Butter than Anger

33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. - Proverbs 31:25-30

We get angry when something we hold dear is threatened.

Anger can build.

For as churning cream produces butter… - Proverbs 30:33 (NIV)

Anger can break.

…pressing the nose produces blood...

- Proverbs 30:33

God’s anger is outweighed by God’s love.

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…

- Exodus 34:6

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

- Luke 23:34

Let go of anger and look at our situations with love.

We can look to God.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:15-16

We can look at ourselves.

We can look at others.

Me, Myself and I

“For as he thinks within HIMSELF, so he is.”

- Proverbs 23:7 (NASB)

“Do you see a person wise in his OWN eyes? There is more hope for a fool than him.”

- Proverbs 25:12 (NASB)

“Those who trust in THEMSELVES are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe”

- Proverbs 28:26 (NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your OWN understanding.”

- Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)

Self is the number 1 enemy of God.

12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

- Ezekiel 28:12-14 (NASB)

 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew.

- Isaiah 6:1-2 (NASB)

You were blameless in your waysFrom the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.

- Ezekiel 28:15 (NASB)

How you have fallen from heaven, You star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who defeated the nations! 13 But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

- Isaiah 14:12-17 (NASB)

16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not [a]eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”

- Gen 2:16-17 (NASB)

Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

- Rom 4:19 (NIV)

Trusting in yourself leads to nowhere.

2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

- Revelations 5:2-4 (NASB)

Through Christ, you are freed from yourself.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

- Galatians 2: 20 (NASB)

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

- Colossians 2: 6-7 (NASB)

Allow God to love you.

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

- Romans 2: 4 (NASB)

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

- Luke 15:1-7

The Lazy Sermon

The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. - Proverbs 15:19

Laziness is an attempt to find comfort.

9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest…

- Proverbs 6:9-10

Laziness is a trap.

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

- Proverbs 6:11

Jesus Christ set us free and sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

- John 14:6

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

- John 14:16-17, ESV

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever… 

- John 14:16, KJVAE

Don’t settle for the pursuit of comfort. Pursue the Comforter!

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- John 15:4-5

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

- John 15:7, 10

The Holy Spirit leads us into a rhythm of rewarding work and rest.

…the path of the upright is a level highway.

- Proverbs 15:19

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 

- John 15:8-9

I Want More!

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

- Proverbs 12:9

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

- Proverbs 13:7

We can be enticed by everything this world has to offer.

2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

- Ecclesiastes 1:2

God made us to be satisfied by more.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

- Ecclesiastes 3:11

11He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.

- Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP

We should turn our focus from the temporary to the timeless.

19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust  destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

- Matthew 6:19-21

Living for things that last leads to satisfaction that lasts.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

- Matthew 6:33

Trust in the Lord: More than a Motto

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

- Proverbs 3:1-10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

- Proverbs 3:5a

Trusting God is absolute

Wisdom outside of God is limited

and lean not on your own understanding;

- Proverbs 3:5b

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:6

Acknowledging God brings clarity and assurance