Proverbs 20:1-15
The importance of avoiding angry or non-constructive arguments:
v.3 "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling."
v9 - "Who can say 'I have made my heart pure, I am clean from my sin?'" - No one.
For the excessive sleeper:
v.13 - "Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread."
1 Corinthians 5
Paul turns from factions to address another serious problem within the church - open, public, and blatant sexual immorality by someone who professes to be a believer. Paul treats this problem as very serious - the Corinthians are treating it arrogantly. I assume that means that they are taking advantage of the grace that they are living under to not take it seriously. Paul's judgment is that they should be removed from the gathering and fellowship of believers, in order that they make progress toward salvation. How could this punishment accomplish that? The only thing I could think of is allowing them to face the consequences of their choices would help them to come to a point of brokenness and desperation. Allowing them to continue in the fellowship of grace would not be beneficial for them, because they are taking advantage of it.
Paul then clarifies that he is not saying that the Corinthians should not associate with the sinners of this world - that would be impossible (though some throughout history have made a go at it). He says that this applies only to those who claim to be "brothers" - believers - the church is to judge the gross immorality that exists within the fellowship.
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