The Simple Man - 1/14/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Simple Man - Assorted Proverbs Passages

So that’s why the first 20 years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; then for the next 40 we toil in the sin to support our family; the next 10 we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and the last 10 years we sit on the porch and bark at everyone.

Proverbs 1:1-7

“Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else.” - Lynard Skynyrd, Simple Kind of Man

There’s a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 14:12 (NHEB)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give to every man according to the fruit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)

The word for simple in the Bible in the Hebrew language is pethi (H6612); it occurs 19 times in the Old Testament (15 in the Proverbs). It carries the idea of being simple, naïve, and seducible.

Biblically, a simple man is 3 things:

First, he doesn’t know what God wants him to know and act on yet.

Secondly, he won’t take the time and commitment necessary to find out what what God wants him to know and act on.

Third, he is easy prey to the temptations of Satan.

Here’s the instruction Proverbs gives us about being a simple man:

We all start simple

To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. - Prov. 1:4 (ESV)

The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. - Psalm 116:6 (ESV)

The simple are called to learn and apply God’s word so they can become prudent.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. - Psalm 19:7 (ESV)

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. - Psalm 119:130 (ESV)

You call yourself a simple man; God’s word calls you a seducible man, ready to give in to the same kinds of temptations that ruin testimonies and hold entire churches back as you choose your ‘ease’ over knowing and serving God.

Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight. - Prov. 9:6 (ESV)

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. - Prov. 14:15-16 (ESV)

To stay simple is willful rebellion against God

How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? - Prov. 1:22 (ESV)

The fool rejects the things of God, the simple man simply won’t do the work to become prudent.

Those who stay simple are not ready to face battle with the Devil.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. - Proverbs 14:18 (ESV)

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. - Proverbs 27:12 (ESV)

As we age, being simple is no excuse for disobedience.

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. - Prov. 19:25 (ESV)

What part of commitment to God have you ignored, scoffed at, etc…?

God won’t bless what He can’t bless in your life; He will judge what He must judge (discipline).

SIMPLE – Satan Intentionally Manipulates People Loving Ease.

Or is the problem that you are ashamed of Jesus Christ? You don’t want to alienate those ‘simple man’ friends of yours who don’t know, won’t learn, and don’t obey Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. - Hebrews 6:1-2 (ESV)