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Proverbs 14:2 - Living to Honor God! [updated]

Proverbs 14:2 - Living to Honor God!  [updated]

Proverbs 14:2 (ESV) Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, 
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.  

Proverbs 14:2 (NCV) People who live good lives respect the LORD, 
but those who live evil lives don't. 

Proverbs 14:2 (CEV) By living right, you show that you respect 
the Lord; by being deceitful, you show that you despise him. 

Proverbs 14:2 (TLB)  To do right honors God; to sin is to 
despise him. 

WORD STUDY

Feareth the Lord. That is, gives reverence to Him. [SDA Bible 
Commentary] 

CONTEXT

Proverbs 10-22: Proverbs of Solomon. 

   Watch out for fools (v. 7)! Wisdom builds but folly destroys 
(v. 1), and the tent of the godly is stronger than the house of the 
wicked (v. 11). When you obey the Word of God, you build on a solid 
foundation (Matt. 7:21-27).  
   Watch out for fools! Their speech can tear you down (v. 7), 
for their words are like a rod that hurts (v. 3). You cannot trust 
what they say (v. 8); they mock at sin (v. 9); and they rage in their 
self-confidence (v. 16). Be sure to watch out for their temper (vv. 17, 29); it 
can get you and them into trouble.  
   When you fear the Lord, your walk will be marked by 
uprightness (vv.2, 16), confidence (v. 26), and protection (v. 27). The fear 
of the Lord is better than the folly of fools. [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

COMMENTARY APPLICATION

Here is a contrast between those who fear the Lord and those who 
despise him--the distinction is in the conduct produced: uprightness 
versus perversion. [Expositors Bible Commentary] 

A person's attitude toward the LORD--either fearing Him or 
despising Him--shows up in his behavior. His conduct is either upright or 
devious. [Bible Knowledge Commentary] 

   Grace and sin in their true colours. Grace reigning is a 
reverence of God, and gives honour to him who is infinitely great and 
high, and to whom all honour is due,... Those that despise God's 
precepts, and will not be ruled by them, his promises, and will not accept 
of them, despise God himself and all his attributes.  
   Grace and sin in their true light... a man that has grace, and 
the fear of God, reigning in him, he walks in his uprightness, he 
makes conscience of his actions, is faithful both to God and man, and 
every stop he makes, as well as every step he takes, is by rule; here 
is one that honours God. But, on the contrary, he that is perverse 
in his ways, that wilfully follows his own appetites and passions, 
that is unjust and dishonest and contradicts his profession in his 
conversation, however he may pretend to devotion, he is a wicked man, and will 
be reckoned with as a despiser of God himself. (Matthew Henry's 
Commentary) 

   The natural man is spiritually dead, separated from God. He 
has neither the presence of God in His life nor the knowledge of 
God's ways. He has learned to live his life independently of God. 
Essentially, this is what constitutes the "flesh." His mind has been 
conformed to this world. The brain, which is physical and part of the 
body; functions like a computer. The mind is the programmer. The body 
picks up data from the world through its five senses. The mind chooses 
and interprets the data, and the brain stores it. The emotions are 
essentially a product of how the mind chooses to think and interpret life's 
events.. 
   When we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in 
our life. Because we are now spiritually alive and united with 
Christ, We have the mind of Christ. We have become a partaker of the 
divine nature. However, nobody pushed the clear button in the computer. 
The brain is still programmed to live independently of God .... 
   The battle is for the mind: "For the flesh sets its desire 
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in 
opposition to one another" (Galatians 5:17). God has given us the 
responsibility to choose. The carnal Christian chooses to walk according to the 
flesh. What governs his behavior are the old habit patterns and 
thoughts that were programmed over time. The spiritually defeated 
Christian fails to put on the armor of God, and ends up paying attention 
to deceiving spirits. The spiritual man has crucified the flesh and 
put on the armor of God; he chooses to think upon that which is 
true. 
   We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 
4:23). The Holy Spirit discloses the mind of Christ. We must choose to 
no longer be conformed to this world. We are to be diligent to 
present ourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be 
ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). When we 
do, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. We choose to 
think the truth, and the Holy Spirit enables our thoughts and renews 
our minds with the logos. Then the peace of God guards our hearts 
and minds. We let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts by letting 
the word of Christ richly dwell in us (Colossians 3:15,16). We are 
now equipped to discern. (Walking in the Light by Neil Anderson)  
[Inspirational SB] 

If we choose to live by God's standards; we will be righteous. 
But if we choose to live by our own standards, we will be wicked and 
will face God's wrath. [Inspirational SB] 

Love for uprightness will naturally coincide with love and 
respect for the most upright One of all, God Himself. [Nelson SB] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site: 
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/   

More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com