Reflection Questions
Why do some people feel overwhelmed by the amount of content when studying, and feel that things are too much and too messy when working?
Some people often complain that they are very busy and tired, and that there are too many problems in their lives, making life difficult. What do you think is the reason for this?
Why was Daniel favored by the king? Why did Esau change his mind about killing Jacob? What common characteristics did Daniel and Jacob share?
Why do some people often lose in spiritual battles? What are the main reasons?
Introduction
Hello everyone, let's look at Proverbs chapter twenty-one. What is this chapter about? It seems the same as the previous chapters, but also different. In fact, each chapter has its own theme. The reason why we feel scattered after reading them is because we haven't gotten it right. It's not just reading Proverbs that's like this. Isn't this how we do everything? For example, living life, although it seems very complicated, is actually very simple once you understand it.
Take decorating a house, for example. Have you seen plasterers skim coating? When they smooth it out with a brush, it looks very smooth and comfortable. And you see that they are not very old. This has nothing to do with age, but with whether they know how to do it. When we try it, we make the flat surface uneven. If you want to smooth out the unevenness, it will be difficult. It looks like painting, but the wall ends up looking like a landscape painting. That's the difference between knowing how and not knowing how.
If living life were like painting a wall, wouldn't that be troublesome? Living a tiring life. You see some people at work watching others work swiftly, and they get dizzy, but they don't know what to do. It's a mess because they don't know how to do it. So what to do? You have to solve it. Some people drift through life from the age of ten to twenty, and their knowledge reserves actually decrease. They knew how to study when they were preparing for university, but after graduating, they don't know how to study anymore.
After graduating from university, they even got a doctorate, but they don't seem to know how to behave properly as a person. There is a Chinese saying called Handan Walking, which means forgetting what you have learned before. We brothers and sisters all have to understand this, and don't be scattered. If you just read it like reciting scriptures, you won't know what it's saying. The key is whether we can see what the author is trying to say. This is called learning ability.
Some people tell me: Teacher, I have a lot of work to do. I ask them to write down all their work with a pen and paper to show me. How can there be so much? For example, some people need to take exams, whether it's playing the piano, guitar, zither, or dancing, it seems like a lot, from level one to ten. But in reality, there are only a few pieces of music and a few dance segments. How can there be so much? Many people have been doing it for many years without understanding it. This is very important. Whenever you see something that is a mess and makes your head spin, it means that you haven't understood it yet.
People say you have to read a book until it becomes thin. What does thin mean? Because they can grasp the theme as soon as they read it. Why do some people feel that there is a lot of stuff because they can't see clearly? When they dive in headfirst, everything becomes chaotic. Some people have been working as accountants for decades. This is a profession, and it seems like there are many situations to handle. But the content basically doesn't change much for many years, especially in stable countries. In the United States or Singapore, accountants make very few changes.
The reason why people feel that there is a lot is because they can't grasp the theme and can't turn things into a system. Everyone should remember the word system. Not many people can read things into a system. Some people tell me: When you lead us in Bible study, I understand, but when I study on my own, I'm confused. From now on, let's read it as a system, and after reading it, it will be very clear.
People Need to Know to Fear God
The theme of this chapter that I summarize is: God reigns in the world. Many people don't know that God reigns in the world, which is a tragedy. So as long as people receive well from God, fear God, honor God, and put God in the first place in our lives, many things become simple. If you don't know that God reigns in the world, you will be busy with many things. Is it useful to be busy? No, it's not. But why are they still busy? They think they can reign themselves, and that's a serious problem.
Does God reign in the matter of making money? Yes, He does. Does God reign in the crooked matters of the world? Yes, He does. There are poor people in the world, and God reigns in them as well. We must first know that God reigns in the world, and then many things become simple. Are Pharaoh and the kings of all nations in God's palm? Yes, they are. They can't escape.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)
What do you think? What do you do? You are a minister under the king, and you are a very God-fearing person. What will happen? You will find that God makes you a person who is very pleasing to the king. 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 Daniel believed in God, and the king was very good to Daniel. Is it because Daniel knows how to behave, or what is the reason? No, it's not. Because Daniel trusts in God, God makes the king like him.
Today, you are working in a company. If you don't know that God reigns in the world, that's a tragedy. You will be afraid of the boss, and you will tremble when the boss speaks. In fact, people live by God. Once you lock this in and understand it, it will be easy. There are many such examples. If you want me to tell stories, there will be many, and I will give you a lot. Will you still be afraid of your boss? No, you don't have to, of course you can honor him. Will you still be afraid of your customers? No, you don't have to. As a pastor, will you still be afraid of your district leader? No, you don't have to. As a district leader, will you still be afraid of your small group leader? No, you don't have to. As a small group leader, will you still be afraid of your small group members below? No, you don't have to.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
There is a very lovely sister among us. She doesn't work overtime, and basically comes to the church to serve after get off work. Occasionally, the company has a meeting, and she leaves after the meeting. Once, the company had an annual meeting, and everyone in the company had to go, and everyone was eating and drinking, very lively. Generally, if employees don't go, the boss will have an opinion. Because if only the boss goes, the boss's boss will say: Where are the people in your department? Why didn't they come to participate in team building? That would be troublesome.
But this sister said at the time: Boss, I'm not going today, I'm going to the church, someone needs my help. Then she came to the church to serve people. Fortunately, not the entire department is from our church, or the boss would be in trouble. As a result, the boss's face turned dark when he heard this. Are you afraid? Because the boss decides your salary. Later, when it came time for a salary increase, our sister felt strange, why did the salary increase by a large margin instead? Because the boss's heart is in God's hands. He forgot about it at that time, and he felt that she was working very hard, and he liked her.
For example, Esau was going to kill his brother Jacob with four hundred people, but when he was halfway there, he saw his brother coming from afar, but he forgot about killing Jacob. How could he forget? We don't know. Esau was originally fierce and determined to kill his brother Jacob, but when he met him, he hugged his brother and cried bitterly. What happened? We all feel inexplicable. So it is a tragedy for people not to know how to fear God.
Because Jacob feared God, he had God's presence, and things turned into nothing. Where can you reason? If you come to greet you from afar, and remember the past hatred when you get close, you will be killed by him. Where can you reason? Some people don't know that God reigns in the world, and they always think that they can decide their own destiny. Today, you get on a plane, and you don't know if you can get off the plane? You take off your socks at night, and you don't know if you can put them on tomorrow? But God knows. Everyone should fear God well!
The Lord Weighs the Heart
My faith in God has been tested repeatedly, and everyone has to learn slowly. In the world, the most deadly thing is to be self-righteous. It's very strange for people not to know that God reigns in the world. People do those foolish things, and it's heartbreaking to watch. Someone went to serve others, but started doing business with the person being served, wanting to take this opportunity to make money. I originally told him that this person has a deep curse and must be careful. I asked him to shepherd, but he went to do direct sales and turned the person he was shepherding into his downline. Is this called shepherding? This is called direct sales.
Now many people are doing direct sales in the church. If I know that you are coming among us to do direct sales, I will tell you not to come tomorrow. If you are selling insurance or selling goods, you can sell them wherever you want, but don't sell them here. Here cannot be sold, and I will kick you out. Our brothers and sisters must know that I will not sell you anything either. I will only give you things. Our church is a place to bless people, not a place to do direct sales and make money. Everyone should not make the church a mess.
All a person’s ways seem right to them, but it is the LORD who 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)
Someone asked the person being served to do direct sales, and they also beautified it by saying it was to train the other party, and they felt very good about themselves. But only the Lord weighs the heart. The wicked will have evil retribution, and the righteous and fair will have righteous and fair rewards. It's not that they won't be repaid, but it's not the time yet. I have in-depth research on marketing. It's not just general research. I can give many examples of marketing. For example, Apple's computers are very expensive, but everyone likes to buy them. A data cable sells for hundreds of dollars, and a small towel for wiping the screen also sells for hundreds of dollars. It is actually cutting leeks, which is a very powerful marketing technique!
They are very professional in making money in this industry, and everyone is willing to spend money to buy their products, feeling that it is very prestigious to use their products. In fact, I have not only done direct sales, but I have also done very well. I got to the high level in less than a few months, because I can speak well, and I work quickly and efficiently! With my glib tongue, I calculated the profits, the ratio of dividends in direct sales, and how many downlines you need to find to make money clearly for people. I was just short of writing software to analyze it.
All a person’s ways seem right to them, but is what you see as right, or what God sees as right? It doesn't count what you say. I learned one thing from direct sales: My vision must have God's vision. People slowly figure it out and find that people often end up in a curse while doing things. When I was doing direct sales, I felt that what I was doing was the right thing, but God didn't think so. When I was coaxing others, I felt very right. After I finished coaxing people, I also trained people to coax others. In this way, batches of people were trained to coax others.
If I really continue to do this, I will receive a curse when the time comes. So brothers and sisters, you must know that you should learn to ask others about the things you see as right, whether they are right or not? Develop a good habit, ask God, ask your pastor. Is this a right thing to do? Everyone should not keep doing and always go back to the original point. In the end, you can only return to heaven!
We must know a key point, that is, God reigns in the world, and money cannot determine your destiny. Do not think that you are doing the right thing, thinking that you are not afraid of ghosts knocking on the door in the middle of the night if you have done nothing wrong. Because what you do, it is not known whether it can be counted as right in God's eyes. You must learn to use God's Word to shine on yourself, so that you can see whether you are a big demon or a small demon? Is it an evil way, or a righteous way?
God Desires Righteousness More Than Sacrifice
Someone says: God! You bless me with ten million, and I will offer five million. When I heard it, I said: You little thing! You have calculated your account very clearly! Or you give me ten million, and I will give you five million. Why don't you say to God: God! You give me ten million, and I will give you twenty million to you. You got it wrong. God is not a God who needs money. What God needs is righteousness and fairness!
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3)
I have many unique and unconventional views on many things. Many people pull people into the church, but they don't care and ask me to take care of them. My view is that if you want to take care of them, then pull them in. If you don't care, don't pull people in, because shepherding can make people grow. I don't need you to pull people in, thinking that it will make me grow, but I need you to grow. I know that I still need to grow, but I don't particularly need you to help me. Some people come to me and say: Pastor, I'm here to help you build the church, and we can collect more offerings. What is this for? Are we two going to share the money?
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. (Proverbs 21:4)
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3)
Never offend God, because the matter of offending God is terrible. His head is stuck in the money eye, and the money eye shrinks and gets his head stuck. If he can't catch his breath, then his life will be lost. What the Lord God needs is not sacrifice, but He needs to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Knowing that God reigns in this world, you will not get stuck in the money eye. Why do we like to work? Because if we come into this world without working, without doing the right thing, without planning diligently, and always want to make quick money, then I have only one sentence, I wish you good luck.
**He who is diligent will prosper; but whoever is impulsive rushes headlong into poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)**
In our church, I might not even accept your offering. Why? Because this place is not for collecting money, but for distributing blessings. If you don't understand the meaning of offering, what are you offering for? If you want to offer, offer your whole being to God, and then diligently serve Him, because God reigns in this world. No matter where you come from, I will pray for you, heal and deliver you. My service and what I teach you are always free.
I just want to share these good things with you, and I hope you can become this kind of person too. Do you think I'm losing out by doing this? God sees it, how could God ever mistreat me? God clearly reigns in this world, and if He wants to bless me, I will definitely not be poor. By being diligent, doing things meticulously and with precision, and training people well, just like I do, there will be long queues of people wanting to join our church.
## Do Not Go Against God
**Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting vapor of those who seek death. (Proverbs 21:6)**
Why do they seek wealth with a lying tongue? It is simply courting death. This is a spiritual law. These people are like network marketers and salespeople. God wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labor in this world, nothing more. If you are in sales, that is your job, just do it well. Know that it is very easy for God to make people wealthy. **The key is fearing God.** If you always think about making quick money, I think one day it will not be quick money, but a quick death.
**The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. (Proverbs 21:7)**
People use violence to seize money, but in the end, they perish, just like some people in ancient China who finally seized an imperial jade seal, thinking that they could become emperors with it, but instead lost their lives because of it. People just don't know that God reigns in the world. If people know that God reigns in the world, suffering a little loss is normal. Because that is precisely God's test.
**The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the pure is upright. (Proverbs 21:8)**
If a person knows that God reigns in this world, they will definitely not go against God. The result of going against Him is making many things extremely complicated. Living life should be a very simple matter, why does it become so complex? Everyone should slowly ponder and understand this. If we are walking on paths that are crooked in God's eyes, even if we are about to succeed in something, it will still collapse. It is a tragedy for a person not to know that God reigns in this world. It is a tragedy not to know the rules that God has established in this world. **It is essential to know that pleasing God and fearing Him is the foundation of everything.**
I can tell you that nothing I do collapses. From a young age, I knew that God reigns in the world, and I knew that my abilities were not enough. Don't think I'm foolish. I did very well in elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. I understood many things, including multilevel marketing. I have also completely understood the matter of living, and I have simplified it. How have I simplified it? I know that God reigns in the world. I read the Bible once not long after I became a believer, and then I read it many more times. Then I discovered that I was not good enough. My abilities were not good enough in God's eyes, and they were not even good enough among people. People cannot be arrogant!
**When the scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when the wise is instructed, he gains knowledge. (Proverbs 21:11)**
**Whoever wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. (Proverbs 21:16)**
**The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous for the upright. (Proverbs 21:18)**
**Scoffer is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with overbearing pride. (Proverbs 21:24)**
You have no right to be arrogant. What are you boasting about? You don't have the final say on what will happen to you tomorrow, you cannot even outlive a turtle. Don't people say, thousand-year-old turtles, ten-thousand-year-old tortoises? You don't have the final say on when you are born or when you die, so don't always think you are great. You must know that you are a human being, and you need God very much. After finding God, knowing that He reigns in the world, if I didn't fear Him, wouldn't I be talking nonsense? I would never dare to go against God. I am afraid of God in this life. I am not afraid of anything, not even death, I am just afraid of God! Therefore, I spend my life pursuing justice, loving mercy, and often feel that I have not done well enough.
**He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)**
I struggled once because I was good at IT, and people invited me to be a consultant, and then asked me how much I wanted. Is it better to ask for money or not to ask for money? Of course, it is better not to ask for money! So our brothers and sisters must know that pleasing God makes everything simple, and living life is a very simple matter. So, starting today, let us straighten the path before our feet. People must walk on God's path, not deviating to the left or to the right. Know that God reigns in the world.
**When the scoffer is punished, the simple gains wisdom; when the wise is instructed, he gets knowledge. The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. (Proverbs 21:11-12)**
**Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. (James 5:3)**
Are you wicked or righteous? You can know by shining the light of God's word on yourself. If I arrange for you to serve, and you start doing business with people, I can tell you that is a curse. Why do you start doing business? Because you value money! How long will your heart be bound by money? Haven't you suffered enough disasters?
## Conclusion
**When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Whoever strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead. Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. (Proverbs 21:15-17)**
This is God's law. If everyone can remember that God reigns in the world, it will be easy. Don't think about your boss, even Pharaoh, the King of Babylon, the King of Persia, and the Kings of the Roman Empire are all in God's hands. Don't go against the authorities in this world, because that is the authority established by God. Therefore, whether we are in China or in America, we must be good citizens.
**If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. (Proverbs 21:13)**
God often puts these things before us. God puts a poor person before you, pleading with you. If you don't know that this is a test from God, then it is dangerous. The poor don't need much. If you read the New Testament carefully, God's requirements for us are not very high. He doesn't ask you to pay off gambling debts or drug debts for them, just the little bit they eat and use is not much. So don't shut your ears, know that God is testing you.
**The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, how much more when he brings it with evil intent. (Proverbs 21:27)**
If you offer a sacrifice, don't be a wicked person. If you give an offering, and your offering is detestable, do you think I can accept it? If I accept it, I become detestable.
**No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30-31)**
Brothers and sisters, you must have a heart that trusts in God! If you don't have a heart that trusts in God, and you trust in your business and work, these things will become your bondage. Only by trusting in God will many things become simple. You will do what is right in God's eyes and overcome tests, trials, and temptations again and again according to God's word. As long as you know clearly in your heart that God reigns in the world. Warriors rely on city walls and the swords in their hands, but it is all useless.
**A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)**
Brothers and sisters, no matter what, you must know that God reigns in the world! It is very interesting to fight spiritual battles in life. Once, when I was casting out a demon, after I defeated the demon, the demon revealed its true form and then told me what was going on. It said to me, I am the first person in all ages to defeat it. Although we cannot completely believe the words of demons, it is absolutely undeniable that it was defeated by me. As for the reason why it was defeated by me, everyone must know that no matter how much money or other things are used to tempt me, it is useless. Nothing can stop my heart from trusting in God. Here I want to mention one thing: never believe the words of demons, only believe the words of God.
**People are often defeated by demons because of greed for money and indulgence of the flesh. If you are not greedy for money and do not indulge the flesh, you will not be bound by the things of the world.** Encountering someone who tries to coerce you, such as a child who cries and makes a fuss to coerce their parents, it doesn't work with me. Even adults who cry, make trouble, and threaten to hang themselves, I don't believe that people who are so indulgent of the flesh will really hang themselves. If they really hang themselves, I will call the firemen to save them. If they are saved but are lifeless, it is because the firemen arrived too late.
Of course, I will also help find people to arrange the funeral. But one thing you must know, it is useless to coerce me, I will not fall for that! Demons are defeated by me because I know that God reigns in this world. The reason why you were defeated is that your son owes a lot of money outside, borrowing high-interest loans that you have to pay back for him. You are worried that if you don't pay back for him, people will kill him. But rest assured, he will not die!
Don't indulge in wine and gluttony, don't love money and be greedy for enjoyment. Pursue diligence, enjoy the work you do, and then dedicate your life to God, walking on the right path that God has prepared for us. Whether it is the heart of Pharaoh or any other king, or the heart of your boss, it is in God's hands. In fact, the hearts of all people are in God's hands. Our lives are in God's hands, not in the money in your account.
Be careful with our mouths, guard ourselves, and guard our hearts as we protect the pupils of our eyes. Trust in God, accumulate treasures in our own homes, and treasure God. Accumulate a little each day, just like our church, accumulating spiritual assets over time. If you go to the church website to listen, you will definitely not be able to finish listening in a short time.
**He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)**
People who love money do not receive honor. When you see someone who loves money, be careful not to be deceived. Similarly, be careful of people who are greedy and insatiable, and avoid being cheated by them. Stay away from people who often tell lies and bear false witness. Those who have no shame, you must stay away. We walk our own path, and they walk their own.
**Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (Proverbs 21:9)**
This is a determination, nothing can deprive me to trust god and serving God. Some people often ask me urgently to help them solve problems when they encounter things. I say that things that cannot kill people are minor matters, so don't rush. Even if something can kill people, it doesn't matter if they die, because God is in charge! If a child runs away from home, let him go. He will come back by himself when he is gone. He loves himself so much that you don't need to worry about him at all. You are still worried that your child will die or be abducted, but if God ordains him to have this fate, what can you do? Just pretend that nothing happened, and if he dies, then he dies, because everyone has their own fate.
God is in control, not you or I can control it. None of us can control the fate of our spouse or children. Today, we must take these things lightly, and living will be simple and easy. If you feel comfortable after listening to this, that's no surprise. **Things that cannot kill people are minor matters, and things that can kill people are not matters,** thinking this way will make life easy. If there is quarreling at home all day long, move to the wilderness to live. It is better to hear the cries of wild animals all day than to hear people quarreling, because it is less stressful. Don't worry about being eaten by wild animals, because God is in control, and the wild animals cannot eat you! Thinking this way, living life is really a very simple matter.
**Living in God's Mingding Destiny, revering God throughout life, then God will enable us to please God before kings or bosses.** What is so difficult about God making bosses like us? Seeing through the hustle and bustle of the world, you can live a life of ease. May God bless everyone!