Proverbs 20:1-4 – Harvest
Verse 1 – The history of the world from the days of Noah proves the truth of this proverb. The sinful abuse of alcohol is seen everywhere – it destroys homes, jobs, and lives. But how does it begin? It begins when someone puts something else before God – they love it more, they have more time for it, and they listen to it more. You may not be drunk with alcohol, but you might be drunk with your work, your relationships, your holidays, your possessions, etc.
Verse 2 – If the wrath of a king is so fierce here on this earth, how much worse must God’s wrath be, the King over all? He is justly angry with rebellious sinners. We need a Mediator to turn away His wrath, and in His love He has provided one – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 3 – The world defines honour as taking revenge for insults, being quick to jump to the fighting defence of your name. But God sees honour in peace, in loving someone enough to overlook the insult, to not seek revenge. Sometimes strife is unavoidable, but the Godly man or woman doesn’t go looking for a fight.
Verse 4 – If we want to reap a harvest in our lives and the lives of others, we have to plough. We have to be reading our Bibles, spending time in prayer, faithfully attending worship to hear the preaching of God’s Word, going to Bible studies and prayer meetings, spending time in Christian fellowship to grow spiritually. Those that are too lazy to use these means will not see growth in their lives. If we want to see others come to Christ, we need to befriend them, spend time with them, speak to them of Christ, invite them to hear and study God’s Word, and faithfully pray for their salvation. If we’re too lazy to do this, there will be no harvest.
Questions
- How can we appease the wrath of God?
- What do we need to do to reap a harvest?
Prayer Points
- Pray for those you know who have not put their faith in Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.