Proverbs 4:12 (Mini Sermon)
Submitted by Pastor Chad Wagner on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
12. Pro 4:12 - "When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." A. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; i. Here is the result of being taught in the way of wisdom by precept and example (Pro 4:11) and of listening and receiving it (Pro 4:10). ii. When it's time for the child to start his life's journey, he will not have a difficult road ahead of him (Pro 22:6). iii. He will not be limited and constricted by foolish decisions that he made in the past. a. Straitened ppl. adj. - 1. Contracted, narrowed; insufficiently spacious. d. straitened circumstances: inadequate means of living, poverty. Also straitened income, means. b. The prodigal son's steps were straitened by foolish decisions that he made which restricted him greatly (Luk 15:11-16). iv. The man that has been well instructed and has received it with meekness will be able to walk in freedom and prosperity within the bounds of God's law. v. He will not be limited by the consequences of foolish decisions. B. and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. i. Not only will he be able to walk freely and unhindered, he will also be able to run. ii. He will be able to see clearly to avoid potholes or rocks in the road that would cause him to stumble. iii. Stumble v. - 1. intr. To miss one's footing, or trip over an obstacle, in walking or running, so as to fall or be in danger of falling. 2. fig. in various uses. a. To trip morally. b. To make a slip in speech or action; to blunder through inadvertence or unpreparedness. iv. He will be able to run the race that is set before him and not fall into sin (1Co 9:24-27). v. A fool who trips and breaks his leg in his youth because of foolish decisions is going to have a hard time running the remainder of the race without falling behind.
