“The Father Is Looking for a Few Good Men” (Proverbs 20:5-7)
June 17, 2018 FATHER’S DAY
By Jeremy B. Stopford
TODAY’S FUNNY #1: “Johnny’s Graduation Speech” (in honor of one of our upcoming graduates!)
When Little Johnny was about to graduate from high school, he was asked to give a speech to his fellow graduating classmates. To avoid getting off track or saying something inappropriate, as he was known for, he had index cards with his speech on them in his hand.
He got on the stage, took a look at the first index card, then at his classmates and began his speech. “Fellow graduates, I want to talk about my mother and the wonderful influence she has had on my life,” he told the audience. “She is a shining example of parenthood, and I love her more than words could ever do justice.”
At this point he seemed to struggle for words. After a pause, he looked up with a sly grin and said, “Sorry, but it’s really hard to read my mother’s handwriting.”
TODAY’S FUNNY #2: “A Birthday Funny” (in honor of the pastor’s birthday today)
A man asked his wife what she’d like for her birthday.
“I’d love to be six again,” she replied.
On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early and off they went to a local theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear–everything there was! Wow!
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. Right to McDonald’s they went, where her husband ordered her a Big Mac along with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie – the latest Star Wars epic, and hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi Cola, and M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed.
He leaned over and lovingly asked, “Well, dear, what was it like being six again?”
One eye opened. “You idiot, I meant my dress size!”
INTRODUCTION:
In March 1779, Captain William Jones, captain of the 28 gun frigate, The Providence, advertised in the Providence, R.I. Gazette seeking recruits for a “short Cruize” (sic). He said there was a need for “a few good Men”. Over two hundred years later, that slogan has stuck for the Marines.
Perhaps if the Lord needed a recruiting slogan, that, too, would be worthy: “The Father is Looking for a Few Good Men.”
Our text would be appropriate – because what the Father is looking for is not men who have “already arrived”. No, No! He’s looking for a few good men who are willing to be disciplined by Him. And when these men get done in the Father’s Training School (of life!), they will come out as changed men – men that are being cultivated not only for today but also for eternity. Would you think about being one of those men -or women -for the Father?
PRAYER
#1 A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING (v. 5)
The first kind of man that the Father hopes to develop is “a man of understanding”.
Our text tells us several notable facts:
There are purposes of a person’s heart which can be deep. “Purposes” have the idea of deep thoughts, or, better: motives, plans, his real intentions [from this comes the question, “what is his ulterior motive? What is his real purpose?]. The best definition I found is “knowing what is right”. The comparative [“is like”] is the reference to a “deep waters” – the idea here being a well which seems to have no bottom.
ILLUSTRATION: some of you know what this is referring to, especially when your submersible pump decided it no longer wanted to work. Do you remember that horrible feeling of having no running water in the house? Do you remember thinking, “oh no, the pump” – knowing full well that you would have to take the cap off the well, pull the plastic pipe up out of the well, and then monkey with what is attached on the bottom of the pipe. And it seemed like forever to get that pipe up out of the well. Why? Because it was deep – it seemed to have no bottom. That may be true if the driller had to go over 100 or more feet to find water!
Only a “man of understanding” – a person who has insight can draw those purposes out.
What does this mean? Ex. 35:30-32 says, “Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze…”
Let’s couple that with Judges 13:18. Manoah and his aged wife were told that they were going to have a baby, to be named Samson – yes, THAT Samson. They wisely asked of the character of the baby. But then they asked of the Name of the One Who was sharing this vital insight into this unusual child. The One said, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding” (or, in the Hebrew, “wonderful”). Many believe this “Angel of the Lord” was the reincarnate Christ since He has the same name – “wonderful” – as our Savior does (Isaiah 9:6-7).
So what have we learned? In order to accomplish anything of eternal value, one must have understanding that comes from the Spirit of God. And that is important because the Lord Himself is the Author of understanding.
Thus the Father is looking for a man who is willing to learn of Him. He is looking for someone who sees the tough times – the deep waters of life – yet sees the Author of life and trusts Him. Are you a man – or woman – of understanding?
#2 A FAITHFUL MAN (v. 6)
Our text tells us:
A man may say he is a merciful man;
What is really desired is a faithful man, a rare commodity
I like how the CEV (“Contemporary English Version”) expresses this verse: “There are many who say, “You can trust me!” But can they be trusted?”
Do you remember the Savior’s teachings about the Pharisees’ teachings? He told the people, in essence, “do what the Pharisees say, but don’t do what they do.” Their lives did not back up their teachings. Their lives lacked trustworthiness.
A faithful man. What does it mean to be faithful? Because the Father is looking for those who are willing to have a lifestyle that is faithful! To be faithful by definition means: trustworthy; loyal (now we’re starting to sound like a Boy Scout!) truth worthy – their lives are living examples of the truth they represent; steadfastness toward the faith he holds to.
A faithful man. Listen to Revelation 19:11: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.” Like “understanding” (or “wonderful”) in verse 5, “Faithful” is a name associated with the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. So it shouldn’t surprise us that, in order to be a servant of the One Who is Faithful, he must be faithful as well. Trustworthy. Loyal. Steadfast.
A faithful man. “Faithful” is an important word, used over 200 times in our Scriptures! Timothy says that deacons are to be “faithful”. In order to be a servant of the church, one must have proved oneself qualified for the office or position. There must be a long-term consistency of character.
ILLUSTRATION: In a few months once again, our beloved nominating committee will select names for the various offices of our church. Hopefully the committee will not select certain ones with the hope that if they’re elected they might start coming to church more often. The committee won’t select ones because they know they are big financial givers to the church. Hopefully the committee will select men or women to certain offices based upon the fact that that man or that woman has already proved himself or herself faithful.
And there we go! The Father is looking for a few men – and women – who are faithful – who are willing to show a truth to character over a long period of time.
#3 THE RIGHTEOUS MAN (v. 7)
To be righteous means to have a life which is one of integrity
To be righteous means to have a view for eternity, and for the years to come.
The CJB (“Complete Jewish Bible”) translates the first part of this verse in a marvelous way: “The righteous live a life of integrity.” Eugene Peterson once called that having “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”!
This verse is amazing, isn’t it? To have a blameless life, a life of an integrity, over the course of a lifetime.
But note the second part of the verse: “blessed are his children after him.” Why are they blessed, or “happy”? Because Dad lived a long obedience in the same direction! He lived a life of integrity over the course of his entire lifetime – and their home is the beneficiary of such a life.
When we make any decisions, do we make them thinking how will the results of that decision affect my own generation to come?
The Father is looking for a few men – and women – who are willing to be a man or woman of integrity over a long period of time!
CONCLUSION
Let’s wrap this up! What is the Father looking for?
1. The Father is looking for someone who is a man of understanding, a man who over a long period of time has found the Father worthy of his trust, and has learned of him accordingly.
2. The Father is looking for someone who is a faithful man, just like the Father is faithful.
3. The Father is looking for a righteous man, someone who recognizes those costs, who sees the eternal fruit through his heritage – some of whom may not even be born yet.
The Father is looking for a few.
Are you willing to be one of the few?
Close in prayer
Jeremy B. Stopford is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Earlville, New York.