This document provides a lesson on various proverbs from Proverbs 20, 21 and 22. It discusses several key topics from the proverbs, including the equality of all humans, being perseverant, waiting for God, showing compassion, and the importance of proper education. The lesson examines each proverb in more depth, relating them to biblical passages and quotes from Ellen White. It encourages reflecting on how to apply the wisdom from the proverbs to daily life.

1. Lesson 8

2. Key Text:
“Most men
will proclaim
each his own
goodness, but
who can find a
faithful man?”
Proverbs 20:6
JOSEPH….
A FAITHFUL MAN

3. To some degree (a great degree,
actually), we are all products of
our environment. Though
heredity plays a big role, the
values we hold come to us from
what is around us—our home,
our education, our culture. From
infancy we are impacted by what
we see and hear.

4. Unfortunately, what we see
and hear isn’t always the
best for us; the world around
us is fallen in every way, and
it cannot help impacting us
negatively.
Nevertheless, we have been
given the promise of the Holy
Spirit, and we have God’s
Word, which points us to
something higher and better
than the world does.

5. This lesson we will look at various
proverbs and the practical truths they
express, truths that, if taken to heart
and followed, can, indeed, help us to
overcome the negativity of this fallen
world and prepare us for a better one.

6. The equality of all humans
(Proverbs 20:9, 12)
Being perseverant
(Proverbs 20:6)
Waiting for the Lord
(Proverbs 20:17, 20-22;
21:5-6)
Compassion
(Proverbs 21:13; 22:16)
Proper education
(Proverbs 22:6, 8, 15)
The words of wisdom in
Proverbs 20, 21 and 22:1-16 set
the parameters that should
guide our daily life.

7. Why should we all be
considered equal?
“The hearing ear and
the seeing eye, the
Lord has made them
both.” (Proverbs 20:12)
“All men are created
equal.” (Thomas Jefferson, U.S.
Declaration of Independence,
July 4 1776).
There may be
differences in race, size
or genre, but we all are
equal because we have
been created by God
(Acts 17:26).
Are we equal in
any other
aspect?
“Who can say, ‘I have made my
heart clean, I am pure from my
sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9)
We all are infected by a cancer
called sin (Romans 3:23)
We all are equal because we all
need a Savior to redeem our sin.
This is what makes us different:
only those who accept Jesus as
their Savior will be created again to
live forever (2Co. 5:17)

8. Now, though we all
have the same Maker,
this doesn’t mean we
are all the same.
Even identical twins
don’t wind up beha-
ving exactly alike.
In Corinthians, Paul
talks about our diffe-
rences and stresses that they should not lead to a sense
of superiority but should, instead, help us to see our need
for one another. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have
no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no
need of you’ ” (1 Cor. 12:21).

9. Read Proverbs 20:9
What else makes us all equal?
Sin is another universal equalizer. To the rhetorical
question of the proverb, the answer “no one” points to the
tragic and hopeless condition of humankind. Humans are
all weak and
mortal, and all the
money and power
in the world will
not change that.
Yet, in the context
of the Scriptures,
this reference to human sinfulness should not lead to
despair, because Jesus’ death on the cross and His
resurrection have paved the way for anyone, no matter
how sinful, to have the promise of eternal life. And this life
comes solely through faith in Him—not by our works.

10. Do you ever find yourself feeling
superior (or inferior) to other
people?
(You shouldn’t be comparing
yourself to others anyway.)
If so, what should the Cross tell
you about the equality of us all?
REFLECTION

11. “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can
find a faithful man?” (Proverbs 20:6)
It is OK to be praised for a good deed.
Nevertheless, what about the other deeds
you do? Should you be praised for them?
It is not the single sensational act of love
or sacrifice that will demonstrate the high
quality of our relationships, but the long
and regular series of small actions that we
perform day by day, patiently and surely.
Should I tell others
how good I am? Quite
the opposite! “Let
another man praise you, and not your
own mouth; a stranger, and not your
own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

12. “Oh, how many are waiting for
opportunity to do some great work of
self-sacrifice, and are overlooking the
little daily test which God gives to
prove them. It is the little things of life
that develop the spirit in men and
women and determine that character.
These trifles cannot be neglected and
yet the man be prepared to endure the
severe tests, when they are brought to
bear upon him.”
E.G.W. (This day with God, May 15)

13. “Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but
one ends up with a mouth full of
gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17 NIV)
Contemporary society sometimes
considers that breaking the Law of
God to obtain something we want
may be advantageous. It may seem
that way if we only think in this
short life.
But if we long for everlasting life,
we must fully trust God. We must
obey Him and wait. Just put the
things we cannot handle in His
hands.
We can find two examples in verses
20-22.

14. “If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total
darkness. An inheritance obtained
too early in life is not a blessing in
the end.”
(Proverbs 20:20-21)
Are you waiting for your rich parents to
die so you finally get your inheritance?
That’s just an example. Solomon
wanted us to think on the foolishness
of trying to get goods in a fraudulent
and quick way. God cannot bless them.
Just trust God. He will give us
everything we need at the right
moment.
INHERITANCE
“Don’t say, ‘I will get
even for this wrong.’
Wait for the Lord to
handle the matter.”
(Proverbs 20:22)
Let’s trust God if we are done wrong
and we deserve justice. He will avenge
us.
We are told to be merciful as we trust
God. That way, we will “heap burning
coals of shame on their heads.” (Pr.
25:22). Maybe we could bring salvation
to that person; conquering evil by doing
good (Rom. 12:21).
REVENGE

15. “Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.”
(Proverbs 21:13)
“A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or
by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.”
(Proverbs 22:16)
1. Because of God.
Because God receives
every act of kindness to
the poor as if it was
done to Him (Pr. 19:17;
Mt. 25:35-40).
Our character is measured by the compassion we
show in our relationships (Luke 10:26-37)
2. Because of the poor. Because both the poor
and the rich were created by God (Pr. 22:2).
Therefore, the poor deserve all the care the
rich do (and they need it more).
Why must we be merciful?

16. For God’s sake: The first reason to make this a priority
lies in God Himself, who prefers human compassion for
the poor over our religious zeal (Prov. 19:17, 21:13). Your
sensitivity to the poor
and your concrete
deeds on their behalf
will count more with
God than will any of
your pious acts.
In fact, God is perso-
nally invested in that
work, so much so that
when we give to the
poor, it is as if we are
giving to God Himself
(Matt. 25:35–40).

17. Read Matthew 25:35–40. What does this tell us about how
Jesus identifies so closely with those in need? How
should this truth impact how we relate to such people?

18. For the sake of the poor: The second reason lies within the
poor person, whom God has created just as He has created the
rich person (Prov. 22:2). The equality between humans, based
on the fact that God has created them all, makes the poor as
worthy of attention as the rich person. We should love our
neighbors for who they are: beings made in the image of God.

19. At the same time, think about how much good it does you
to help those in need. Our basic natures are selfish; by
default we tend to look out for ourselves over and above
others. By giving of ourselves, we learn to die to self
and to better reflect Christ’s character, and what is of
more value to us than that?

20. In what ways do you
get a greater sense of
personal satisfaction
from helping others in
need than only doing
things for yourself?
REFLECTION

21. “Direct your children onto the right path, and when
they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
“By your manner of dealing with the
little ones you can by the grace of Christ
mold their characters for everlasting
life.” (E.G.W., The Adventist Home, sec. 12, cp. 52, pg. 305)
“Those who plant injustice will harvest
disaster, and their reign of terror
will come to an end.” (Proverbs 22:8)
We must be aware of the heritage we leave
for posterity. That thought should also lead
our daily life.
Solomon compared the education to sowing.
Whatever we sow our children, our friends
and our neighbors with, will grow in due
course for either good or evil.

22. “As the seed sown produces a
harvest, and this in turn is sown,
the harvest is multiplied. In our
relation to others, this law holds
true. Every act, every word, is a
seed that will bear fruit. Every
deed of thoughtful kindness, of
obedience, or of self-denial, will
reproduce itself in others, and
through them in still others…
Thus the sowing of good and evil
goes on for time and for eternity.”
E.G.W. (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp.6, pg. 85)

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