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PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson Eleven
The Description of a Wicked Person
Text: Proverbs 6:12-19
The objective of this lesson: To note values/behaviors that God finds deeply objectionable.
We often assume the things we find distasteful are automatically distasteful to God. It is simple for us to conclude that our priorities are God’s priorities, our values are God’s values, and things that we find “unforgivably irritating” are “unforgivably irritating” to God.
Our definitions for wickedness too often have more to do with our experiences/knowledge than God’s definitions. In that situation, we lead and expect God to follow.
If that were true, morally there would be little for people to learn. We merely would discuss among ourselves what was good and bad. Nothing would be good or bad on an intercultural basis. Something might be decided to be good in one culture and bad in another culture. There would be no moral values that were true for everyone regardless of what a culture decided.
Christianity would be an expression of national values, not universal values. The values would be an expression of human priorities, not divine priorities.
It takes little thought to see the problems that would arise if that were true. To begin with, how can there be one God over all people, and there be no morality or ethical behavior for all people? Do you realize that if you are a Christian you base moral right and wrong and ethical behavior on values that are over 2000 years old? Why? Because of the revelation that came through Jesus Christ and the values God declared through him! Christians do not behave as they do because some contemporary human declared a set of values. Christians behave as they do because God revealed Himself through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Our challenge is not the challenge of creating values, but the challenge of learning values.
Stress that there is a reason for us accepting values as being good and bad, righteous and wicked. The Christian challenge is to accept God’s values and reasons, not our own.
The basic values of righteous behavior in the Old Testament and the basic values of righteous behavior in the New Testament do not differ. Warning: those values were not popular then and they are not popular now!
The Bible from beginning to end is an unfolding of God’s values. Though the “how” and the “means” of determining good and evil may change, the values that determine righteous behavior and wicked behavior did not change.
First, you are asked to note the human values God found deeply objectionable as revealed in today’s text.
1. A person who cannot be trusted in what he says.
2. Though he knows what is right, he stubbornly plans evil.
3. He loves to generate conflict.
4. The consequences of his behavior are too sudden to be avoided.
Notice that the way people treated people was (and is) extremely important to God.
The seven things God finds deeply objectionable:
1. Arrogance, the “I’m better than you are” attitude.
2. Deceitfulness, the desire to lie even when it is unnecessary.
3. People who deliberately cause innocent people to endure disastrous suffering.
4. A person devoted internally to wicked endeavors.
5. People who enjoy watching evil.
6. People who are deceitful witnesses.
7. People who enjoy producing conflict between others who are close.
Since God treats people with consideration, God expects people who belong to Him to treat people with consideration.
Second, you are asked, “Would those things compose your list of terrible things?” Likely not! In fact, some of those do not seem nearly as horrible as some things we can think of. The first thing called to your attention is this: God’s list is more directed toward motives/attitudes, and your list probably would be more directed toward specific acts. We likely would list things like murder (what type?), adultery (by men, women, or both?), stealing (when, of what?), abuse (children, women, men?), drunken injury to another (would circumstances matter?), etc. Make your list, and see how many things would not be covered in God’s list.
Stress that we are offended by horrible acts and God is offended by the attitudes that produced the horrible acts. When we eliminate the wicked attitudes/motives, we eliminate the horrible acts.
The second thing called to your attention: God’s list is justice-centered. Reverse God’s list to positive expressions. The person is trustworthy. He values what is right. He encourages accord and peace. No one, not even the poorest, suffer as a result of his deeds. He is devoted to doing right. Seeing evil committed makes him sick! He is an honest witness. He is a good friend to have—never is there need to fear him!
Stress that just treatment of other people is extremely important to God. It is quite challenging to be just to people who are not being just. The person who belongs to God is fair to all people.
The person God considers worthless is the person who does not value people, but uses others for his own purposes. In an exaggerated opinion of self, he is unworthy of trust. He is happy when he causes hurt to someone else. He uses his power to hurt, not help.
Stress that to God the useless person is the person who uses others for his/her own purposes—regardless of what those purposes are.
Is it not obvious why God finds this person so objectionable? He is the exact opposite of God! That which we most admire about God is His compassionate caring, His kindness, and His consideration toward all. No one is beneath Him or above Him. Though He is more powerful than we can imagine, He is never a threat to the man or woman devoted to righteousness. Since He is so unselfish toward us, He despises a human acting in selfishness toward others. He values the human who seeks to treat all as He treats all -- with kindness and consideration.
God wants His people to base their behavior on the way He behaves, not on the way other people behave (individually or collectively).
For Thought and Discussion
1. What do we often assume?
We assume the things we find distasteful are automatically distasteful to God.
2. What would be true if that assumption were true? What would people do?
If that were true, people would have little to learn about morality. Morality would be a collective decision made in each culture.
3. Why do Christians behave as they do?
Christians should behave in the manner as God revealed Himself through Jesus.
4. What is true of God’s basic values of righteous behavior?
Righteous values have not changed in the Old and New Testament.
5. List 10 human values that God finds deeply objectionable.
1) A person who cannot be trusted in what he says.
2) Though he knows what is right, he stubbornly plans evil.
3) He loves to generate conflict.
4) He is arrogant.
5) He is deceitful.
6) He deliberately causes innocent people to suffer.
7) He is devoted to internal wickedness.
8) He enjoys watching evil.
9) He is a deceitful witness.
10) He enjoys producing conflict between those who are close.
6. Would those 10 things be on your terrible list?
It is not likely—we tend to focus on horrible acts.
7. God’s list is directed toward what? Human lists tend to be directed toward what?
God’s lists tend to be directed toward attitudes. Human lists tend to be directed toward acts.
8. God’s list is centered in what?
Justice
9. Reverse God’s list to positive expressions.
1) He is trustworthy.
2) He values what is right.
3) He encourages accord and peace.
4) No one has reason to fear his deeds.
5) He does what is right.
6) Seeing evil committed makes him sick!
7) He is an honest witness.
8) He is a friend to all.
10. The person God considers worthless does not do what, but does what?
He does not value people, but uses them.
11. Discuss why God finds the people described in the text so objectionable.
The discussion should include that God wants people to base their behavior on His values.
Link to Student Guide Lesson 11
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David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ