Not all Sports are healthy!

Probing Proverbs 10:23–24 Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding. What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

As I write this I am in Australia, having a wonderful time in ministry. I am learning the mass transit system, which is quite good. I really enjoy the train and if I lived here I think I would use it more than a car. Sydney is a beautiful place; still, as I travel on the train I am struck by the graffiti all along the rail system. Not only on the trains, stations and walls, but also even on buildings and houses that are near the track! 

As I go by I wonder what motivates people to do such things. I saw a beautiful house that was marred by graffiti on its windows. Why would someone want to do that? This Proverb answers this question. It spells out the motivation, but it also predicts two very different outcomes.

First, let’s look at the motivation:

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

The motivation is like a fun game. For the one that enjoys doing wrong, when he gets to do it, it is like a game. On the other hand, for the one that desires to have understanding gaining wisdom is as pleasurable as playing a fun sport. This motivation exposes the condition of the heart. When a heart is twisted and controlled by sin, doing evil becomes an enjoyable experience. That is why many that walk deep in sin, seem to have no conscience. They are not bothered that what they are dong may hurt others, destroy valuable things or make ugly that which was beautiful.  They find enjoyment from actions that a reasonable person would find offensive. The person of understanding derives pleasure from learning and seeking the answers to what life is about. This wisdom allows him to better appreciate the authentic pleasures of life.

In the outcome of each lifestyle is where we see the greatest difference:

What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

A person that loves sin will always lack peace! The reason is because in their heart…that’s where God put the knowledge of Himself…there is a constant fear of what will happen after this life and the appointment all have with their Creator. Even the most hostile atheist senses this fear when about to depart to eternity. This fear is like a cancer, you may be able to ignore it at times, but when you are quiet, alone and moving slower, the reality of the disease returns to your conscious mind and you must wrestle with it again. 

However, the person that loves God does not have this lack, in fact they have an anticipation about the future! Every desire that a believer has will be granted, maybe not in this lifetime, but in the one to come. Wait a minute…EVERY desire? Yes! A true believer only desires what God would desire. We still sin and our flesh loves and desires it, but in reality after we have blown it, we regret it! That is not a real desire; it is a lust from the flesh.  An individual that has the Spirit of God living in them will always sense that great calm and joy that accompanies any desire that originates from God. Our Lord enjoys giving us our desires when they are rooted in Him!

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

What brings you delight? When you are enjoying your desires, would you want the Lord to join you? Where do your desires come from, the world or the Word?