Life Walk Lesson 36 — Making Godly Choices
15 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The Contrast between Psalm 10 and Proverbs 31
The difference between living a wicked or a righteous life is described in the Book of Proverbs in two ways: “the woman, folly” and, “the lady, wisdom,” — or the difference between “the harlot” of Revelation 17-18, and “the wife of noble character” of Psalm 45, Proverbs 31 and Revelation 21.
The righteous are a portrait of the Bride of Christ, who is blessed to be a blessing, living a lifestyle where both men and women help one another, build one another up, and share with one another, as Jesus said, “life and that life more abundantly” (Matthew 25:31-46; John 10:10).
Let’s Look at Psalm 10 from the New Living Translation:
1 O Lord, why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3 For they brag about their evil desires;
they praise the greedy and curse the Lord.
4 The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
5 Yet they succeed in everything they do.
They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
They sneer at all their enemies.
6 They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
We will be free of trouble forever!”
7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.
Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8 They lurk in ambush in the villages,
waiting to murder innocent people.
They are always searching for helpless victims.
9 Like lions crouched in hiding,
they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
and drag them away in nets.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed;
they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11 The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!
He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
12 Arise, O Lord!
Punish the wicked, O God!
Do not ignore the helpless!
13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
They think, “God will never call us to account.”
14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause.
You take note of it and punish them.
The helpless put their trust in you.
You defend the orphans.
15 Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!
Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
16 The Lord is king forever and ever!
The godless nations will vanish from the land.
17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so mere people can no longer terrify them.
Now let’s look at an example of a righteous life for both men and women:
Proverbs 31 New Living Translation
The Sayings of King Lemuel
1 “The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
2 O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
3 do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.”
A Wife of Noble Character
10 “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
Wisdom and Direction
Luke 14:25-33
Isaiah 6:8
When building something man-made, you need to count the cost.
When building something God-made, the cost is, Yes Lord.
The considerations are multi-layered, as Jesus points out in the passage in Luke 14.
Isaiah was a prophet, and God placed before him an opportunity, which he accepted.
Things to Consider when Building Something Man-Made
Available Finances/source of steady income.
Reliable staff or team of workers, to help with the project.
The time it takes to build. Do you have the time, and time-management skills. Is it a hobby or a city?
The amount of opposition involved -- can you handle whatever comes against your idea, even twice that?
Things to Consider when Building Something God-Made
Yes, Lord. Here am I, send me.
The possibility, or probability, of having to leave everyone you love, and everything you own, even relocating.
The warfare involved -- can you handle twice as much warfare as you already experience/persecution?
The similarities between building in the natural and in the spirit realm are quite evident. This one thing I know -- building with God is best.
In ancient times, the digging of a well, building of a wall, and the building of at least one tower, were integral parts of city planning. Whether in ancient Israel, the time period of Jesus,' earthly life, or in Medieval times, the tower was a place of fortification.
It was a gathering place of protection and provision for the community. It was a place from which one could see the enemy coming, and warn everyone to take up their posts, and protect their neighbors, even from which one could defend the city from those who tried to climb over the walls to attack the city. Jesus alludes to this concept elsewhere, when He speaks of someone coming in by any other way than by the door -- Him being the Door. [John 10:7]
So, when Jesus is talking about building a tower, and calculating the cost, to make sure you have what it takes, it is a valid question to His followers. The watchman on the wall was responsible for warning the people in the city of any coming danger.
The desired outcome of what we build comes with consequences. Jesus wants us to make informed decisions, even when following Him.
Winning Souls
Proverbs 11:30
Daniel 12:3
Matthew 4:19
1Corinthians 9:19
James 5:20
