Lesson 11 | Living by faith | Sabbath School

1. Lesson 11 for March 14, 2015

2. 1. LIVING BY FAITH:
1. Keeping the law. Proverbs 28:4, 7, 9.
2. Understanding all things. Proverbs 28:5.
2. PRACTICAL EXAMPLES:
1. If you are wealthy: Proverbs 28:8, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27.
2. If you are poor: Proverbs 28:3, 6; 29:13.
3. If you teach others: Proverbs 29:15.
Christians should live by faith.
We must do what God has told
us to do. We must trust Him,
since He will lead the
consequences when we act
according to His will.

3. “Those who forsake the law praise the
wicked, but such as keep the law contend
with them.” (Proverbs 28:4)
“Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
but a companion of gluttons shames his
father.” (Proverbs 28:7)
“One who turns away his ear from hearing
the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
(Proverbs 28:9)
First, she helps us to distinguish right from wrong so we can make
good decisions.
In addition, she gives us practical life guidelines on all we are (food,
rest, relationships, family…)
The first principle of a faith life is to
accept the directions God gives us for
living our life: the Law.
How can the Law help us
in our life here?

4. “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the
Lord understand all.” (Proverbs 28:5)
Proverbs 28:4
Those who forsake the law
Praise the wicked
But such as keep the law
Contend with them
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men
Do not understand justice
But those who seek the Lord
Understand all
1
2
3
4
Those who don’t follow the law cannot distinguish
right and wrong (points 1 and 2). They praise those
who shouldn’t be praised and they cannot
understand the perfect justice.
The law is our “tutor” (point 3). She guides us
towards God (Galatians 3:24).
God then (point 4) will give us judgment so we can
resist the wicked and we can understand “all”.

5. “One who increases his possessions by usury and
extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor.”
(Proverbs 28:8)
Our Father owns all the riches of this world.
Living by faith involves following the principles
He gave us on gaining wealth and using it
properly.

6. “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than
one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”
(Proverbs 28:6)
Is living by faith easier or harder if
you are poor?
• Poverty never justifies any
sin.
The poor have the
same duties the rich
have (Proverbs 28:3)
• The moral qualities of a
person are not measured by
their wealth.
The righteous poor
are better than the
wicked rich
(Proverbs 28:6)
• God gives life and takes care
of both the rich and the
poor. We all must respect
and love each other.
We are all equal, rich
and poor
(Proverbs 29:13)

7. “Some who profess to believe the truth are
lacking in discernment and fail to
appreciate moral worth… They may have
money and property, and this is sufficient
to give them influence with some; but it
will not raise them one jot in favor with
God. Money has power and sways a mighty
influence. Excellence of character and
moral worth are often overlooked if
possessed by the poor man. But what does
God care for money, for property? The
cattle upon a thousand hills are His. The
world and all that is therein are His. The
inhabitants of the earth are as
grasshoppers before Him. Men and
property are but as the small dust of the
balance. He is no respecter of persons.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, cp. 94, pg. 536)

8. “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child
left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
(Proverbs 29:15)
When a tree begins to bend, it must
be straightened. That tree is
“punished” by tying it to a stick.
That corrective action is not meant
to damage the tree, but to benefit
it.
If we never say “No” to a child as he grows
up, we will be ruining his life. He will
embarrass those around him.
People is like that tree. The bad things in
our character must be “punished”, so we
can change our wrong behavior.

9. E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students; cp. 13; pg. 116)

10. “Oh, that the Eli’s of today, who are
everywhere to be found pleading excuses for
the waywardness of their children, would
promptly assert their own God-given
authority to restrain and correct them. Let
parents and guardians, who overlook and
excuse sin in those under their care, remember
that they thus become accessory to these
wrongs. If, instead of unlimited indulgence,
the chastening rod were oftener used, not in
passion, but with love and prayer, we would
see happier families and a better state of
society.”
E.G.W. (Child Guidance, cp. 47, pg. 276)