The 14^th Sunday After Trinity

SERMON

Text: Proverbs 4:14-23

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it spring the issues of life.

In Christ Jesus, Who desires to walk with us on this path we call life, dear fellow redeemed:

The words of our Savior-God can be so comforting. Earlier this week it was my privilege to share with two of our members facing surgery Isaiah’s promise that the coming Savior would “feed His flock like a shepherd;…gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom” (40:11). We are by faith our Savior’s “lambs” and so can be comforted with the knowledge that we are being held in our Savior’s strong arms as we pass through the difficulties of this life. At times, however, the words of our Savior-God can be startling and even a bit frightening. Consider Jesus’ statement in His Sermon on the Mount, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). These stark words of warning are sobering and force us to consider the state of our faith-life and the choices we make along life’s way. Have we found the way to life, or are we on the path to destruction?

My dear friends, the Scriptures frequently speak of our Christian lives in terms of a walk along a path or road. They warn us of obstacles which Satan, the world, and our sinful flesh may place in our way and point us to the truths of God, which will provide us faithful direction. Our text, written by Solomon, is just such a passage. Let us listen today to the words of this very wise man, as he urges us all—GUARD YOUR HEARTS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE!

I.

For the paths of the wicked will only lead to destruction! Solomon begins this text with six emphatic imperatives, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it and do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on!” Just as a state highway department will put up numerous road-signs or position flag-men to warn drivers of hazards along the way, so Solomon warns us of the devastating consequences of choosing to follow “the path of the wicked.” Why such concern? Solomon goes on to provide four reasons why we should never choose to go down such a path.

First of all, he writes, “For they do not sleep unless they have done evil.” Solomon recognizes that evil can have almost an addictive quality. It appears so exciting, that people can get to the point that they believe that must have it. They can’t sleep without it. I recall some years ago counseling a young man involved in an incident of shop-lifting. When I asked him why he did it, he had no answer for me other than that when he committed the crime, he experienced an incredible “rush.” By the grace of God this young man was led to confess his sin and to recognize with sorrow that the feelings he had experienced were hardly worth the consequences he experienced. His case, however, follows the pattern suggested by Solomon. Secondly, Solomon writes, “And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.” Those who follow the “path of the wicked” develop a callous disregard for the welfare of others. Consider the gang culture within many American cities, which fosters just such an attitude towards others. Young woman are often forced to undergo repeated rapes by male gang members to secure acceptance into the gang, while young men are often told to go out and kill either members of rival gangs or innocent bystanders to prove their worthiness. In sharp contrast our Savior urges us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Thirdly Solomon says, “For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.” It does not take long for to develop an appetite for evil. One of the dangers of today’s internet is the growing number of pornographic sites, many of which involve sadomasochism—sexual violence inflicted on others or on oneself. Be careful, dear friends, what you watch, for experience tells us that Solomon is right. We can easily develop an appetite for the violence and the sensual wickedness that is now so readily available to us. Recently it was reported that four Israeli border guards were arrested after posing for pictures with young Arabs they had beaten. During an interview the head of the Israeli border guards admitted they had problems because many of the men who apply for the positions at the border do so for the very reason that they want to beat up Arabs. We might be tempted to say that such situations have little application here among us. Yet, psychologists have discovered that when people are separated by one-way mirrored glass from victims placed in sound-proof rooms, they tend to be fascinated by and enjoy watching the responses of others they can jolt with electric shocks. Why is that? The answers lie within the wicked hearts of fallen men, which when exposed repeatedly to evil tend to grow fond of it! Finally, Solomon suggests, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Choosing repeatedly to follow “the path of the wicked” leads people to absolute blindness when it comes to future consequences. Who ever takes drugs with the intention of becoming an addict? Whoever begins to drink with the intention of becoming an alcoholic? Who ever begins to gamble with the intention of loosing their home or their family? No one ever walks into wickedness assuming they will get hurt. No, Satan hides those cruel consequences behind a thin veil of excitement or pleasure. It will never happen to me seems to be the universal attitude of those who all too often end up loosing opportunities or relationship, if not everything altogether. Walking into wickedness is like walking towards the edge of a cliff in the middle of a moon-less night! It can only lead to destruction!

It is interesting to me that the overwhelming favorite session of the ten we presented at the CLC Youth Conference 2000 in Colorado this summer was the special presentation by Russell Simon. Russell, as many of you know, is a member of Grace Lutheran, our sister congregation in Fridley. He is a recovered alcoholic and drug addict who, prior to his conversion to Christianity, spent many years in prison. Russell’s message to our young people, and to those thousands of young people he addresses each year as a professional speaker, is in actuality a practical example of Solomon’s words. Russell walked in “the path of the wicked,” but by the grace of God he was delivered. Consequently, Russell’s message also reflects these contrasting words of Solomon also found in our text, “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day!” When individuals walking in the paths of wickedness are led by God’s grace to repentance, it is as if they are walking out of the darkness and into the dawn of a new day. When faith in Jesus is kindled in the hearts of a lost soul, that soul becomes one of the “just” in this world—one of those who by virtue of the righteousness of Christ can and do stand before God as His forgiven and beloved children! My dear friends, GUARD YOUR HEARTS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE! Recognize by the grace of God and the understanding granted you by the Spirit that the paths of the wicked will only lead to destruction!

II.

Rejoice as well in the understanding that the word of Your God will always lead you to salvation! Solomon in this text addresses us from the point of view of an older man—a sadder, but wiser man! God blessed Solomon during his earthly life in ways most of us cannot even imagine. He was given a wisdom unmatched by anyone in ancient times and perhaps unmatched for all of time. He was granted riches beyond our comprehension. Silver was so common during his reign, we are told, that it was viewed like the stones of the street (cf. 1 Kings 10:27). Yet, as time passed Solomon’s unbelieving wives led him into “the paths of the wicked.” By the grace of God he was led to repentance as an old man. It was as an old man that he addressed these words to his son with the hope that his son would benefit from his sad experiences and so would guard his heart and make proper choices in his life.

Solomon writes, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Solomon is again using imperatives—“give attention…incline your ears…do not let them depart…keep them.” All of these imperatives refer to the attitude we are to have towards the words of our God! Why should we listen so carefully to our God? Solomon gives us two excellent reasons. First of all, he says, “they are life to those who find them.” I have been reading an interesting non-fiction book recently written by an award winning Chicago news reporter recounting his examination of the Bible. In the book he interviews many different individuals who are experts in their biblical fields. One of those individuals interviewed was a Jew who after conversion had become a Christian pastor. When interviewed this man spoke of his spiritual struggle prior to conversion, which led him from Judaism to Buddhism to Hinduism to agnosticism, and finally after much study of the Bible to Christianity. By nature we are sinful human beings whose consciences condemn us and who apart from faith in Christ would be doomed to everlasting torment in hell. But the words of our God reveal His love for us—a love, which led Jesus to Calvary’s cross. There our sins were laid, and there our sins were paid. As Jesus then arose from the dead the Scriptures likewise say that we by faith arise from sin and can now walk by God’s grace and through the Spirit’s power “in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Secondly, Solomon states that God’s words are “health” to our flesh. Perhaps Solomon, who had come to realize that all things earthly ultimately are “vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), was thinking of some of his father David’s Psalms at this point. David filled his psalms with statements like, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice” (Psalm 51:7-8) and “"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise” (Psalm 51:15). When we walk with our Savior at our side and as our constant companion, He will bless us along life’s way!

It is from the final words of our text, that I have taken our theme today, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it spring the issues of life.” The word “keep” implies protecting your heart from all danger—to guard it! Solomon urges us to do so, for our hearts are the centers of our person. God’s ancient people viewed the heart as the center of a person’s emotions, intellect, and will. Consequently, we want to guard our hearts as well as our minds, which we view as the center of our intellect and will. We do not want Satan to rule in them, or the wicked people of this world, or our own sinful flesh. No, we want our Savior to be at the center of our hearts and our minds—loving us, guiding us, protecting us, preserving us as we walk this road of life. There are after all, as Jesus pointed out, only two destinations at which we can arrive—either destruction in hell or eternal life in heaven! My dear friends—GUARD YOUR HEARTS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE for we all want to enter the narrow gate and travel the path, which leads to heaven! Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting