Introduction

Good day to all! We will delve into Proverbs chapter 30. Proverbs is exceptionally well-written! Reading it brings wisdom. As you navigate this world, especially when walking down the streets, observe how people carry themselves. Some walk with elaborate displays, like tattooed dragons and tigers, jade ornaments, a swaggering gait, projecting an image of power, yet they are merely low-level gang members. Seasoned gang leaders do not typically walk this way. The question is: Does merely adopting this outward appearance make one wise?

In the previous chapter, we discussed self-righteousness. I believe I articulated it quite well. Later, I searched online to see how others interpreted it, and I still found my explanation superior. Nevertheless, I still feel that I haven't quite gotten it right. Thus, one of the tenets of Chinese Mingding Destiny is: Always feel that you haven't quite gotten it right. This often causes confusion. Recently, some young people arrived burdened with misfortune. A few years ago, their father passed away, and weeks later, their mother followed. Living abroad, they face hardship. They asked the pastor: If the teacher always feels he hasn’t quite gotten it right, what are we to learn from him? Actually, they can learn this un-self-righteous attitude from me! If you haven’t gotten it right, then correct it. The real danger is thinking you've gotten it right when you're mistaken, experiencing a series of calamities without recognizing your error—that is foolishness. But how do I explain this? In Proverbs 30, I finally found the answer to what constitutes a wise person. This is the main theme of this chapter!

Those who consider themselves inadequate are the truly wise. You can discern a person's character by observing their demeanor. If I were there, I could imitate them—wearing a large copper chain instead of a gold one, drawing a jade ornament on my arm, and wearing a small vest. But what is inside? Is this acceptable? You need to know that I genuinely feel inadequate. There is much I do not know, so I study diligently. As a result, my interpretation of Proverbs is not as bad as I thought.

The words of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle. This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal: “I am the most ignorant of men, and I do not have the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. (Proverbs 30:1-3)

The son of Jakeh can write Proverbs and have it included in the Bible? Who would be so foolish? Wrong, this is wisdom. Avoid superficial cleverness: knowing everything about everything, and then being utterly clueless. It is a good start when a person recognizes their inadequacy. We must understand: Some appear to be inadequate, but deep down they believe they are capable. If you say they are not capable, they become angry. Such people still think highly of themselves. This is where people's foolishness lies.

What prevents a person from becoming wise? Self-righteousness. They never challenge their own perceptions, clinging to what they believe. They do not know if their beliefs are effective or not. Among the people I serve, the most difficult are the self-righteous. Why do people often stray from the right path? Because they are set in their own ways, without knowing or validating those methods, and they still consider themselves clever.

Thinking oneself wise is not wisdom; thinking oneself inadequate is wisdom. By establishing their own righteousness, people nullify God's righteousness. Do not question why this person's writings are included in the Bible. Actually, this person's writings are fit to be included in the Bible. Becoming wise starts with acknowledging one's inadequacy. If you think you are inadequate, find someone who is capable and learn from them. So now, the second point: Pose questions and seek answers in God's Word.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (Proverbs 30:4-6)

Pose Questions, Seek Answers in God's Word

Cultivate the good habit of seeking answers to your questions in God's Word. Like the author, even when posing big questions, he turns to God's Word when he realizes he doesn't know the answers.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:4-5)

Brothers and sisters, reading God's Word makes one wise, but avoid reading it in a self-righteous manner.

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (Proverbs 30:6)

It is clear: Do not casually add to God’s Word.

Several years ago, I purchased books by a famous person, spending over 500 Singapore dollars. One of these books, The Triune God, explored the Trinity. Because the author was an expert, and I was a new believer, I felt I did not understand it well, so I bought the book. However, I was left confused. I asked everyone: What is the Triune God? But no one could explain it clearly.

Later, I realized that the Bible does not mention the Trinity. This concept was added later. The Bible mentions the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but not the Trinity. I can guarantee it. Yet, people insist on discussing the Trinity. I once encountered a pastor who spoke at length about it, leaving me baffled. After his sermon, I asked him to explain the Trinity and if I could ask questions. The pastor replied: Don’t ask! It just is! I felt I couldn't even ask questions. But when you encounter a problem while reading the Bible, you must ask. You can't avoid asking questions.

When I became a pastor, I took the risk of allowing questions. After each Bible study and sermon, there is a Q&A session. What is my foundation? My foundation is Proverbs 30:1: The words of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle. I am confident that I know I am inadequate, but I will investigate. I will not remain ignorant but will strive to investigate. You will notice that the Proverbs I share are not simply copied from the internet. I have diligently read, understood, and corrected it, asking and answering questions, and obeying God’s Word. Write this concept in your notebook, and you will become wise.

God's Word should not be added to. I know I will be crucified and stoned for saying this because the Trinity is a fundamental Christian doctrine. But to me, it is a human addition. The Bible does not mention the Trinity. If you ask whether it is three heads on one body or one head on three bodies, no one can explain it. The Bible never says.

How would I answer this question? I would say that Paul never mentioned the Trinity in his letters when establishing churches. Because the Trinity is not important, what matters is God's presence and power manifested in you. Instead of delving into a vast and empty topic, let's focus on understanding what is clearly written in the Bible. I am practical: knowing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Most High, is wisdom. When a person corrects themselves, God will walk with them and manifest His power in them. If these things are not important, then what is? Moses said in the Bible that we should understand the obvious; the mysteries belong to the Lord. The obvious things belong to us, so let us obey them.

Thinking Oneself Inadequate is Wisdom

We should not be fools, refusing to admit our mistakes. The other day, I corrected a sister, telling her she had written the program incorrectly. She insisted it was correct, even though it was unrelated. We need to correct our mistakes. I often say: Do not dawdle; do not tinker. Someone asked what that meant. I explained: Doing things slowly is dawdling, while messing around and fixing things haphazardly is tinkering. Sometimes, I struggle to translate Chinese into Chinese, let alone translating it into English. It is challenging.

I noticed many people ask questions without following the rules. If I say: This cloth is so black; it must have been burned in a mountain or mined in a coal mine. I am describing how black the cloth is. But someone asked: Teacher, where did you mine coal? I was describing the cloth's darkness. He asked: Teacher, have you burned carbon? I was merely describing the darkness. People are interesting; we need to ponder carefully. I suspect many people today listen and think incorrectly, missing the point. They ask questions that miss the mark. Have they been answered? No. We should seek answers to our questions in God's Word.

Why can't we add to it? Anything within the system is not an addition, but anything outside the system is. After years of research, I concluded that Paul's writings and Jesus Christ's teachings form a single system. Peter, James, and Jude's writings appear to be outside that system. This might offend many. I prefer to look at the results. If the church you build is as great as Paul's, we will follow you. If the church you build is like Peter and James', which both failed, I think I'll pass. I cannot say this is correct, but it is practical.

We think we are inadequate, so we ask questions and seek answers in God's Word. If you do this, you will become wise. Over the years, I have grown through building churches, thanks be to God! I constantly revise my understanding. I thank God for growing through this process. We are discussing Proverbs 30; the next chapter is the last. Then, I will discuss Genesis, which will be my sixth version.

Why do I keep discussing Genesis? Because it has changed; it has been upgraded. My understanding of God is constantly renewing. A foolish young man asked: Pastor, if you said this five years ago and say something different this year, were you wrong before or are you wrong now? He thought I would defend my former views. Foolish young man, if I am five years old this year, I was not even born five years ago. If I am six years old, I was one year old five years ago, still drinking milk. Of course, it's different. Do not ask such questions.

“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)

Did you see that? This person can write such words, and they are included in the Bible. This proves that only such people are capable. The Bible has many positive and negative examples, demonstrating that this attitude is what we should have, this is what wisdom is. The reason is simple. Ponder this; it is fascinating. I will give two examples: Paul and Peter. Paul said:

I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5)

He is saying, do not believe in me, believe in our God. This has deeply influenced me. I am weak, fearful, and trembling. Some say, see, you have these flaws. I am merely a representative of sinners. Do not think I am a model of holiness; I am not. I am a model of sinners. Paul also considered himself a model of sinners. We preach the name of Jesus Christ, not my name. I do not want fame; I do not want to establish my name. I want people to know Chinese Mingding Destiny, what God’s Word is, and what the system of God’s Word is.

So, we need to know that there is nothing wrong with fear and trembling. We should be fearful and trembling. Do not be so confident and self-righteous. With your little progress, how can you not be fearful and trembling, still self-righteous, thinking you have progressed and grown? What progress? What growth? You only need to let go of the past and run towards the future! As it says in Philippians:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

So, we can see here that this fear and trembling is normal, and that is wisdom. To think one is saved right away, that is not salvation. We must not learn to be like that. The Bible repeatedly presents us with an interesting argument: to know that we are not capable. Do not say: I will never blaspheme the name of God in my life, even if I have to die, I will die with Jesus! The result is denying the Lord three times. Peter said in the Bible: Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you. (See Matthew 26:35). He shouted slogans loudly, but Jesus responded: Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. (See Matthew 26:34).

He had not even suffered, and he collapsed. Would that work? Peter boasted before God, but before the rooster crowed, he denied the Lord three times. Today, brothers and sisters, do not boast. What I mean is that when we often think we are not good enough, there is still room for improvement. If we think we are already good enough and smart enough, then we are in trouble. There are five siblings in my family. Actually, among my siblings, I think I am a bit stronger than them, but I hardly ever say that my family members are very smart. Some people say: Pastor, your family members are very smart! I smile and let it go. You can say whatever you want. I know that I am not capable, far from it. Peter boasted, and after boasting, he denied the Lord three times. Therefore, if you are going to boast, boast in the Lord.

**Lest I be full and deny you, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:9)**

It is easier to deal with it when we truly know that we are not good. Do not shout slogans, because after shouting slogans, what will you do? I do not even know. So **thinking that you are not capable, that is wisdom. Do not get entangled there. If you are going to get entangled, only get entangled in one thing: Do I know this matter? If I do not know, then figure it out. Am I clear about this matter? If I am not clear, then clarify it. If I know 60% of this matter, then aim for 70%.**

A few days ago, my washing machine broke, so I had someone deliver a new one. When it was delivered, the person said that my house was so beautiful and asked if I wanted to rent it out, as they wanted to rent it. People see it as nice, but I see it as flawed; it is not good at all. Many things have not been done well. The level was low more than a year ago, but today, having grown, I look down on it. Whether things are done well depends on one thing: striving and constantly improving.

Many people have been living off their past achievements for a long time and still feel good. I think if they stay like that for a while, the demons will come. When God sends a demon to deal with you, to let you know you are not capable, then you will know it. When people stay in one place for too long, they will feel that they were pretty good before. You used to wear open-crotch pants, so why do not you keep wearing them? Now the open-crotch pants are sewn up, are they not? You could wear them before, but you cannot wear them now! Yesterday I sent everyone a joke: People have to become smart; they cannot keep living in the past.

Someone's child was four or five years old. The child hugged his father and said, “Dad, what are you doing?” The father said, “Oh, I feel sad! I see those children wearing open-crotch pants, running around carefree. When they are hungry, someone gives them food; when they are thirsty, someone gives them water; when they cry or get hurt, someone hugs them. Oh, I do not know why I am so upset now, but I am just very upset and sad!” As a result, the child said one sentence: “Dad, are you sad because your open-crotch pants are sewn up now?”

What I mean is that you cannot always live in the open-crotch pants era! How many of us are still living in the open-crotch pants era of faith? Do you all know what open-crotch pants are? It is what children wear, with no privacy. If you are still living in the open-crotch pants era today, are you not ashamed? Why does believing in the Lord become more and more difficult? Because the open-crotch pants are sewn up, does this not become a joke? So today, everyone must grow. In what areas should we grow? I will tell you a few areas. You must figure out these matters one by one.

## Have a Clear Understanding of Slander

People must have a clear understanding of slander and cannot stay in the state of continuing to wear open-crotch pants.

**Do not inform on a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.(Proverbs 30:10)**

When is it your turn to manage someone else's servant? Is that your business? If you have to manage someone else's servant, is that not being nosy? Then you go to the master and tell him that his servant is not good. In fact, in the end, you are saying that the master is not good. Does one not look at the master before hitting the dog? Do you not have to look at the master before hitting the servant? Do you know how much slander there is in the church today?

Someone said to me, “I am an intercessory warrior in our church.” I said, “Then how do you intercede?” He said, “I often pray to God. God, change our pastor.” When is it your turn? Then you still remember your pastor in prayer. What is this? Is this coming before God and telling Him, “God! Why did you make such a lazy person a pastor? Are you not going to do anything about such a rotten person?” Is this your business? Praying and praying, three people form a group and two people form a clique to intercede. Interceding and interceding, they bring in the spirit of witchcraft.

Everyone must know that **changing another person by relying on God is a very deadly thing.**How many intercessory warriors do this? But our church does not have intercessory warriors. I knew they wanted to do this, so I changed the matter of intercessory warriors. A large group of people were interceding, asking God to change their pastor. Is this not inviting demons? I know a brother who, after leaving that church, still prayed for the pastor of that church. There was no pastoral relationship, but every week, a group of rabble was arranged to intercede, putting in a lot of effort to get God to change their pastor.

I think they do not know the word “slander”! People are stupid because they are stupid! God, change such-and-such chairman, change such-and-such president. What are you doing? Does God need you to tell Him what to do? Do you want to be God's advisor? I feel that these things, which are controlled through the Holy Spirit, are also a kind of witchcraft! What happens in the end? Alas! I am an intercessory warrior, so how did I get cancer? That is not intercession; that is slander.

**When people are foolish, they do not know that they are foolish.** Brothers and sisters, do not do this. That is not your responsibility. Just give this matter to the person who can manage it. Can God not manage it? Can God not manage it? God established such a church or such a country and chose such a president. That is God's work, not yours. If the Bible tells us to pray for kings, it does not tell us to pray like this. Do you want to tell God how He should be God and tell the master how to manage his servant? We need to have a clear understanding of slander.

## The Understanding of Self-Righteousness Is Very Important

**There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes but is not washed from its filth. There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. (Proverbs 30:11-14)**

These are all self-righteous people. **If someone has difficulty in learning, the root cause is self-righteousness! Self-righteousness prevents us from becoming smart. If we remove self-righteousness, we can become smart people.** For example, when learning a language, adults do not learn as quickly as children. This has nothing to do with whether children are smart or adults are stupid. It is actually because adults have become self-righteous.

In reality, some people learn English using Chinese. After learning it, it becomes “Good Good Study, Day Day Up!” As a result, no one except him can understand it. Later, I observed that children learn languages very differently from adults. When they learn English, they learn directly using English; when they learn Korean, they learn using Korean; when they learn Japanese, they learn using Japanese. Do not use Chinese to learn other languages; you will not learn anything. So how can we become smart? It is actually to remove the self-righteousness within us!

## The Understanding of Insatiability

**The leech has two daughters; “Give, give,” they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: Sheol, the barren womb, the ground that is never satisfied with water, and fire. (Proverbs 30:15-16)**

**If the understanding of self-righteousness is insufficient, and at the same time, one is also insatiable, one will become an extremely foolish person. Insatiability will greatly corrupt oneself.** People have very obvious reactions if they have a feeling of insatiability. In the past, it was very happy to eat a bowl of noodles for ten yuan because one was poor. Now, one feels that a bowl of noodles for ten yuan is not delicious, not because of anything else, but because the requirements have become higher after the conditions have improved. Because of insatiability, people keep pondering and tossing, and this process corrupts themselves.

## Not Honoring Parents

The fundamental reason for not honoring parents is also the self-righteousness mentioned earlier.

**The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. (Proverbs 30:17)**

The problems brought about by not honoring parents are very deep because there is a clear commandment in the Ten Commandments: Honor your father and your mother. Some people identify good and evil with their parents, that must be changed! **Anyone who has a bad relationship with their parents, it is definitely not their parents’ problem, but their own problem. Because you are simply not qualified to dishonor them in their presence. No matter how difficult it is, you must fix the relationship with your parents. That is wisdom and intelligence! Whether it is a foolish father or an ignorant mother, you must not laugh at them or mess around with them.**

## There Are Still Many Things We Do Not Know

**Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. (Proverbs 30:18-19)**

Here are a few examples to illustrate that there are many things we do not know, so we are simply not qualified to be arrogant and proud. Even if we study hard today and have grown, there are still many things we do not know. The reason why we cannot understand is because behind it is all carnal stuff.

**This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.” (Proverbs 30:20)**

## The Reversal of Authority Brings Great Corruption

**Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: a servant when he becomes king, a fool when he is filled with food, an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. (Proverbs 30:21-23)**

Here it says that a servant becoming king is not really becoming king. The king is still the king, but the servant has not done his duty and replaced the king, but instead does what the king should do. This is the reversal of authority. In the family, the child is not like a child, and the mother is not like a mother. This is the reversal of authority. If the dog does not treat the owner as the owner, the dog will also be very crazed. These things will make the earth tremble, to the extent that God cannot stand it. If the authority in the church is always reversed and you always manage things that you should not manage, the result will definitely be enough for us to suffer. Because God does not like these things. Agur discovered these problems after studying them. These are all spiritual principles.

## People Should Learn from Animals

**The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; (Proverbs 30:25)**

After observing, you will find that God created ants, wanting people to learn from ants, to understand: **If the authority is reversed, one is not as good as ants, locusts, or rock badgers.**

**The locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; (Proverbs 30:27)**

People are not as good as locusts, who can march in ranks; nor are they as good as geckos, who can be caught by hand, yet it is in kings’ palaces. People really need to learn wisdom from animals. If people **are self-righteous; then slander other people’s servants; then are not satisfied; do not honor their parents; do not know their own ignorance; and reverse the authority, being below all things in the world, then they become corrupted, which is very deadly.**

## Living by the Sword Is Absolutely a Curse

**Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back for any; the goat; a king whose army is with him. (Proverbs 30:29-31)**

Do not think that this is praising them. They are models of living by the sword. The Bible mentions that those who live by the sword are cursed, you must know.

**If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. (Proverbs 30:32)**

Then you are not far from corruption. Even if you are an invincible king, what is there to be arrogant about? Even if you are like Pharaoh, you are also under God’s control, are you not? **Relying on the sword is a curse. Why do people live in a curse? It is because they do not know the Word of God.**

**Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:6)**

## Must Know the Cause and Effect Relationship

If you carry the foolishness of self-righteousness; begin to slander servants; plus insatiability; dishonor your parents; do not know your own ignorance; reverse the authority; and do not learn from small animals, relying on the sword, then you are not far from corruption.

**For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. (Proverbs 30:33)**

Recently, I was talking about the English version of Genesis, talking about chapter 33: Jacob is Esau’s brother. He received Isaac’s blessing. He escaped from his uncle Laban’s house, taking his family’s property, cattle, sheep, and camels, and was going back. As a result, his brother Esau came to kill him with four hundred men. As a result, this Jacob did not start a dispute, but relied on wisdom. God does not like disputes. Jacob was great because he was very smart. He called his brother Lord. At that time, he said: My Lord, my Lord, brother, seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. (See Genesis 33:10)

Now let us consider whether Jacob did right or wrong? We now call Jehovah God the God of Jacob, so what Jacob did should be worthy of our learning. Do not say rashly: I have God’s protection, stab me! Learn from Jacob, do not do foolish things. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Bible were all smart people. Later, Jehovah God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We cannot finish learning from them! Moreover, you are not stronger than people in the face of such a situation. The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, are proverbs. Let us agree with his words. Do not always think that you are great.

May God bless everyone!