2-23-20 Sermon Notes
“Better” Proverbs
Last week, we examined how Proverbs and other places dealt with faith and trust. This is week seven of our series “Heavenly Wisdom” and we will be looking at verses in Proverbs that make comparisons about the “better” things in life.
Introduction
Often times when researching various things, we see ratings of them such as ‘good’ ‘better’ ‘best.’ Do we ever see the rating – ‘worst?’ No! With that being said, we will be looking at what God intends to be best for us versus the alternatives.
Message
Now Let’s take a look at some verses about better comparisons in Proverbs.
Rather than expound on each one, let the words speak to us individually to remind each of us that there are better ways to live life.
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13,14).
Proverbs 3:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”
“Wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it” (Proverbs 8:11)
Proverbs 8:11 New International Version (NIV)
“for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”
“My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver” (Proverbs 8:19).
Proverbs 8:19 New International Version (NIV)
‘My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.”
“Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverbs 15:16).
Proverbs 15:16 New International Version (NIV)
“Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.”
“Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith” (Proverbs 15:17).
Proverbs 15:17 New International Version (NIV)
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
“Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice” (Proverbs 16:8).
Proverbs 16:8 New International Version (NIV)
“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice”
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!” (Proverbs 16:16).
Proverbs 16:16 New International Version (NIV)
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”
“Better is it to be of lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 16:19).
Proverbs 16:19 New International Version (NIV)
“Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).
Proverbs 16:32 New International Version (NIV)
“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1).
Proverbs 17:1 New International Version (NIV)
“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.”
“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1).
Proverbs 19:1 New International Version (NIV)
‘Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.”
“A poor man is better than a liar” (Proverbs 19:22).
Proverbs 19:22 New International Version (NIV)
“What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.”
“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house” (Proverbs 21:9).
Proverbs 21:9 New International Version (NIV)
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
“It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman” (Proverbs 21:19).
Proverbs 21:19 New International Version (NIV)
“Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.”
“Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden” (Proverbs 27:5).
Proverbs 27:5 New International Version (NIV)
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”
“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his ‘ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6).
Proverbs 28:6 New International Version (NIV)
“Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.”
Concluding Remarks and Application
Why do we sometimes settle for less than the best? Could it be that we do not know how to find what is best or perhaps we are too busy to find out what is best? Or could it be that we think that there is nothing better for us in life because of our circumstances and we can’t do anything about it? Or could it be that our circumstances, being as ‘poor’ as we think they are, in reality, they are best for us? – Proverbs 28:6 New International Version (NIV) “Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.”
It appears that based upon the verses that we just looked at that we do have choices – either to seek God’s advice (wisdom) or to understand more fully the upside of some of our circumstances by comparing them to other alternatives.