A Wise Christian Who Pleases the Lord’s Heart

[Proverbs 27:11–14]

Everyone, what is it that brings joy to your heart these days?

In 2 Corinthians 5:9, the Apostle Paul says:

“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”
[(Contemporary Version) “So whether we are at home in the body or away from it, our goal is to please the Lord.”]

The Apostle Paul made it his effort and goal to be someone who pleases the Lord.
In other words, pleasing the Lord was Paul’s personal mission.
We, too, must make it our goal to please the Lord, just as Paul did.
Also, like Paul, we must carefully examine what it is that pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:10).

Let me share one example.
Psalm 69 gives us a clear answer to what pleases God.
I’ve done two short meditations on this passage before.
The first was titled “Pleasing God Even More”, and I wrote the following:

“What must our church do to please the Lord more?

First, in order to please God more, we must earnestly pray to Him (Psalm 69:13).
This is because God welcomes us and draws near to us.
Since God answers our prayers, we must humbly come before Him in prayer.
God will surely deliver us.

Second, to please God more, we must confess our sins (v. 5).
In prayer, we will realize that it was foolish to rely on people instead of trusting God.
Also, when we pray, we come to understand that our sins cannot be hidden from God.
Therefore, in prayer, we must confess our foolishness and sins to Him.

Third, to please God more, we must be zealous for the Lord’s church (v. 9).
As we pray and experience the love of God who welcomes us, we confess and repent of our sins, and this leads us to love God even more.
Thus, we must be zealous for the church with the zeal of God.

Fourth, to please God more, we must give praise to God with thanksgiving (v. 30).
When God pours His grace upon us Christians, even in suffering, we will desire to please God rather than seeking our own comfort.
God leads us to praise Him with thanksgiving even in the midst of trials.”

My second meditation on Psalm 69 was titled “This Is What Pleases God”, and I wrote the following:

“In the midst of pain and despair (v. 29, Contemporary Version), our hearts may be broken and filled with sorrow (v. 20).
At such times, we may find no one who shows us compassion or offers us comfort, no matter how hard we look (v. 20).
Even then, we must look to our God of salvation with faith, take courage (v. 32, Contemporary Version), and praise God with thanksgiving (vv. 29–30).
This is what pleases God (v. 31).”

In the first part of today’s main text, Proverbs 27:11, the writer of Proverbs says:

“My son, be wise, and make my heart glad…”
[(Contemporary Version) “My son, become wise and make my heart rejoice…”]

This is a message from the writer of Proverbs to his son, expressing his desire that his son would gain wisdom and bring joy to his father’s heart.
When we apply this verse to ourselves as 21st-century Christians, I believe we are being called to become wise Christians who bring joy to the heart of the Lord.
Therefore, under the title “A Wise Christian Who Pleases the Lord’s Heart”, I would like to meditate on Proverbs 27:11–14 and share three lessons I’ve received from this passage.

First, a wise Christian who pleases the Lord avoids danger when they see it coming.

Please look at today’s passage, Proverbs 27:12:
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
[(Contemporary Korean Bible) “The wise person avoids danger when they see it, but the foolish continue on and suffer hardship.”]

What would you do if you saw danger in front of you?
For example, suppose you are camping in the mountains and you spot a bear in the distance. What would you do?
Surely, none of you would intentionally walk toward the bear to see it up close.
The reason is obvious—it’s dangerous, right?
Now, if your child next to you, out of curiosity, tries to approach the bear, what would you do as a parent?
Of course, you would stop your child.
Why?
Because you know that going near the bear is dangerous for your child, isn’t that right?

Looking at today’s passage, Proverbs 27:12 in the Contemporary Korean Bible, the writer of Proverbs says:
“The wise see danger and avoid it, but the foolish go ahead and suffer hardship.”
In the Revised Korean Bible it is translated as:
“The prudent see disaster and hide themselves, but the simple go on and suffer harm.”
This is the same message the writer already gave in Proverbs 22:3:
“The prudent see danger and hide, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

The lesson we learn from this is that a wise Christian should act prudently so that their life is not sacrificed or subjected to meaningless suffering without purpose during trials for the Lord.
We must not face danger foolishly before the right time comes (before receiving God’s guidance), even while serving the Lord.
Also, we must not recklessly provoke opposition that leads to persecution for the sake of the gospel (Park Yoon-sun).

Sometimes when we hear bad news about missionaries working in communist or Islamic countries, we might sadly wonder if those missionaries recklessly provoked opposition and thus brought meaningless suffering and persecution upon themselves.
We might question whether the Lord truly guided them in that way, and wish they had waited for a more appropriate time.
Of course, this does not apply only to some missionaries, but can be applied to all Christians.
Though we should share in Christ’s sufferings like Apostle Paul and the Philippians, we do not need to bring meaningless suffering upon ourselves.
Sharing Christ’s sufferings is God’s grace (Philippians 1:29), but seeking out meaningless suffering is not grace but the result of our own foolishness.

Therefore, in the latter part of Proverbs 27:12, the writer says:
“But the foolish go on and suffer harm.”
In other words, if we are foolish, we see danger but do not avoid it, and suffer hardship.
This is something we bring upon ourselves, not something God forces upon us.

In such times, we should realize our foolishness, repent to God, and seek His mercy and salvation rather than sinning by complaining foolishly against God with our lips.

However, one of the biggest struggles in prayer is discerning God’s guidance.
There are many times when we find it very difficult to discern what is God’s guidance.
If by God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit we could be assured of God’s guidance and obey it in faith, we would experience God’s salvation even in dangerous situations.
But very often we lack that assurance and don’t know what to do.
So while we long for God’s guidance in prayer, sometimes not knowing it well, we cannot wait any longer and decide for ourselves, acting and then facing difficulties.
What should we do then?

We should avoid danger when we see it (verse 12).
May God open our spiritual eyes to see danger and give us wisdom to avoid it.

For example, when God was about to bring disaster on Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s nephew Lot fled with his wife (Genesis 19:12–18) (Park Yoon-sun).
Why did God bring disaster on Sodom and Gomorrah?
Because of the lawless deeds and immoral acts of the people (2 Peter 2:7–8).
God made those cities an example for ungodly people of future generations (verse 6).
Meanwhile, God rescued Lot, a righteous man, who lived among the lawless and suffered because of seeing and hearing their wicked acts daily (verses 7–8).
Lot obeyed the angels and fled from Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:16–17).

David also fled and hid from King Saul, who sought to kill him (1 Samuel 20:19; 23:19; 26:1) (Park Yoon-sun).

Friends, where we live now is like Sodom and Gomorrah.
This place is full of lawless and immoral deeds.
The holy God will surely judge this city and bring disaster.
Therefore, those of us living in this sinful city must not imitate the lawless and immoral deeds here but must turn away from all such sins.
Instead, we must live according to God’s law and pursue God’s holiness.
And in this process, may God grant us wisdom to see upcoming disasters or dangers and wisely avoid them so that we do not perish along with the lawless.

Secondly, the wise Christian who pleases the Lord in his heart does not become a guarantor for others. 

Look at today’s passage, Proverbs 27:13:
“Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold surety for foreigners.”
[(Contemporary English Version) “Take the cloak of someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt, and hold as collateral the body of one who guarantees a foreigner.”]

As we have been meditating on Proverbs, we have already received instruction from what the author of Proverbs says about becoming a guarantor.
For example, focusing on Proverbs 6:1–5, we learned the lesson that if we become surety or guarantors for our neighbor and fall into their hands because of that, we are to deliver ourselves.
In other words, when we assume responsibility for our neighbor’s debt, the Bible tells us to rescue ourselves.

This teaching warns us against foolish behavior.
That foolishness refers to promising to pay the debt of another person when we know they are so indebted that they cannot repay, i.e., becoming a guarantor for someone who defaults on their debt (MacArthur).

Of course, in accordance with Jesus’ command to love our neighbor, there is no outright prohibition against being a guarantor for someone (Park Yoon-sun).
However, the lesson the author of Proverbs wants to give us is that if we become guarantors and problems arise, either we were not prepared to take responsibility, or we were deceived by the neighbor into becoming a guarantor, or after becoming guarantors we lack the financial ability to fulfill that responsibility — any of these are unacceptable.

If we have the financial ability to repay the debt of our beloved neighbor and are willing to stand surety for them, then there should be no problem.
But if, realistically, we do not have the financial capacity to repay our beloved neighbor’s debt and yet we become their guarantor, that is foolish behavior.

Another example is Proverbs 22:26:
“Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts.”
The Contemporary English Version translates this as:
“Do not guarantee someone else’s debt.”

How clear and definite is this word from God!
The Bible instructs us not to become guarantors for another’s debt.

Dr. Park Yoon-sun said:
“…Becoming a guarantor without financial ability only gives false comfort to the debtor’s heart and can also easily bring bankruptcy upon oneself.”

What a reckless act that is!
To become a guarantor for a neighbor to the point that it brings financial ruin to oneself is nothing but false comfort.

In today’s passage, Proverbs 27:13, the author says:
“Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold surety for foreigners with their body.”
Here, “take the garment” and “hold as collateral the body” mean “those who become guarantors for others will ultimately drink a bitter cup” (Park Yoon-sun).

At least, we should learn from those who have already experienced the bitter consequences of becoming guarantors for others and refrain from becoming guarantors ourselves — 785 especially if we do not have the financial ability to stand surety for someone.

Today’s Proverbs 27:13 repeats what the author said in Proverbs 20:16.
Both verses convey the same message.
Here, the author warns about the mistakes involved in becoming a guarantor (Park Yoon-sun), which is that by becoming a guarantor for a stranger whom we do not really know, we end up unable to recover anything from that stranger.

Friends, we must not become guarantors for people we do not truly know.
Personally, I believe that even for people we know well — even family members or relatives — we should avoid becoming guarantors.

Then why do some people become guarantors for people they hardly know?
Dr. Park Yoon-sun calls this an “economic adventure.”
What a huge economic risk it is!
Whether it is lending money or standing surety for someone who cannot repay, these acts can cause significant financial loss to the lender or guarantor, so it is an economic gamble.

Dr. Park Yoon-sun says:
“Most people (especially believers) who take economic risks fail, and the reason is that excessive economic risk is a kind of unbelief.
Such risk acts as if one can claim tomorrow by human power and disregards God (James 4:13–17).”

So, what should we do?
When our neighbor asks us to become their guarantor, how should we respond?

Proverbs 11:15, which we have already meditated on, says to us:
“He who is surety for a stranger will suffer harm, but whoever hates being surety is secure.”
[(Contemporary English Version) “People who guarantee others’ debts suffer bitter pain, but those who refuse to guarantee others are safe.”]

According to this, we should be those who hate becoming guarantors.
In the words of the Contemporary English Version, we should be people who refuse to guarantee others.
Then we can have peace.

If we can refuse the bitter pain and loss caused by becoming a guarantor, who would object to standing surety for someone?
However, I think that such losses and pain are not worthwhile and that it is unwise behavior.

Of course, if a beloved neighbor earnestly begs us to become their guarantor, it may be difficult to refuse.
But we must become people who refuse to guarantee others (11:15).

Lastly, thirdly, a wise Christian who pleases the Lord’s heart rightly praises their neighbor at the proper timing. 

Friends, how do you feel when, after Sunday, early Monday morning your phone rings loudly or a KakaoTalk message sounds loudly? I don’t quite remember who I heard it from, but once I heard that pastors should not call their congregation early on Monday morning; it’s better to call around Thursday or Friday. I still remember that advice because I agree with it. I think very few people like receiving calls early on Monday morning. They are tired, they have to go to work, and if they were trying to sleep a little longer but the phone rings and wakes them up, no one would be happy about it. I think even receiving a call from one’s mother early on Monday morning is not liked by many. And if you reluctantly answer and whoever it is — whether mother, boss, or friend — starts speaking loudly and saying this and that, few people would like that. No matter how much those words are praises, not many would like to hear loud words that early on Monday morning. Ultimately, I think timing is important when praising others.

When we praise others at the right time with the wisdom God gives us, it has great value. Look at Proverbs 25:11:
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
[(Contemporary Bible) “A fitting word is like golden apples on a silver tray.”]

This means that a word carefully chosen and spoken at the right time and circumstances has great value, like golden apples on a silver tray.
For example, Proverbs 25:12 says,
“Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.”

If we think of this verse in connection with verse 11, the lesson is that an appropriate (fitting) rebuke has great value to the person who listens to it, like an earring or fine gold ornament.
However, if we are not wise and give rebuke at an inappropriate time, it not only brings no benefit but can hurt feelings and harm relationships.
So it’s very important to say the right words at the right time, and for that, God’s wisdom is needed.

Now look at Proverbs 27:14:
“If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.”
[(Contemporary Bible) “If you loudly bless your neighbor early in the morning, they will consider it a curse.”]

Here, the writer of Proverbs says that loudly blessing one’s neighbor early in the morning will rather be regarded as a curse.
Whenever I read this, the phrase “early in the morning” stands out to me. Maybe because personally I don’t like to receive calls early in the morning. It’s not so much because I want to sleep more or I’m tired, but because after the early morning prayer meeting I want to have some time alone.
The next phrase that stands out is “loudly.”
Who would like to be blessed loudly, especially so early?
Dr. Park Yoon-sun’s commentary says that loudly blessing someone early in the morning is an act of “excessive flattery,” or “excessive compliments.”
Imagine if someone you know calls early in the morning and loudly praises you excessively — would you consider it a blessing?
If it sounds excessive to you, wouldn’t it sound like flattery?
Could you be thankful for hearing such words so early?
The verse says that instead of a blessing, it will be regarded as a curse.

So, what should we do?
We should rightly praise our neighbors.
In other words, we should praise our neighbors with fitting words at the fitting time.
Especially, we should avoid praising our neighbors when they are tired and sleeping, whether early in the morning or late at night.
When the Holy Spirit who dwells within us leads us to praise our neighbors at the proper timing, we should obey.
I think based on Proverbs 27:11-13, we need to praise our neighbors about three specific matters:

(1) We should praise the wisdom of our neighbor (verse 11).
Especially when our neighbor becomes a wise person who pleases not only their earthly parents but also the heart of God the Father, we should praise our neighbor at the proper timing.

(2) We should praise our neighbor when they wisely avoid danger (disaster) (verse 12).
If we see our neighbor like a fool, advancing despite the danger and knowing they will suffer harm (trouble), we should lovingly warn them. But if they wisely avoid that danger, we should praise them.

(3) We should praise our neighbor when they do not become surety for a stranger (verse 13).

In the end, the reason we should praise our neighbor at the proper timing is because of their wisdom.
In other words, when our neighbor acts wisely by the wisdom given by God, we should praise them.

Here, I want to share a brief meditation I recently had while reading Luke chapter 6, verses 32-35. The title of this meditation is: “Our standards for praise seem very low.”

“Our standards for praise seem very low.
We praise only those who love those who love them.
We praise only those who do good to those who do good to them.
We praise those who lend expecting to receive.
Even sinners do this.
But the Lord praises those who love their enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return.
Also, the Lord praises those who are kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
(Luke 6:32-35)”

To conclude this meditation:
Friends, we must become wise Christians who please the heart of our Lord.
To do that, we must wisely avoid danger (Prov. 27:12).
Also, to please the Lord, we should not become surety for others (verse 13).
And we must praise our neighbor correctly at the proper timing (verse 14).
Therefore, I pray that you and I may be people who please the heart of the Lord.