Introduction

Hello everyone, let's look at Proverbs 21. What is this chapter about? It seems to be the same as the previous chapters, but it also seems kind of different. In fact, each chapter has a different theme. If we have read this chapter and have not realized the theme yet, that means we have not understood it.

For example, although the matter of being alive seems complicated, it is actually very simple after you understand it. Another example is decorating the house. Have you guys seen a painter before? He wiped the wall with a brush, and it looked smooth and comfortable. When it comes to us, what was originally on level, was not levelled, and if you want to smooth out the unevenness, it will be very difficult. It looks like a painting. As a result, the wall was painted like a landscape painting. This is the difference between knowing and not knowing.

If people live as if they are painting, then there will be lots of trouble. You see, when some people go to work, they are very confused when they see others working because they don’t know what to do. Then what to do? Try to learn and do it.

Some people, from the age of ten to twenty, just walk around in a daze. The more they grow, the less knowledge they have. During college, they knew how to learn, but after college, they forgot how to learn. There is an old Chinese proverb called Handan learning to walk, which means that you forget all you have learned before.

Brothers and sisters, you must realize, don’t scribble words here and there. If you just read it like a scripture, you don’t know what it’s talking about, the key is whether we can see what the author is going to say, this is called someone's learning ability. Someone told me, "Teacher, my work is too difficult." I asked him to take a pen and a notebook to write down the work and show me how many things there are.

For example, someone needs to take a certificate test, whether it is playing the piano, guitar, guzheng, or dancing, it seems that there are many tests, from levels 1-10. But in fact, there are only a few pieces of music and a few dances, how can there be so many things? Many people have been working for many years without understanding it. This matter is very important. When you see that everything is messed up and it makes you feel confused, it means that you have not fully understood this.

People say that the book should be read until it is thin, what does that mean? Because he can grasp this theme as soon as he reads it. Why do some people feel they read a lot of things? Because they cannot grasp the main point. Everyone must remember the word "system". There are not many people who can read books into a system, and some people told me that they understood everything when I taught them, but when they did it themself, they were confused. Let's read this as a system from now on, and it will be very easy to study after reading it.

People need to know how to fear God.

The theme I summarised in this chapter is that God is in control of all mankind. Many people don't know that God is in charge of everything, this is simply a tragedy. So as long as people properly learn from God to fear God, respect God, and put God first in our lives, many things will become easier.

If you don’t know that God is in control of everything, you will be confused. Does this confusion bring out anything good? No. He thinks that he can take power, so the problem is serious.

Does God rule over making money? Yes, He does. Does God rule over crooked things on the earth? Yes, He does. Is the pharaoh and the kings of the nations in the hands of God? Yes. God has the power over everything on this earth, if we know that, then everything will be simple.

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. (Proverbs 21:1 NIV)

If you fear God and respect God, then you will please him and he will be happy with you. This is really interesting. When we read the book of Daniel, we find that the kings of Babylon and Persia did not believe in God at all, but since Daniel believed in God, the kings were very nice to them. Is it because Daniel is a good person? No, because he relies on God, so God is very pleased with him.

As for your work in a company, if you don’t know that God is in control of other people, that will be a tragedy. You will be afraid of your boss and you will be scared if he speaks to you. In fact, people rely on God to live. Once you understand this, it will be easy to handle. There are many examples like this, do you still need to be afraid of your boss? No, but you need to respect him. Are you still afraid of your customers? No. Pastors, are you still afraid of your church leaders? No. If you are a leader will you be scared of other leaders? No.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NIV)

Back then, we had a sister who didn’t work overtime and basically came back as a shepherd after getting off work. Once, the company had a meeting, and everyone had to go. Everybody ate, drank, and partied. Usually, if the employees don't go, the boss will have an opinion on them. If the boss goes alone, the boss's boss will say: "Why don't the people in your department come to participate in a team party?" It will be troublesome.

But the sister said at the time, "Boss, I am not going today, I am going to church, someone needs my help and I need to help them." Then the boss heard, and his face turned dark. Are you afraid? Because the boss decides your salary. In fact, at the end of the year, the sister was surprised to find out that the boss increased her salary. Why? The boss’s heart was in God’s hands, so at that moment, he forgot and he thought that the sister worked very hard and was a very good person.

Esau led four hundred people to kill his younger brother, Jacob. When Jacob walked halfway there, Esau saw the younger brother approaching from a long distance, but then he forgot that he was there to kill Jacob. However, when he saw Jacob, he knelt and cried. What happened? Because Jacob feared God, then God was with him and let Esau forget it. If you don’t fear God, then it will be a tragedy.

God weighs the heart

You guys need to learn, that it is very bad to be selfish. If you don’t know that God is in charge of your life, then it will be a tragedy. If you try taking all the chances to make lots of money, then you will become selfish and you will be cursed. I wanted him to shepherd people, but all he did was make them victims of his Ponzi scheme.

How many people are doing schemes in the church? If you let me know that you are doing schemes among us, I will tell you not to come tomorrow. If you sell insurance or products, you can sell it wherever you like, just don’t sell it here. If you try to sell it here, I will kick you out. Brothers and sisters, you need to know that I will not sell you anything, I will only give you things. Our church is a place to bless people, not a place to make money through Ponzi schemes.

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just, is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. Proverbs (21:2-4 NIV)

Some people let the sheep do Ponzi schemes, even justifying it as a way to train them, and they feel good about it. But God measures people's hearts. The wicked will be rewarded with evil, and those who are righteous and fair will be rewarded with wealth, righteousness, and fairness. What people do is mostly righteous in their own eyes, but what you see does not matter. One thing I learned from a Ponzi scheme is that I must have the vision of God. Slowly, you will find that people end up in a curse.

So, brothers and sisters, you need to know what you see as just, you have to learn to ask others whether it is right or not and develop a good habit of asking God and your pastor. Is this a righteous thing? If it’s not, then stop doing it.

One important point we need to know is that money can't decide your destiny in the world. God rules the world. Because you don’t know whether what you do is right with God. Then you have to learn to see from God’s perspective and then you can roughly see whether it is a bad thing or a good thing.

God likes righteousness over sacrifices

Some people say, "God, I will offer 5 million if you give me 10 million." That sounds quite smart. How about you give me 10 million and I give you 5 million? Why don’t you say, "God, give me 10 million dollars and I will give you 20 million dollars?" You are wrong with it because God doesn’t need money. God needs people to be righteous with each other.

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3 NIV)

I have many unique, but not popular ideas. My opinion is that if you want to bring people into the church, you should shepherd them. If you don't shepherd them, then don’t bring people into your church because the purpose of shepherding is to make someone grow.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. (Proverbs 21:4 NIV)

Do not offend God, for things that offend God are not acceptable. God doesn’t need sacrifices, he needs people who are merciful, faithful, and walk with God. If you would know that God is in charge of this world, then you wouldn’t love money so much.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5 NIV)

If you want to make an offering in our church, I may not accept it. Why? Because this place is not a place for collecting money, but a place for giving blessings. If you don't understand the meaning of offering, then what are you offering for? If you want to give an offering, you will dedicate your entire life to God, and then serve God diligently. God holds the power in this world.

No matter where you come from, I will pray with you and heal your illness. The things I teach you will always be free. I just want to share these good things with you, and I hope you can become a person like this. Do you think I will lose anything because of this? No. God sees everything and He would not treat me unfairly. If God wants to bless me, I will never be poor.

**If people work diligently and work hard to train people well and do things diligently like I do, there will be a long line of people wanting to join our church.

Do be against God

A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. (Proverbs 21:6 NIV)

If people make money by lying, then they are digging their own graves. This is a spiritual rule. God wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labor in this world. That is all. If you are a salesperson, then sell your products or services honestly. It will be very easy for God to make people rich. Fearing God is the key. The result of quick money is not happiness, but quick death.

The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. (Proverbs 21:7 NIV)

People who plundered with violence, all perished after. Although some people in ancient China finally got a jade seal, which was the king's seal, they were able to become the emperor from then on. Until later, they lost their life because of this seal

People just don't know that God holds power in this world. It's normal for people to not know that God holds power in this world and they will suffer because that's the test of God.

The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. (Proverbs 21:8 NIV)

If people knew God was in power in this world, they would not be enemies of him. The result of opposing God is making many things extremely complicated. You must know that pleasing God and fearing God is the foundation of all things.

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. (Proverbs 21:11 NIV)

Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead. (Proverbs 21:16 NIV)

The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. (Proverbs 21:18 NIV)

The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—behaves with insolent fury. (Proverbs 21:24 NIV)

People don't have a reason to be proud, what makes you so great? What you say today doesn't count for tomorrow. You can't even determine when you will be born and when you will die. If you think you are too good. You have to know that you're just a person, and you are in great need of God. God has all the power in this world. If I don’t fear him, then I am foolish. I dare not fight against God. I've been afraid of God all my life. I'm not afraid of anything, I'm not afraid of death, I'm just afraid of God. So I try to act justly and love mercy, and often I don't feel that I did that well.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NIV)

I once struggled with money. Because I was good at IT, they asked me to be a consultant for them. Then they asked me how much they should pay me. Is it better to ask for money or not? Of course, not asking for money is good. So my brothers and sisters, we should know if we are pleased by God, everything will become simple. Living is a very simple thing, so starting today, we need to walk the path in front of us and walk in the path of God, without turning left or right, knowing that God holds power in the world.

When a mocker is punished, they simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. (Proverbs 21:11-12 NIV)

Are you a wicked person or a righteous person? Just take a look at God's words and you will know. If I ask you to serve, then you do business with the people you are serving. I tell you that is a curse. Why did you do business? Because money is what we value, and the people are easy to be bound by it. Isn't the disaster they have suffered enough?

Summary

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers. Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. (Proverbs 21:15-17 NIV)

This is the law of God. If everyone knows that God holds power in the world, it will be easy. Whether it is your boss, the Pharaoh of Egypt, the kings of Babylon, Persia, or the emperor of Roman, they are all in the hands of God. Don't go against the rulers of this world because God chose them. Therefore, whether we are in China or America, we should be good citizens.

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. (Proverbs 21:13 NIV)

God often puts these things in front of us, and God puts a poor in front of you, pleading for help, if you don't know that this is the test God has given you, it's dangerous. The needs of the poor are not very high, and God's requirements for us are very high. There is no need for you to pay off gambling debts or other things for them, just give them some food and drink. So don't close your ears, you need to know that God is testing you.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with evil intent! (Proverbs 21:27 NIV)

If your sacrifice is detestable, do you think God can take it? After I received it, I became detestable.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30-31 NIV)

Brothers and sisters, you must have a heart that believes in God. If you don't believe in God, you only trust your business and your work. But these things will become a trap for you. Only by relying on God can many things become simple, and you will do things that God sees as good. Follow God's word to overcome repeated tests, experiments, and temptations, as long as you have a clear understanding in your heart that God holds power in the world.

One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22 NIV)

Brothers and sisters, you should know that God controls everything in the world. It is very interesting for people to fight spiritual battles all their lives. Everyone should know that it's useless to lure me with money. Nothing can take me away from believing in God.

You should never believe the devil, you should only trust God. The reason why people often fall under the hands of devils is because of greed, worldly desires, and money. If someone is not greedy, they won’t be entangled by worldly things. When someone tries to threaten you, like a child crying and making noise to manipulate their parents, it won't work with me. Devils fight battles with me and lose, and they often fight battles with me because I know that God holds power in this world. The reason why you lost the war is that your son has accumulated a significant amount of debt outside, and you are helping him pay it off. You are also worried that if you don't help him to pay off, someone will harm him. But don't worry, he won't die.

Don't be too greedy or too eager to enjoy worldly things. Instead, pursue diligence and enjoy the work you have done. Then dedicate your life to God and walk on the right path that God has prepared for us. Whether it's the heart of Pharaoh or any other king, or the heart of your boss, it's all in God's hands. Actually, everyone's hearts are in God's hands, and our lives are in God's hands, not the hands of the money in your bank account.

We must guard our mouths and ourselves. Protecting our hearts is like protecting the pupils of our eyes. Trust in God, accumulate treasures in your own home, and consider God as a treasure. Save a little every day. Just like our church, which accumulates over time and has a large amount of spiritual assets to this day. If you go to the church website and listen, you will definitely not be able to finish it in a short amount of time.

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21 NIV)

People who love money will not receive the honor. When you see someone who loves money, you should be careful not to be deceived. Similarly, those who are greedy should also stay away from it. When encountering people who often lie or make false witnesses, stay away from them. People without shame should also stay away from it. Let's follow our right path, he will follow his own.

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (Proverbs 21:9 NIV)

Nothing can take away my trust in God and my heart to serve Him. Some people often come to me in a hurry when they encounter problems, asking for my help to solve them. I tell them that anything that can't lead to death is a minor issue, so there is no need to worry. Even if it is something that could result in death, that is still in God's hands. When a child decides to leave home, I let them go because they will eventually come back on their own. They care for themselves so much that you don't need to worry.

God is in control. Neither you nor I can control it. We have no control over the fate of our spouses or children. Today, we need to take all of this lightly, and life will become simple and easy. I am sure that you will find comfort after listening to this.

Throughout our lives, we fear God and live in the destiny of God. God will help us to please ourselves in front of the king or the boss. It's not difficult for God to make the boss like us. After listening to all this and understanding this truth, one can easily live a life.

May God bless you all!

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