A STUDY OF
WISDOM IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Authority
and Power Employed with Wisdom
Proverbs
20 SCC 11/15/15
In one form or
another we may exercise power and/or authority in some of our relationships and
responsibilities. There is a form of abuse that can dominate or it can be used
so as to be productive, accomplish things, protect in certain ways and deliver
what is beneficial. If you ever have authority and power Solomon says use it
wisely.
ALCOHOL
HAS THE POWER TO LEAD TO FOOLISH BEHAVIOR 1
1. The conduct of an
inebriated person who has the love of wine from grapes and
beer from grain, like any love of pleasure, is a lack of wisdom. The love of alcohol will destroy wisdom because
it produces chaos, and chaos keeps us from understanding the regularities of
life. Getting drunk is a sin. Why? Because God says so
(Ephesians 5:18). They were, of course, drinking alcohol in biblical
times. The real issue, therefore, has nothing to do with drinking but with the
possible effects of drinking. Primarily, it removes the ability for sound
judgment. Put simply, ... whoever is intoxicated is
not wise (Proverbs 20:1). Consider these examples: Noah drank himself drunk
and was humiliated (Genesis 9:21). Lot was incapable of resisting sin because
of his drunkenness (Genesis 19:32). Nabal’s
drunkenness proved his foolishness (1 Samuel 25:36). Elah,
king of Israel, was murdered because of his drunken vulnerability (1 Kings
16:9). Being drunk is so incapacitating to men that it is used as a metaphor
for the immorality of man (Revelation 14:8, 16:19). And it is so despised by
God that it is used as an overall theme for the judgment of God (Lamentations
4:21, Nahum 3:11).
2. There are other
issues to consider besides the general acceptability of drinking and the
specific sin of drunkenness. Drinking which does not lead to drunkenness can
still be done in excess. What is excess? It’s too much. What is too much? You
have to determine that for yourself. It’s just like every other gift of God.
Just remember, you will give an account for what you decide (Romans 14:12). Overeating is a good parallel to the sin of
overdrinking. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat ... (Proverbs 23:20). The Bible is not
against food, just like it is not against wine. But eating can lead to gluttony
and drinking can become excessive.
3. Not only is it wrong to drink in excess, it’s wrong to love to
drink. This leads to addiction. He who loves pleasure will become a poor
man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich (Proverbs 21:17). God
may have suggested to the Israelites that they spend their tithe on alcohol,
but notice that He told them to drink it in His presence (Deuteronomy
14:26). Drinking, without accountability, tends to become the habit of someone
with an addiction, or someone who loves to drink. And finally, we should not be
associated with heavy drinkers (Proverbs 23:20).
NB: The Bible allows you to drink wine if you are a strong enough
believer to resist the negative consequences–excess drinking, addiction,
drunkenness, association with heavy drinkers, causing a brother to stumble, or
judging others. But Solomon warns it is not wise if you can’t. It may even be
wiser to avoid it altogether.
A PARENTS AUTHORITY CAN IMPRESS CHILDREN WITH INTEGRITY 7
We have the very
unfortunate reality of the misuse of parental authority adversely affecting the
lives of children. There are complicated societal afflictions that contribute
to this and mark children who then become teens and young adults, and
eventually fathers and mothers themselves. However, Solomon places a positive
spin on parental authority as he counsels his sons. The integrity of parents
will extend to the lives of their children. Here is a righteous parent striving
to live faithfully in the believing community according to God’s standards
showing his blameless lifestyle. Solomon says that he can anticipate this
example to impact his children as well.
NB:
In God’s economy the nature and actions of parents have an effect on children.
Here the legacy is righteousness and so the children in that home reap the benefits.
There are many things biblically good parents do. They teach biblical faith,
assist adult children to get started in life, intercede for them before God, love your wife or husband, involved in their lives and
example integrity by use of authority.
USE AUTHORITY TO DETECT, EXPOSE, AND JUDGE WICKED PEOPLE 8, 26
First, the use of
authority should be discerning. The king in the ancient world also served as
the chief judge in society. By carefully examining a case with his eyes a just
king could detect or sift evil motives and actions. He could not be easily
fooled and could remove the evil from his realm. This applies to any person
with authority using that power with discernment to address evil appropriately.
Second, then
identify and correctly judge the person and purge that evil person and his or
her actions, influence, or impropriety. In v 26 the king is responsible to
separate the wicked from the righteous and try to address and correct the
behavior of the wicked by inflicting punishment. The image of winnowing is
separating and threshing is correcting.
The point is detection and punishment so as to maintain order and
justice.
NB:
Good leadership includes the removal of wicked people. Wicked people should not surround the leader
or the people he leads. If wickedness is allowed to continue unchecked, others
will suffer, because wickedness tolerated is wickedness approved. Unrepentant
sinners must not be permitted to influence those you lead. But neither should
they influence the leader.
THE POWER OF THE CUSTOMER CAN BE UNETHICAL 14, 17
The ‘customer is
always right’ is a motto exhorting staff to give the highest priority to
customer satisfaction. Marshall field popularized this
notion to take customer complaints seriously so they did not feel cheated or
deceived. However, it was soon challenged because it ignored that customers can
be dishonest, have unrealistic expectations or purposely misuse products that
voided guarantees costing companies money. Solomon noted these phenomena in
proverbs. Some people falsely appraise a deal to gain a bargain ‘bad, bad, says
the buyer’. A shred buyer can downplay the value of a product to a seller to
get the price lowered. Then brag about the deal he got. So a seller needs to be
on guard against dishonest bargain hunters.
In v 17 Solomon
states that good things acquired dishonestly will not bring satisfaction. Food
gained by fraud he says will end up being only a mouthful of gravel—thinking
immediately about the bitterns after Adam and Eve’s eating of the forbidden
fruit. This contrasts the short-term pleasure of sin with its long-range
consequences. Attractive in its immediate payoff but it ultimately turns on its
host.
NB:
Shrewdness is one thing but deceitful misrepresentation in the deal in order to
buy under value becomes unethical. Don’t use your power to cheat, steal,
confiscate, or deceive. Taking advantage of a merchandizer is a form of
stealing.
DON’T USE POWER TO TAKE REVENGE 22
One’s initial response when justice is required is to say, “I will repay
evil”. Solomon says ‘do not say that’. The response of the righteous and wise
must be ‘wait’ on the Lord not ‘act’ on my own. Leave
retribution to the Lord when you have been wronged and let him bring a just
deliverance. This waiting is an act of faith trusting and relying on God to
bring deliverance—focusing on the positive side as a deliverer rather than an
avenger—although to deliver the righteous involves judgment on the perpetrator.
NB: Do not seek revenge,
and don’t be happy about your enemy’s problems. Revenge is an attempt at justice, balancing the
scales with an eye-for-an-eye. Clearly, this is God’s job. And although
territorial governments are to attempt it, individuals are not (Romans 12:19;
13:1-4; Hebrews 12:30). Being happy about your enemy’s problems is a heart
condition whereby you are getting vicarious revenge. It is a revenge you
imagine in your thoughts.
PT: Instead, focus on your deliverance from the
injustice and trust God with that according to his sovereign plan and time.
He will not forget your plight nor will he ignore the need for justice.
SO WHAT?
1. Power and
authority must be tempered by humility or else we will brandish it instead of
use it.
2. Steward your authority by understanding that God has given it to you
as a resource to serve.
3. Authority can be abused when we forget that God is in charge of its
allocation. We do not have the right to control people with it.
4. Having authority and power makes us more accountable to God not more
privileged.