Theme: The Booby Trap to Success - Naivety They might if you have not been in the habit of family worship.
However, tell you kids that you are starting something new and
Good morning, Greater Life! Welcome to this Memorial that if they are not interested then we will cancel all of the
Weekend Celebration Service. Today we come to the end of sports activities so that we can have the time to put God first.
several series that we have been working through since Wouldn’t that be a radical idea! If you want to talk about this
January. It is hard to believe that the cold bitter winds of winter more I am available. We really need to teach our kids God’s
have finally given way to some warm breezes of summer. ways. If you are counting on the church to do it all, it won’t
None too soon! During these last few months we have been work. God ordained that the church family and you as parents
hanging out with the richest man who ever lived and the wisest would become partners in teaching your kids. It does not take
man who ever lived. We have been looking at the recorded a village to raise your kids, it takes a family - your family as
Proverbs that this man Solomon wrote that has been included parents and the God’s family - the Church to raise godly
in what we call the “canon” of Scripture. We have looked at the children. We cannot do it without you and you cannot do it
principles and the distractions to success and happiness. We without God’s family. Well how did I get started on parenting?
have looked the principle of diligence, vision, hope, generosity,
greed, the suicide bomb of uncontrolled anger, gratitude, Today we are looking at the last issue of this series - the
wisdom, partnering - all issues that either lead to success or booby trap of success and happiness. What is it?
happiness or distract and destroy success and happiness.
Today we have spent some time thinking about those who
We have been using with the Proverbs, a book written by a have given their lives to maintain our freedom as a nation. This
successful and godly businessman, Steven Scott. His book weekend I have been thinking about some of my friends, men I
“The Richest Man Who Ever Lived” is a great read and I would have know who have served in the military.
recommend that you read this book. I would also recommend
that you consider doing what Steven Scott suggests. Some of I went to school with a friend who was in the Vietnam conflict.
you have already been doing this. He suggests that you start He spent a number months in Vietnam on patrol. One day I got
reading a chapter from Proverbs everyday for the next two him to talking about some of his experiences. He began to tell
years and recording what you learn. Proverbs has 31 chapters about his job of discovering hidden antipersonnel mines
so that is basically one chapter for each day of most months. covered with foliage. It was the most dreaded weapon in the
When you get to the end, start over the next month. I would war, because without warning you could walk over one of
even suggest that you who have older children, this would be a these mines and be instantly maimed or killed. In recent years
great exercise to do with your family. Before work and school with the advancement of electronic technology they have been
or the last thing each evening before bed - get a modern able to develop detectors that have greatly improved the
translation like the Message and read one chapter and spend success of detecting these landmines and safely detonating
five minutes talking with your kids about what you have read, them. Worldwide there have been thousands of children killed
what it means and how to apply it to their lives and your lives. or maimed by these mines. These children have simply walked
You will be amazed at what will begin to happen in the heart across a field that looked harmless enough, but they were
and minds of your children as you begin to relate the bible and naïve and ignorant of the dangers lying just beneath the
these practical principles to your lives. You will help your surface of the ground.
children more than you know. You say, what if they resist?
Solomon talks about the greatest booby trap or hidden mine profiting from their work. Armstrong ended up nearly bankrupt
that destroys a lot of good people. It doesn’t matter how smart and committed suicide. Farnsworth never received single
you are, how wealthy you are, what education you have or penny of the millions of dollars in royalties he had been
how successful you have been in the past - this trap can promised by the electronics company that profited from his
devastate your life. What is it? The Booby trap of naivety. The invention. Why?
trap of being ignorant or unaware of present dangers in your
relationships, your job, your finances and even in your spiritual Because of a trap that Solomon warns us about in Proverbs
life. This naivety that Solomon talks about is not merely an 14:15, (NAS): “The naive believes everything, But the
innocent ignorance, but an ignorance that is present because sensible man considers his steps. Proverbs 14:15, (MSG):
a person is unwilling to learn, face reality, and develop wisdom “The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift
and understanding. It is a choice of acting or remaining foolish and weigh every word.”
in the face of all the facts.
Armstrong and Farnsworth suffered great loss, even though
Proverbs 14:18, (MSG): “Foolish dreamers live in a world they were geniuses because they were naïve. Farnsworth was
of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.” so naïve that when the CEO of RCA sent a company scientist
Dreaming can be a good thing, but not if you keeps you from to see Farnsworth’s invention, Farnsworth not only welcomed
looking into a matter with diligence, then it is destructive. him, he also showed him how to build one of his invention’s
key components. Farnsworth knew that this scientist had
Steven Scott tells the story of Philo T. Farnsworth. He was a applied for competing patents, yet, according to author Harold
genius in High School. He understood physics, math and the Evans, he trusted in “honor among men of science.” The
developing science of electronics. He was way ahead of his scientist who visited Farnsworth was Vladimir Zworykin. He
teachers. At age 14, he became to develop the idea of an stole Farnsworth’s technology and was even honored years
electronic machine that would be capable of scanning line by later as the “inventor” of television.
line an image and then transmitting the image. He began
working full time on the development of the world’s first Armstrong was betrayed by a guy named David Sarnoff and
television at the age of 19. Many scientists at the time had RCA. Armstrong trusted both the man and the company. He
determined that any type of electronic devices such as these tried to recover the loss through litigation, but after years of
might be possible but totally financially unfeasible. Yet, by age legal battles he jumped out of the 13th story of his apartment
24, Philo was awarded two patents for inventing the television building.
camera and receiver.
You see there is no free cheese. Whenever it looks like free
Another inventor, Edward H. Armstrong created a method of cheese, there usually is a cover, a trap. How do people
sound amplification called the frequency modulation (FM) become naive? Why do they stay naïve? Solomon indicates
which is the heart of today’s quality sound transmission used that there a number of reason. I have organized these reasons
in radio, television, and cellular phone. into three factors. These are the major foliage or cover used to
hide destructive landmines in your life. Let me give all three to
Even though these men had the genius to create the you here and then let’s see what the Bible has to say about
equipment for mass communication, neither man ended up
them. The cover, the foliage of naivety is: Isolation, This is a perception that everything should come easy and that
Perceptions and Timing. nothing should be hard. We all crave a certain amount of
simplicity. We want them simple and easy. In a fast-paced
Let’s look at the first cover: world we resent what we few as an intrusion of our time to
have to read a book of instructions. We want the knowledge of
1. Isolation how things work NOW or better yet - YESTERDAY. And when
we do pick up a book we want “Three Steps to Getting Rich.”
This is the attempt to live life and to make decisions in our We want 10 easy steps to parenting. Take a walk down the
lives solo. We run isolated from and disconnected from people aisle of a Barnes and Noble store and notice how many books
who could help us. Proverbs 15:22, (MSG) says: “Refuse begin with “______ Easy Steps to . . . .” We get in trouble
good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel financially and we hear about Financial Peace with Dave
and watch them succeed.” Often our view of things is far too Ramsey and we take the thirteen week class expecting that we
limited and our vision far too short-sighted to make good are going to get thirteen easy steps to financial freedom. Then
decisions. We need the input of others. we discover that we need to change our lifestyle, write some
letters, do some homework and some people quit right there
Proverbs 13:20, (MSG) says: “Become wise by walking and think that is just too hard.
with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall
to pieces.” This proverb tells us that it is not enough to have a I am reading and doing some research regarding the whole
crowd around us. You can look like you are in the group, the issue of creation and the origin of life. I have been exposed to
congregation. You can look like you are connected and not the debate between Creationists, Intelligent Design and
running solo, but the crowd you are hanging out with are fools. Evolutionists. I am thinking this ought to be easy, but then I
They have no taste for godliness. When life starts heading picked up a book by astrophysicists, Dr. Hugh Ross. Ross, in
south, these friends will not be there for you. In fact they may his book, “More Than a Theory” points out that there are seven
encourage you to make stupid decisions that do not help. You positions on the issue of creation and the origin of life and
need to learn to walk with those who are wise. And the bible several of them claim to be consistent with Scripture. Suddenly
tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Do it is not so simple. If I am to understand this debate and be
you the people you are seeking advice from living with respect able to speak intelligently with scientists who are seeking truth,
for God? When you are running with the wise, and not isolated I cannot just simple say I am a “creationist.” You see we want
or hanging out with fools, you will escape the destructive to do everything easy. Solomon observed this tendency in
landmines in your life. Then there is the cover of fallen human nature and he questioned in Proverbs 1:22,
(NIV): "How long will you simple ones love your simple
2. Faulty Perceptions ways?”
There are several of these that Solomon mentions: When we live with the faulty perception that everything just
ought to be easy, then we invite a naivety and an ignorance
Over simplification that hurts us, hurts others and destroys faith. Some of you live
with a naivety about the Bible. You come to it, read a couple of
chapters, find something you don’t understand or don’t like and
then close the book and decide it is just too hard or you are no knows how to talk the right language, do the right acts and
smart enough or that it just doesn’t make sense. In almost look good. But at the deeper level of their core personality
every issue and discipline of study there are hidden factors there is often problems. They are undeveloped in character.
that are not on the surface that need to be checked out. We look at superficial appearances - outward appearances of
a person or a company or a situation and make snap
Paul wrote to the Romans about listening to people who judgments. But later discover that there is no depth under the
pick and choose truth and try to simplify by watering surface. The appearance was just that - an appearance - not
down the truth. In Romans 16:17-20, (MSG) he wrote: “One reality.
final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for
those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you Sometimes people do not do due diligence because they are
learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these afraid of being accused of not trusting person. Someone says
people a wide berth. 18They have no intention of living for to you: “Don’t you trust me?” What do you say? Well you can
our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can say: “You have given me no reason not to trust you and so I do
get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to trust everything that I do know about you at this moment. But I
dupe unsuspecting innocents. And so while there has do not want to make any foolish mistakes that would get you or
never been any question about your honesty in these me in trouble, so I need to do some homework.”
matters--I couldn't be more proud of you! -I want you also
to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real Naïve sense of Integrity
thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil.
Stay alert like this, 20and before you know it the God of Have you ever heard the phrase: “You are just too honest?”
peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping This cover goes like this: Sense I am an honest person, a
him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!” person of integrity and I would never think of being dishonest,
lying, cheating or defrauding others, then surely they would not
The reason we don’t check them out is because we are lazy. do that to me!” Sadly, but true, sometimes the more honest a
Sometimes it is hard work to “look well into the matter.” We person is the more naïve he or she is.
don’t want to work that hard. They would rather watch more
TV, going golfing or something more fun than check out the Steven Scott tells the story of his own father-in-law. He was
details of what is not on the surface clear. Then we live one of the top salesman from IBM. One day he was recruited
immature lives that are ineffective. by the owners of a smaller computer company. They told him
that they would pay him much higher commissions than he
Another faulty perception that too many live with is was receiving from IBM. He had no reason to doubt their word,
because he believed that when you make a promise you keep
Misplaced trust. it. In addition these men were members of the church he
attended and he thought they were good guys. So he left a 20
Sometimes put their trust in people that they don’t know well. year career with IBM and went to work for this little company.
Many times people appear to be competent, experienced and He produced a lot of sales for them, but they never paid him
honest than they really are. Why? Because people are capable the commissions that they had promised. He was shocked at
of creating a pseudo-personality - a survival personality that
how these men could lie so boldly. He had not bothered to On the other hand we sometimes botch an opportunity
check out their backgrounds. because we are too hasty. Sometimes we make decisions in a
hurry. Proverbs 21:5, (MSG) says: “Careful planning puts
Another false perception comes from you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you
further behind.”
Arrogance
When things are pushed there is great danger in a negative
Arrogant people often think that they are smarter than result. How many marriages have ended in disaster partly
everybody else and thus do not have to do the homework that because one or the other of the couple felt pressured to hurry
everyone else has to do. We learned a few weeks ago what up and tie the knot? They do not take the time to get counsel,
Solomon said about this kind of pride. It goes before a fall and direction and truth before making the decision.
destruction.
So how do you avoid being naïve? How do you learn to detect
So False perceptions of trust, integrity arrogance, and the landmines covered by naivety? How do you move out of
simplicity can cover landmines of destruction to success and isolation, false perceptions and bad timing in your life? Well
happiness in your life. Are you living with any of these false Solomon says we need to “look well into the matter.” The
perceptions today? But there is one more cover of naivety. verse in Proverbs 14:15, (NAS) that we looked at earlier:
“The naive believes everything, But the sensible man
3. Timing considers his steps. Proverbs 14:15, (MSG): “The gullible
believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh
When you are naïve about timing, you will miss opportunities every word.” The translation of “consider his steps” or
because you either wait too long to act, or you act too soon. “look well into a matter” means literally: “to be advanced,
be led on to be made happy, be blessed.” How do you
Proverbs 27:1, (NIV) says: “Do not boast about tomorrow, advance and become happy and blessed in your life. Notice
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” that it does not say you have to get it all learned today or
tomorrow to be happy and blessed. It says that you must be
We come to assume that the same opportunities that are “advancing.” So what are you doing to advance?
available to us today will be available tomorrow, next week or
next year. We have now come full circle in this series. You remember
months ago we talked about the one of the first things that the
Or we naively act on impulse without checking things out and wise person does is the activity of diligence. Diligence is like a
assume that we can recover from any mistakes that are made giant floodlight. When you turn it on, naïve darkness
today, tomorrow. We fail to “look well into the matter” as disappears. We see and advance! How?
Solomon suggests. But it is naïve to think that things never
change - things are always changing and what is available to 1. Get Ready
you today may not be there tomorrow. It is foolish and naïve to
think so. Proverbs 22:3, (MSG) says: “A prudent person sees
trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly
and is clobbered.” Usually in a bad situation, it does not just against evil. The Bible says that there is much more going on
come without warning. Usually there are red flags or yellow than what we see. We get all uptight about the government
flags. The person may feel a twinge of conscience, but then and the Congress and the President and what they are doing
chooses to move on in spite of the red flags. The Bible says or not doing. We think that the whole battle is political,
that wise men and women duck, they turn away. ideological or merely theological on a human plain. But the
Bible says here that Satan is behind the scenes strategizing,
How many of you have had relationships in which there are tricking, seeking to cover and deceive. Part of his scheme is to
red flags, but you have pushed forward anyway. Your get us to thinking that all our problems are just political or just
conscience has been violated maybe in the area of drugs, economical. No! There is a spiritual element. You cannot be
alcohol or infidelity. You have felt the twinge of conscience but smart enough to figure it all it. You and I need something
decide to go on. beyond ourselves in order to be ready and alert. So Paul goes
Many women end up in domestic violence situations in their on to tell us to
marriage even after they have experienced violent attacks
before their marriage. But they believed that it would get better 2. Get Dressed for Battle
or they believed that they could change their behavior and the
guy would not be violent. Wrong! They have pushed on to the “13Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in
marriage altar despite the red flags. the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be
standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy
Many people are killed every year on the highways by drunk belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
drivers who knew that they should not be drinking and driving, 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good
but they did it anyway. Why because they are living in News, so that you will be fully prepared. 16In every battle
ignorance. They think that they can control it all. They don’t you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows
realize that they are up against more than they know. aimed at you by Satan. 17Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In the New Testament, Paul was writing to a group of 18Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of
believers in Ephesus in Ephesians 6:10-18, (NLT). He said: the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers
“A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. for all Christians everywhere. We must get dressed and stay
11Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to in contact with headquarters if we are going to be able to
stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. remain alert, detect the landmines of the enemy and
Circle the words: “strategies and tricks of the Devil.” Are you experience success and happiness.
aware that behind all the destructive issues in your life there is
a being that is setting you up for failure. Look at what Paul Are you ready and dressed? Are you running solo? Are you
goes on to say: “12For we are not fighting against people living with false perceptions of misplaced trust, or arrogance?
made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and Are you in a rush to experience success? Is the timing off?
authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty Uncover the naivety, get ready, get equipped for battle.
powers of darkness who rule this world, and against
wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Do you see that? On Let’s pray
the surface we think we are only fighting a visible battle