Proverbs 19:9-10

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. ¹⁰It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

Another Job

Someone asked his neighbor curiously, “What? Why do you need to take another job? You’ve got a high paying job.” “I need to earn more to pay the government,” his neighbor answered regretfully. “What happen?” he asked. His neighbor said, ““Five years ago, I paid few hundred dollars for Tax Receipts of donation to charity and included it in my Income Tax Returns. It’s true! I received a good amount of Tax Refunds. Then the government investigated and found out that I lied in my Tax Returns. Now, part of my salary is automatically deducted to pay the government.”

The authenticity of this second hand story could be exaggerated or partial. It is not flawless. Shady personalities approach and ask naïve people for certain amount in exchange for Tax Receipt worth thousands of dollars donation to charity institutions that they may use when they file their Income Tax Returns. They scheme to cheat their Income Tax Returns.

Illegal wealth could place them in undesirable situation. It is never smart to covet wealth by illegal means. It is never good testimony for anyone who is found filling false documents with intention to deceive.

Personally, what can we do to avoid violation of any law? Seriously reflect together on what it declares in Galatians 5:22-23, ²²The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

What can the fruit of the Spirit do about laws? When inspired by the Holy Spirit, we sense joy, peace and be faithful in all things we do, whether anyone is observing us or not. We have self-control. We can disregard deceptive attractions of the world. We won’t covet or desire illegal wealth. We appreciate the law. And we also despise giving any false testimony.

1. False

                                 ⁹A false witness will not go unpunished,

                             and whoever pours out lies will perish.

This warning against false witness is serious matter. Punishment for false witness is certainly proven. Temptation of false testimony can shake spiritual growth. Christians can be deceived to assume that little false statement is less harmful. Little false witness can increase if it won’t stop.

Telling the truth is work of the Spirit of truth. Jesus Christ is the truth. When Christ prevails, we tell the truth. When we tell the truth, it cultivates spiritual growth and gratifying life that the Lord designed for his children.

In contrast, a little false statement is rejection of the adventurous life that the Lord prepared for us. But how about if we are the victims of false statements of liars? Together, we can learn from the story of Joseph.

Joseph

Joseph managed the properties of Potiphar, his Egyptian master. As manager, Joseph had regular interaction with the wife of Potiphar. Joseph had exceptional feature. The Scripture described Joseph as well-built and handsome. And Potiphar’s wife noticed it. She invited Joseph to bed.

One day, Joseph went and attended to his duties in the house of his master, and no servant was inside the house. The wife of Potiphar caught the cloak of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But Joseph ran out of the house and left his cloak in her hand. It narrated in Genesis 39:16-20:

¹⁶She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. ¹⁸But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” ¹⁹When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. ²⁰Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison.

Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned where he met a prisoner who told Pharaoh the king of Egypt about his exceptional ability to interpret dreams. God allowed this dramatic story o to test Joseph. Joseph passed a test that became his testimony. When Joseph was falsely accused, it was a mess that became crucial message for us to know that God searches even in a despicable prison for anyone to accomplish his purposes for his glory.

How are you profiling yourself as witnesses for Christ? Do you have personal adventure with Christ? Pray for opportunity to testify about it. Do you sense any doubt about your faith? Prayerfully ask the Lord to increase your faith. Faith is gift of God, and God alone can cultivate our faith in him.

Let’s learn how the apostles asked for increase of faith when the Lord Jesus Christ declared in Luke 17:4-5, ⁴Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” ⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

It takes greater faith in Christ to forgive repeat offenders 7x in a day. It’s not easy. Yet, Christ has forgiven multiple sins we made in a single day.

The forgiveness we receive from God is what we use to forgive offenders. Practically, it proves we received forgiveness from God when we forgive. Forgiving repeat offenders is a fitting response to God’s forgiveness.

2. Fitting

                      ¹⁰It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—

                   how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

Do you wish to live luxuriously? Who does not desire to live in luxury? We also hope to live luxuriously in heaven. Streets in heaven are paved in gold. Now, if it’s not fitting for fools to live in luxury, can fools enter heaven? Foolish people may inherit millions of dollar, and rich fools spend money prodigally in foolish expenditure. Fools have no wisdom to manage wealth.

Let’s learn from the wise builder in Luke 6:46-49, ⁴⁶Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

We wants to build our home. We wants to invest for our future. And smartly, we should invest not just for practical treasures but most specially for our eternal treasures. We call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord to listen and actualize his instructions and explore adventurous life in him.

Someone participated in religious activities but his life was mess. He was drifting aimlessly. He had no clear purpose in life. And by God’s grace, he desire to put in action his faith in God. He prayed how he may serve God. And today, that someone testifies of a mess in this message for you.

Reflect on James 1:2-4, ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

It’s the Holy Spirit’s work in our life to find pure joy whenever we face troublesome difficulties in life. Pray for increase of faith to persevere. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Job, Daniel, anyone’s faith will be tested. As we explore the amazing grace of God, we also expect luxurious life in heaven. Amen!

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