proverbs 15:16; 16:16; 22:1-4; 28:25-27)

- these verses tell us wisdom is ultimately what both rich and poor alike should pursue; the Lord is the maker of all; no matter your wealth, are you humble, righteous, generous, enjoy good relationships, have inner peace?
- on one hand, good standing with God is better than riches, on the other hand, when you have good standing with God it IS riches itself;
- "fear of the Lord is the beginning of..."? Do you fear the Lord?
- To walk wisely is to hold several (sometimes what might seem conflicting) truths in tension;

Poverty is not the opposite of prosperity; poverty is a part of prosperity. Do you recognize you are to be poor in spirit (blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God)? To be rich towards God and others? Being generous not only in abundance but in lack, with not only money but your time, energy, encouragement of others, etc.
- Pr Janice's aunt who has come to know the Lord; she has changed so much; well-to-do but very dependent on God now, sees God as source of her blessings; 
- you may not think you are among "the rich" category, but compared with many around the world you are among the very fortunate; it is relative; do you enjoy a vibrant and growing relationship with God?
- Are you seeking God’s wisdom more than wealth? Are you not seeking God’s wisdom more than wealth?

Proverbs 15:16

16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

Proverbs 22:1-4

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;

to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.

3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honour and life.

"Let us never give way to the common idea that people are to be valued according to their income, and that the person who has most money is the one who ought to be the most highly esteemed. There is no authority for this notion in the Bible. The general teaching of Scripture is flatly opposed to it. “Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble are called” (1 Cor. 1:26). “Let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he knows and understands me” (Jeremiah 9:24). Wealth is no mark of God’s favor. Poverty is no mark of God’s displeasure. Those whom God justifies and glorifies are seldom the rich of this world. If we would measure people as God measures them, we must value them according to their grace."
~ J.C. Ryle

Questions: 

1. What do we observe about prosperity, from the verses referenced in the sermon? Any seeming conflicts? Any new insights? 
2. How should we live out (apply) God’s principles on prosperity, as disciples today? 
3. Share a prayer need with regard to this topic: Please pray for me, because ____________

Proverbs 9 Wisdom

Proverb 9

9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For through me 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."

17 "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"

18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

What is Happiness By Athena Orchard

On 28 May 2014, a 13-years old girl named Athena Orchard died of Bone Cancer. Days after her passing, the family while removing a mirror from her bedroom, discovered that she has written a message at the back of the mirror and it was comforting to know she had some wisdom even with such illness.

http://www.littlethings.com/athena-mirror/?utm_source=jclu&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=inspiring

Here is Athena’s message in full:

“Happiness depends upon ourselves. Maybe it’s not about the happy ending, maybe it’s about the story. The purpose of life is a life of purpose. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. Happiness is a direction not a destination. Thank you for existing. Be happy, be free, believe, forever young. You know my name, not my story.

You have heard what I’ve done, but not what I’ve been through. Love is like glass, looks so lovely but it’s easy to shatter.

Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change. Every day is special, so make the most of it, you could get a life ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day. Life is only bad if you make it bad. If someone loves you, then they wouldn’t let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is. Remember that life is full of ups and downs.

Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about. I want to be that girl who makes the bad days better and the one that makes you say my life has changed since I met her!

Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true. Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can’t see it. I’m waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to. Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it’s about who you can’t see spending your life without… Life is a game for everyone but love is the prize. Only I can judge me.

Sometimes love hurts. Now I’m fighting myself. Baby I can feel your pain. Dreams are my reality. It hurts but it’s okay, I’m used to it. Don’t be quick to judge me, you only see what I choose to show you… you don’t know the truth. I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged.

This is my life, not yours, don’t worry about what I do. People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!

There’s no need to cry because I know you’ll be by my side.”