Priorities in Establishing a Home
March 14, 2022
Commentary
The following topics are discussed in this section:
1. Partiality in judging (vv. 23-26) It is never good to operate on preferences when making judgments of people. To judge between persons based on preference is to turn justice into injustice.
2. Priorities in establishing a home (v. 27) A person needs to be certain that a well-ordered life has been established before entering marriage. Think of all the problems in marriages that could be avoided today if this principle was followed. There are so many young couples who get married without even thinking about how they are going to pay their bills.
3. Principles of false witnessing (vv. 28-29) To appear as a witness against your neighbor to get revenge is certainly wrong. The servant of the Lord must place all retribution in His hands for He hath said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay …” (Romans 12:19).
4. Problems related to laziness (vv. 30-34) The writer makes some observations about laziness and draws some conclusions about its consequences. The field of a lazy person is filled with thorns. There is fruit and the walls of stone are broken down. The weeds of evil habits will have overtaken his life and he is destined for ruin. Staying in bed and resting when it is time to work leads to poverty.
Application
In my many years of life and ministry I have had to stop and evaluate my life and ministry often. It is so easy to get sidetracked running down rabbit trails. It is always best to keep my mind focused on the Lord and seeking his direction day by day (Matt. 6:33).
Proverbs 24:23– 34 (NET)
23 These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:
24 The one who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.
25 But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.
26 Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.
27 Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done.”
30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks sense.
31 I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I scrutinized it. I was putting my mind to it— I saw; I took in a lesson:
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,
34 and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”
Illustration: Barna Priorities of Ministry by Senior Pators
The Barna Group recently surveyed Protestant Senior Pastors ministry priorities for the coming year. Overall, 12 different ministry emphases were listed by at least 3% of the pastors. The top priorities were discipleship and spiritual development (47%); evangelism and outreach (46%); and preaching (35%). Next were congregational care efforts, such as visitation and counseling (24%); worship (19%); ministry to teens and young adults (17%); missions (15%); community service (15%); ministry to children (13%); and congregational fellowship (11%). The third ranking tier of priorities included ministry to families (4%) and prayer (3%). (Barna Online 2/14/05).