A righteous man walks in his integrity blessed are his children who follow him. (Prov. 20:7)

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1 LEADARIGHTEOUSLIFE,ANDBEABLESSING Introduction IntheBookofActs(20:35)thereisrecordedthisfamiliarteachingofourLordJesus Christ: Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive. Inournexttopicalstudyfromthe Book of Proverbs we will consider how this teaching applies to the subject of righteousness.leadarighteouslife,andbeablessing. I.LeadaRighteousLife,andBeaBlessingtoYourChildren (Proverbs20:7) A righteous man walks in his integrity blessed are his children who follow him.(prov.20:7) A righteous man who walks in his integrity is one who is committed to the righteousness of God not just in principle, but also in practice. He walks in his integrity; hiscommitmenttothelordandhiscommandmentsgovernshislifein allaspects:hisdecisions,hislifestyle,hisconduct. Proverbs 20:7b declares, blessed are his children who follow him. They are blessedbecausetheirfatherleavesthemalegacyofrighteousnessandgodliness. HehasnotonlytaughtthemthewayoftheLORD,hehaspersonallyledthemin that way; setting an example before them: I have instructed you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in the paths of uprightness (Prov. 4:11.) Such is the blessinghehimselfhasbeentohischildrenandthathehasleftforhischildren. Furthermore, and most importantly, they are blessed if they appreciate that blessingofagodlyfather sgodlyexampleandmakehislifestyletheirown.inthe Hebrew,thelatterpartofthisproverbreads, blessedarehischildrenafterhim. AstheOldTestamentcommentatorsKeilandDelitzsch,pointout,thisstatement meansmorethanmerely hischildrenwhodescendfromhim, italsomeans his childrenwhofollowinhisfootsteps (CommentaryonProverbs,Vol.2,pp ) It is the responsibility of the father to set a godly example, and it is the responsibility of the children to follow that example. The godly father who has sent an example for his son expects his son to follow in his father s footsteps: Listen,myson,andacceptwhatIsay,thentheyearsofyourlifewillbemany. 11 I have instructed you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in the paths of uprightness. (Prov.4:10 11.) II.LeadaRighteousLife,andBeaBlessingtoYourParents (Proverbs23:24) Thefatheroftherighteouswillgreatlyrejoice,andhewhohasawisesonwill takedelightinhim.(prov.23:24)

2 ThereisnothingmorejoyfulandsatisfyingtoaChristianfatherormotherthanto see their sons and daughters walking with Christ in the way of righteousness, note3john4, Ihavenogreaterjoythantohearthatmychildrenarewalkingin the truth. Nothing can compare with it, no amount of fame, fortune, or worldly success. Proverbs23spellsoutinspecifictermshowasoncanbeablessingtohisfather: Donotletyourheartenvysinners,butliveinthefearofJehovahalldaylong; 18 for surely there is a future for you and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23:17 18)Thefatherurgeshissonnottoenvythosewhosacrificeeverything, including integrity, in their pursuit of wealth; the son must not make the pursuitofwealthhisfirstandoverrulingpriorityinlife. Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. 20 Do not associate with those who drink too much wine or those who gorge themselves withfood, 21 forthedrunkardandthegluttonwillbecomepoverty stricken,and drowsinesswillclotheamaninrags.(prov.23:19 21)Thesonisurgednotto beacompanionofdrunkardsandgluttons;notwastehisincomeonpartying anddonotlosehisworkethic. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways, 27 for a prostituteisadeepditch,andanadulteressisanarrowwell. 28 Sheliesinwait like a bandit, and increases the number of the unfaithful among men. (Prov. 23:26 28) The father counsels his son not to live an immoral life; on the contrary,leadamorallypurelifeandbewiseinyourselectionofaspouse. Whohaswoe?Whohassorrow?Whohasstrife?Whohascomplaints?Whohas needlessbruises?whohasbloodshoteyes? 30 Thosewholingeroverwine,those whogototastemixedwine. 31 Donotgazeatthewinewhenitisred,whenit sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a snake,andstingslikeaviper. 33 Youreyeswillseestrangesights,andyourheart will utter perverse things. 34 Indeed, you will be like him who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like him who stretches out on top of the ship s rigging. 35 Theyhitme, youwillsay, butiwasnothurt!theybeatme,butididnotfeel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink? (Prov. 23:29 35) The fatherurgeshissonnottobecomeadrunkard III.LeadaRighteousLife,andBeaBlessingtoYourNeighbor (Proverbs12:26) The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causesthemtogoastray.(prov.12:26) As a Christian, by your conduct and by your counsel, you should be setting a godlyexampleforyourneighbor.aschristians,arewelivinglivesthatreflect

3 therighteousnessofthelordgodbykeepinghiscommandmentsasrecorded inexodus20:3 17? AndGodspokeallthesewords: 2 IamJehovahyourGod,whobroughtyououtof thelandofegypt,outofthehouseofbondage. 3 Youshallhavenoothergods besidesme. 4 Youshallnotmakeforyourselfacarvedimage,oranyreplicaof anythingthatisinheavenaboveorthatisontheearthbeneathorthatisinthe waterbelowtheearth. 5 Youshallnotbowdowntothemorservethem 7 You shall not misuse the name of Jehovah your God, for Jehovah will not regard anyonewhomisuseshisnameasbeingguiltless. 8 RemembertheSabbathday, remembertokeepitholy. 9 Sixdaysyoushalllaboranddoallyourwork; 10 but theseventhdayisasabbathdedicatedtojehovahyourgod. 12 Honoryour father and your mother, so that you may live a long life in the land Jehovah your God has given you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 Youshallnotsteal. 16 Youshallnotgivefalsetestimonyagainstyour neighbor. 17 Youshallnotcovetyourneighbor shouse.youshallnotcovetyour neighbor s wife, or his male servant or his female servant, or his ox or his donkey,oranythingthatbelongstoyourneighbor.(ex.20:1 17) The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor. By his life, the righteous man showshisneighborthelifestylethatispleasingtogod,andpointshimtochrist thesavior,theonewhoisthetruesourceofthatrighteouslife,notephilippians 2:14 16a,Doallthingswithoutgrumblingandarguing, 15 sothatyoumaybecome blameless and pure, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a perverse and depraved generation, among whom you shine like stars in the universe, 16 firmlyholdingthewordoflife.(phil.2:14 16a) IV.LeadaRighteousLife,andBeaBlessingtoYourCommunity (Proverbs11:11) Bytheblessingoftheuprightthecityisexalted,butitisoverthrownbythe mouthofthewicked.(prov.11:11) Thecity isoverthrownbythemouthofthewicked. Bythecounselthewicked give,thecoursetheyadvocate,andthecausestheychampion,thecommunityis overthrown.thisissobecausewhatthewickedcounselisadeparturefromthe divinestandardofgodinfavorofaman centered,secularstandard.isaiah5:21 warns, Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! andproverbs3:7counsels, Donotbewiseinyourowneyes;fearJehovah and turn away from evil. In light of these passages, to be wise in one s own eyes meanstoforsakealifethatisgovernedbygodlyfear,whichrespectsand honors the commandments of God, in favor of pursuing one s own course of conductandsettingone sownstandard.theresultofthewickedman scounsel isatravestyofmorality:true,fundamentalmoralityisreplacedbyperversity, noteisaiah5:20, Woetothosewhocallevilgood,andgoodevil,whosubstitute darknessforlightandlightfordarkness,whosubstitutebitterforsweetandsweet

4 for bitter! This travesty of morality in turn causes the community to disintegrateandbecomeliabletotherighteousjudgmentofgod,asisaiah5:24 25goesontoindicate: Therefore,astonguesoffirelickupstraw,andasdrygrasssinksdowninthe flames, so their root will decay and their blossom will blow away like dust, becausetheyhaverejectedthelawofjehovahofhostsanddespisedthewordof the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore, the anger of Jehovah burns against his people; his hand is raised against them and he strikes them down. The mountainsshake,andthedeadbodiesarelikefilthinthestreets.butevenafter allthis,hisangerisnotpacified;hishandisstillraisedagainstthem.(isa.5:24 25) But bytheblessingoftheuprightthecityisexalted. Notonlybytheircounsel (calling upon the community to build itself upon the foundation of the divine moralstandardofgod scommandments,)butbytheirverypresence(asgodfearing,law abidingcitizens,)therighteousareablessingtotheircommunity. Note Psalm 15:2 5, a description of a citizen of Zion, a truly Christ like, righteousman: Hewhosewalkisblamelessandwhodoeswhatisrighteous,whospeakstruth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrongandcastsnosluronhisfellowman, 4 whodespisesavilemanbuthonors thosewhofearjehovah,whokeepshisoathevenwhenithurts, 5 wholendshis money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. (Psl. 15:2 5) V.LeadaRighteousLife,andBeaBlessingtoYourGod (Proverbs15:9;Proverbs11:20) ThewayofthewickedisdetestabletoJehovah;buthelovesthosewhofollow righteousness.(prov.15:9) HowfrequentlywefailtoappreciatetherepulsivenessofsininthesightofGod andhowmorallyrepugnantitistohim: Youreyesaretoopuretolookonevil; youcannottoleratewrong (Hab.1:13a.)Letusconsiderandtaketoheartthese statementsofscripture: AdishonestscaleisdetestabletoJehovah,butajustweightishisdelight.(Prov. 11:1) Lying lips are detestable to Jehovah, but he delights in those who deal truthfully.(prov.12:22)

5 EveryonewhohasaproudheartisdetestabletoJehovah.Besureofthis:they willnotgounpunished.(prov.16:5) Hewhojustifiesthewickedandhewhocondemnstherighteous bothofthem aredetestabletojehovah.(prov.17:15) But Proverbs 15:9b goes on to say, [Jehovah] loves those who follow righteousness. The emphasis is on the persistent practice of righteousness; following the course of righteousness in all of life, at all times and under all circumstances. InJohn15:10 11a,theLordJesusdeclares,"Ifyoukeepmycommandments,you willremaininmylove;justasihavekeptmyfather scommandmentsandremain inhislove. 11 Ihavetoldyouthesethingssothatmyjoymaybeinyou."OurLordis informingusthatwe,inourobediencetochristoursavior,becomeasourceof joytooursavior,webringjoytohim,suchisthemeaningofourlord swords, sothatmyjoymaybeinyou. Conclusion The Book of Proverbs teaches us that by leading a righteous life we will not only receivetheblessingofgod,weshallalsobeablessing.weshallbeablessingtoour family,toourcommunity,andeventoourgod.