Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro
 
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. Proverbs 17:8

Bribes are interesting things in the world around us.  I remember going on a trip to Mexico and experiencing the power of a bribe.  I watched as our group was slowed to a halt at the border.  It was very apparent that we were going to be held up for a long amount of time unless a bribe was paid.  Fortunately for us (because the border guards were talking hours before they would let us through - if even allowing us at all) the people who took us knew of these shady dealings and had money actually budgeted for bribes if they were necessary.  Once the money was paid, the wheels were greased and we were taken through customs (where we knew we had every passport and visa in order) and were on our way to minister to those for whom we had come to minister. 

A bribe is like a charm in the sight of its owner.  That charm often takes a situation where you are stalled or opposed and turns it around.  Suddenly you are moved from a stalled status - to a faorable one.  You are afforded favor where once there was no favor.  Now realize that Solomon is not saying that this is something wonderful - for elsewhere in the Scriptures we read where those who will receive bribes are those who pervert justice in doing so.  But as with some of the Proverbs - this book was written to speak of the basic behavior of men - and the blessing of knowing this behaior in advance. 

There is something that needs to be said about bribes though.  We read where Solomon speaks of how a bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner.  The "briber" here is thinking that his bribe will get him whatever he wants.  There are two instances where this will not be the case.  In fact, in these two cases a bribe will be seen as offensive and degrading.  The first place is with a just and righteous man.  To him a bribe says two things.  First it says that the men with whom he is dealing is not an honorable man.  He is not willing to let his character and works stand on their own.  He feels the need to help things along with money.  The second case is at the throne of God.  There is no payment that is enough to bribe God.  He is holy and cannot be bribed or misled by some payment.  Bribes can work like charms and prosper a man when used on the ungodly.  But remember that just as the man thinks he can charm a cobra and make it do what he wants - so also that situation - that cobra can turn on him.  If a man will receive a bribe from you - he will receive a larger one from someone else.  It is better to allow your character to speak and be the reason you prosper.  To do otherwise may gain you prosperity on earth - but will never bless you in the sight of God. 
 
 
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5

Like deep, still waters, so the hearts of men can deeply conceal their plans.  The word "plan" here is key to understanding this particular proverb.  What this word means will govern what we need to learn.  The word is "esah" and it means advice or a plan.  What helps us most in understanding this word is the comments of Zhodiates who says the following about this word.  "It sometimes suggests the idea of a plot." 

The plots and plans of wicked men are hidden deep in still waters deep within their hearts.  Isaiah speaks of these kinds of hidden plans and plots when he says, "Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, 'Who sees us?' or 'Who knows us?'" (Isaiah 29:15).  Thus we come to understand that this proverb is warning us of the ungodly plots of the wicked.  We are told that these plans exist hidden deep within the hearts of the wicked - but a man of understanding will draw them out.

This ability belongs only to the "man of understanding."  He is the one who possesses the ability to distinguish between the good and bad, true and false, and the forthright and the one whose motives are deeply hidden.  This man of understanding has the capacity to look through outward actions and words, and see the hidden places of the human heart.  This one does not accept everything at face value alone.  He not only estimates their words, but the deep underlying motives and aims that are behind them.  It is such wisdom that allows the man of understanding to discern hidden motives or hidden agendas.  This is the way that he draws out the hidden plans and plots of the wicked. 

In the New Testament this Spirit-given ability is called the gift of discernment - or discernment of spirits.  It is a wonderful gift God has given to some to see below the surface.  They are able to see into the heart by God's grace.  What they see allows them to read below those deep waters - and see the real reason something is being said or done.  Normally, without the Spirit of God, someone could easily pull the wool over our eyes and deceive us.  A plan might be laid that we think is gracious, but actually has harm in store for us.  That is when the ability to draw out the plans and plots of men is such a blessing. 
 
 
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. Proverbs 11:6

There are reasons to be righteous and godly that are expalined by the path itself.  Such is the case with today's proverb.  It is one that is kind of self-explanatory.  Let's take a look.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them.  This simply means that the fact that we live a life that is right in the eyes of the Lord will be a source of deliverance itself.  Let me give an example.  I knew a brother who was wrongfully accused and stood before a federal court in what could only be described as a no-win situation.  His lawyer counselled him to 'bend' and 'twist' the truth a little during his testimony so that he would be seen by the jury and the judge in a better light.  He struggled with this advice because he knew the Lord wanted him to simply speak the truth.  The morning of his testimony God confirmed this to him and he purposed in his heart to speak the truth - even if it made him look bad in court.  As he testified he spoke only the truth.  Several times this should have made him look bad - but he spoke it any way.  When he came off the stand - his lawyer looked at him amazed.  He said to him, "Your testimony just won this case."  Sure enough that is exactly what happened.  The righteousness of this brother's testimony was what delivered him.  When they saw his honesty and his godly behavior on the stand - the jury and the judge knew that this man was not guilty of the charges that had been leveled at him. 

The treacherous don't come out as well in the end though.  We are told that their own greed with cause them to be caught.  To be treacherous simply means that someone is untrustworthy.  They cannot be trusted.  In the end, it will be their own greed that will be their downfall.  They will want a little too much - and will reach beyond where they should - and that will ruin them. 

What a great picture for us.  Doing what is right delivers us - it delivers us from so much just for doing the right thing.  First and foremost it means we are NOT doing the wrong thing.  We are not doing something illegal or ungodly.  The very good choices of the righteous means that they are not making bad choices.  This protects them greatly from serious error and serious problems.  But the ungodly - they are just weaving a net for their own feet with their lying ways.  The web of lies and deceit they weave - meant for someone else - meant for some poor sap to step into - winds up being the very trap they themselves will fall into to their demise. 


 
 
A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies. Proverbs 14:5

The trustworthy man is the witness who does not lie or bend the truth.  He is dependable and reliable.  What he says he will do.  There is also the reliability of what he says - when he says it - it is the truth.  In Jesus' day some religious hypocrites would say that it was fine to bend or misrepresent the truth - unless you were swearing to tell the truth - or basing your statement on some oath you made to speak the truth.  To Jesus this was totally unacceptable.  He said, "Let your yes be yes and your no, no."  Your word is your bond.  This is the attitude of the trusthworthy witness.  Jesus said that anything beyond your word being your bond is of the evil one.  This may sound a little harsh - but to couch anything in lies - and to make your word something other than the truth is satanic.  The trusthworthy man WILL NOT LIE!

It seems simple - but the false witness utters lies.  We are not used to such blunt talk in our day of bending and stretching the truth.  We are used to things like spin and qualified statements.  Such is the world we live in where truth lies fallen in the streets - especially in the streets of Washington D. C.  There is much that the Bible says about a culture that has tossed truth to the side.  It will be a difficult world to live in - one fraught with troubles.  That is why speaking the truth is important.  That is why God put this one in the 10 Commandments - "Thou shall not bear false witness." 

This becomes even more important when sharing the way of salvation.  When we become witnesses to the gospel - we need to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  Too often in our day we have genius' who have decided that we can package the gospel in a way that is less offensive and that will garner greater receptivity.  There is a word for those who practice this kind of foolishness - false witnesses.  We need to share the gospel just as it is - as good news!  But we cannot hide the sinfulness of man - or the work of the law in condemning sinners before a holy God and still be a truthful witness.  We cannot take the Lordship of Jesus Christ and repentance and lay them aside because they lower our success rates - and still call ourselves God's witnesses.  These things are nothing more than lies. 

One thing we should remember when sharing the gospel - and honestly - when sharing anything.  Truth may hurt - it may offend - but it is the only thing that will set men free.  To share anything else is simply putting ourselves in the camp of those who are false witnesses.  Some may say that if we do this - we won't see as many people saved.  My answer to them is that it is the ONLY way to see people saved.  Salvation is God's work - not ours.  If we do not speak His truth - and trust Him to open a man's heart, granting repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - no one will be saved.  Be a truthful witness.  Refuse to lie - no matter the issue.  In time men will come to know you as one who speaks the truth . . . and they will trust you.  The other option here is out of the question.
 
 
Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Giving . . . here is an area where I struggle with presenting the truth.  Just a personal testimony for a moment is in order.  When I became a pastor - I did not preach on giving for the first six or seven years I was at Calvary Chapel.  This was not because we did not give according to Scripture - we did.  It was because of a reaction I had to all the abuse of this area by the televangelists and others in the church.  I grieve over how the Lord Himself is dragged through the greed and abuse that happens in this area.  But it should not have surprised me - that kind of abuse has been in the church for centuries.  But, I realized through the correction of a godly elder that by not teaching on the biblical basis of giving - I was in effect robbing the saints of the true blessing God brings in this area.  That was a good word for me to hear - and since then I've tried to deal with this area from time to time with the saints. 

I love the way Solomon speaks of giving here.  He does not even use that term.  "Honor the LORD from your wealth . . ."  What a great way to speak of giving.  It is not like we're able to give God anything anyway.  The Word teaches us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides.  He owns everything.  Solomon himself said that all that he had given God had come from God's own hand anyway.  So giving is not a matter of our generosity.  The fact that we have anything to give is a matter of God's generosity to us.  What we are doing is honoring Him from the wealth He has given us. 

Why do we need to honor God from the FIRST of all our produce?  It is because when we do this - our honoring God will not be affected by covetousness or greed.  Too often we make the Lord the last thing we do with what He's given to us.  Honoring Him first means we trust Him enough to know that He will provide for us.  It is a matter of faith and trust that makes us act in this way.  We don't check our budget first - or check if we could use that money for something different - maybe something we really want.  We choose to say, "God, I love You and want to honor You for all Your generosity to me!"  We make it clear through our actions - that He is first in our lives.

There is something about telling the greed that lies within the fallen human breast that God will be first that deals it a death blow.  That greed and selfishness rises up so easily.  Oh, what a wonderful thing it is to put it in its place - and to declare with boldness and confident faith, "God will be honored FIRST here - honored FIRST with my wealth - honored FIRST before self even enters the scene."  That kind of faith statement prepares us for great blessing.



What kind of blessing comes when we honor God with our wealth and the first of all our produce?  That is the subject of verse 10 of this chapter of Proverbs.  In dealing with it we need to see what is says - but just as importantly - what it does NOT say.

First, what it says . . . when we honor God from our wealth and the first of all that we have, God promises that our barns will be filled and our vats will overflow with new wine.  God promises abundance to those who honor Him.  There is a blessing for those who put selfishness and covetousness in its place.  There is promised abundance for us.  There is no other way to look at this from the full teaching of Scripture.  But there is wisdom to grasp here - for often these texts are used as a pretext for our greed. 

What does this verse NOT say?  It does not say that it is God's will for us to be rich - to have health, wealth, and prosperity at all times and in all situations.  First of all there is the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.  If health, wealth, and prosperity IS God's will for everyone - why didn't Jesus embrace it?  He said that He did not have a place to lay His head.  Scripture teaches us that He became poor for our sakes.  That poverty included physical wealth.  Jesus did not go out and give Himself to make tremendous amounts of money.  In His death He had no great physical inheritance to offer.  Not only Jesus lived this way - but John the Baptist did as well.  He chose poverty in serving the Lord.  Paul spoke in Philippians of knowing how to live with much as well as with little or nothing.  The famous passage, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," refers to financial contentment - as well as contentment in all circumstances.  Job's setbacks and temporary financial ruin was allowed by God for a season.  He lost everything - his wealth, health, and prosperity.  Today's false prophets of health, wealth, and prosperity would have eagerly joined Job's three friends in condeming him for his circumstances - saying that if he had enough faith - everything would be restored instantly.

Then we have the Thessalonian believers - who were heavily persecuted for their faith - as well as all those in our day who are their heirs in the persecuted church of the 20th and 21st century.  Hebrews speaks of those who willingly allowed their property to be taken from them.  Others have lost jobs and some lost everything including their lives to hold fast to Christ - and to honor God.  The poor widow who gave everything she had - which amounted to about 2 cents - was not castigated for her poverty.  She was praised for the extreme honor she gave to the Lord - trusting Him with everything she had. 

Oh, how it grieves me - and I believe it grieves Almighty God - when we make wealth and riches our pursuit - rather than honoring God.  The twisting of Scripture that goes on when a religious huckster says that if you give God 100 dollars - He will return 1000 into your lap - is nothing more than the words of a greedy liar who would take from you the blessing of honoring God.  Instead he would have you think that God is a spiritual slot machine.  Insert a certain amount of giving - pull the lever - and you've hit the jackpot!  God did not mean for our giving to be some religious casino experience.  The Word is clear here - this is to be an experience in honoring God - not seeking honor for self in what we'll get back. 

That is why I love this passage in Proverbs.  The whole purpose of this practice is to "honor the LORD."  That is what should be driving our giving to Him.  A desire to honor Him and worship Him through the experience.  This mindset will guard us from the deceivers who would take giving and make something about us.  Instead giving it put in the right context - the context of honoring God!