A Father's Inheritance

Series Title: Summer Wise Summer Not

Sermon Title: “A Father’s Inheritance”

Scripture: Proverbs 13:22

 

Introduction:

- Last Sunday we began a new summer sermon series through the book of Proverbs, “Summer Wise Summer Not”.

- Last Sunday we looked at Proverbs 1:1-7 in this passage, Solomon introduces the book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is rooted in the 10 Commandments. Being rooted in the 10 Commandments, Solomon seeks to show the reader the relevancy of the 10 Commandments in every day normal life.

- Proverbs 1:7 is the overall theme of the book of Proverbs.

- Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” While this is a verse we should commit to memory, we must understand the meaning of this verse as well as how it fits into the context of the book of Proverbs.

            - As we saw last Sunday, Proverbs 1:7 is how we obtain knowledge and wisdom.

- “Fear of the LORD” is not a scared or anxious type of fear but rather it is a reverend awe-inspiring act of worship.

- The “Fear of the LORD” is only obtainable through Jesus who perfectly lived out the Law and who perfectly embodied the “fear of the LORD” – Isaiah 11:2

- Biblical Wisdom is NOT tips and tricks on how to go through life, Biblical Wisdom is only found in a person … Jesus.

                                                            - This is crucial for us to remember as we go through Proverbs.

                                                                        - Be dependent on the LORD

- We also need to consider who Solomon is writing to, notice Proverbs 1:8, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching”

- Solomon was a family man. He was a father! Solomon saw the benefit of instilling within his children the need to “fear the LORD”.

- Solomon didn’t come up with this idea on his own, he was faithfully living out the Word of God from Deuteronomy 6 starting in verse 4, “⁴ “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{, 5} Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. ⁷ Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.^{, 9} Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.”

- Notice what the LORD says in verse seven, “Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

- Proverbs is Solomon taking God’s Word seriously, by seriously instilling within his children the need to “fear the LORD” and live for the LORD’s glory.

- This morning as we continue our “Summer Wise Summer Not” series through Proverbs, I would like for us to zero in on one verse, Proverbs 13:22.

            - STAND – READ Proverbs 13:22 – PRAY

- “Heavenly Father we bow in your presence, may your Word be our rule, your spirit our teacher, and your greater glory our supreme concern. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Transition – There are several different key aspects to this one verse. The verse begins with the words, “A good man”, we need to determine based on scripture who a “good man” is.

 

1. A Good Man – Proverbs 13:22

- I would think, most of the men in this room would call themselves a “good man”. We might even compare ourselves to some “not so good” men and think, ‘my wife and kids have it pretty good, I’m a “good man” compared to __________’.

- We must remember to take this verse in light of the theme verse in Proverbs, Proverbs 1:7. For Proverbs and the rest of scripture, a “good man” is one who authentically fears the LORD through confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

- The reality of everyone in this room is that apart from Christ, there is no one good. Romans 3:10, “There is no one righteous, not even one. The ONLY goodness we have in this world comes through Jesus.

- Our sinfulness is why Jesus died. Through belief in Jesus, we are changed, the old is gone away and the new has come. THE GOSPEL

- Being the “good man” that Proverbs 13:22 is speaking about means you are the man God intended for you to be in creation and redemption.

            - God created YOU to be a man, so be a man.

            - God through Jesus redeem you unto Himself, so be a man who is in Christ.

- This has application for the rest of the family as well. The “good man” of Proverbs 13:22 leads his family to know and love Jesus (Ephesians 5). The “good man” of Proverbs 13:22 teaches his son how to be a man that follows Jesus. The “good man” of Proverbs 13:22 teaches his daughter what to look for in a mate. The “good man” we find throughout God’s Word is the standard for every man as well as what kind of man a single lady ought to look for.

- Men! May we rise up and be who we were intended to be by God through creation and in redemption through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for His glory alone.

- Proverbs 13:22 continues, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren …”

 

1. Leave An Inheritance – Proverbs 13:22

- We all want to be remembered once we have left this world. While we may be remembered for a short time while we are gone, most of us will one day simply be one line on our great grandkids family tree they do for school. In Proverbs 13:22, Solomon is telling the “good man” to leave an inheritance, not to necessarily to be remembered but for the glory of God.

- There are two inheritances the “good man” ought to leave for his grandchildren.

1. A Financial Inheritance

- We know this to be what Solomon is referring to because of the second part of Proverbs 13:22, “but the sinner’s wealth” … so reading the verse in context, Solomon is talking about a financial inheritance. 

                        - This comes from being Biblically wise when it comes to money. “Fear of the LORD”

                                    - All throughout Proverbs Solomon talks about money

                        - This is done without selfishness.

                                    - ‘Cody! I earned this money, my kids do not deserve it!” … RIGHT

                                                - This is an act of grace. This is an act of displaying the Gospel.

2. A Spiritual Inheritance

                        - Solomon is not explicitly talking about leaving a spiritual inheritance for your family.

                        - We do know from scripture that a man ought to lead his family in spiritual matters.

                                    - READ – Ephesians 5:25-33

- Husbands, how you treat your wife can positively or negatively affect your children.

                                                - Fathers, how you raise your children can and will have eternal ramifications.

- Our role as spiritual leaders should not be taken lightly. We should not be passive about raising our children to know and love Jesus.

- Men! May we rise up and be who God is calling us and equipping us to be in Jesus and ultimately leave an inheritance for the next generation.

            - 3^rd John verse four, “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.”

- Notice the conclusion of Proverbs 13:22, “but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

 

III. The Sinner’s Wealth – Proverbs 13:22

- The latter part of Proverbs 13:22 speaks of the selfish sinner.

- The proverb assumes that the wicked have their deceptive wealth for a season and that retribution is not bound strictly to a temporal order.

- The loss of funds of a sinner’s wealth are the consequences of poor character, or the direct intervention of God.

 

- Men! May we be men who love the LORD Jesus Christ with every aspect of our lives, lead our families to do the same and leave an inheritance for the generations to come, for the glory of God alone.