Hey Gang,
The Book of Proverbs is rich in wisdom that makes for strong and godly relationships. But the wisdom found in Proverbs is more than human knowledge or intellectualism – it is divine wisdom!
We begin a four-week study this week, by discovering what Proverbs teaches us about life’s most important relationship – our relationship with God. Only when that relationship is established can we build quality relationships with others. Then, we will look at a case study from Proverbs that helps us focus on our relationships within the family. Next, we will learn how every relationship can be strengthened when we live by certain godly character traits. Finally, we will look at ways we can be a good friend by helping others become the people God wants them to be.
This study is important because we were created for relationships, first with God and then with those who are around us in home, community, work, and church settings. We will learn through Proverbs how to maximize those relationships.
1. May 5 Getting My Most Important Relationship Right (Proverbs 3)
2. May 12 Building The Home I Need (Proverbs 31)
3. May 19 Becoming a Person Others Need (Proverbs 6)
4. May 26 Giving Others What They Really Need (Proverbs 11, 27, & 28)
We begin a four-week study this week, by discovering what Proverbs teaches us about life’s most important relationship – our relationship with God. Only when that relationship is established can we build quality relationships with others. Then, we will look at a case study from Proverbs that helps us focus on our relationships within the family. Next, we will learn how every relationship can be strengthened when we live by certain godly character traits. Finally, we will look at ways we can be a good friend by helping others become the people God wants them to be.
This study is important because we were created for relationships, first with God and then with those who are around us in home, community, work, and church settings. We will learn through Proverbs how to maximize those relationships.
1. May 5 Getting My Most Important Relationship Right (Proverbs 3)
2. May 12 Building The Home I Need (Proverbs 31)
3. May 19 Becoming a Person Others Need (Proverbs 6)
4. May 26 Giving Others What They Really Need (Proverbs 11, 27, & 28)
Life Goal
Honor God in the way you show love to family, friends, and work colleagues.
Honor God in the way you show love to family, friends, and work colleagues.
I. SHOW TRUST BY OBEYING – PROVERBS 3:5-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. 7 Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.
LEAN & LIVE: Rely is a synonym for trust, that means to lean on something as if it were a crutch. Some people reject a relationship with God, arrogantly denying they need a crutch. But in reality, everyone leans on something and what you lean on determines if your life lasts or collapses.
Job 8:13-15 says, “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web. He leans on his web, but it doesn’t stand firm. He grabs it, but it does not hold up.”
What are webs people spin to lean on that simply don’t hold up?
What are webs people spin to lean on that simply don’t hold up? Think about a time when God held you up during a situation like a tragedy, a time of decision, a relationship, a situation at work, a challenge at home, a health issue.
Solomon emphasized the wisdom of extraordinary relationships. When connections are half-hearted, every area of life gets shaky. The primary relationship to get right is, of course, a relationship with God. Then He coaches us in human relationships. Establishing a solid relationship with God calls for whole-hearted trust. The key to a right relationship with God is found in the initial word of verse 5 – trust. The degree of trust in the Lord is captured in the phrase with all your heart.
HEART in the Bible is not just the center of emotions; it’s the center of everything: motives, desires, feelings, goals, wallets, schedules, and minds. What are some examples of motives or desires that show half-hearted trust in God?
Your heart suggests that to trust in the Lord is a personal act and no one does it for you, and you cannot do it for someone else. A right relationship with God results when an individual makes the Lord the complete source of security, confidence, and hope.
If you’re going to trust in God with all your heart, you’ve got to start OBEYING Him. Flowery talk won’t do it. Only real obedience in real life will show the trust that leads to healing and strength. We have lived long enough to have gained some wisdom along the way. When God is the author of this wisdom, the wisdom will work. Your own opinions won’t. God is not anti-intellectual; He’s anti-arrogance. The contrast provides a clear choice for finding security and confidence for life: Lord or self. To think about Him in all your ways means far more than just to recognize or accept the fact of His existence.
The Lord was not to be relegated to life’s fringes or assigned only to specific days, places, or practices – even religious ones. To know Him truly called for a continuous experience with Him in the crucibles and in the routines of daily living. If you truly know Him, you cannot help but trust Him.
Points:
1. Trusting the Lord completely is key to being in right relationship with Him.
2. Depending on our own wisdom and understanding is not a reliable way to live life to its fullest.
3. The Lord can be trusted to direct our lives and provide that which allows us to know fullness of life.
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?” What song was this from? (The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot)
II. LIVE OUT GOD’S WISDOM – PROVERBS 3:13-18
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.
Job 8:13-15 says, “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web. He leans on his web, but it doesn’t stand firm. He grabs it, but it does not hold up.”
What are webs people spin to lean on that simply don’t hold up?
What are webs people spin to lean on that simply don’t hold up? Think about a time when God held you up during a situation like a tragedy, a time of decision, a relationship, a situation at work, a challenge at home, a health issue.
Solomon emphasized the wisdom of extraordinary relationships. When connections are half-hearted, every area of life gets shaky. The primary relationship to get right is, of course, a relationship with God. Then He coaches us in human relationships. Establishing a solid relationship with God calls for whole-hearted trust. The key to a right relationship with God is found in the initial word of verse 5 – trust. The degree of trust in the Lord is captured in the phrase with all your heart.
HEART in the Bible is not just the center of emotions; it’s the center of everything: motives, desires, feelings, goals, wallets, schedules, and minds. What are some examples of motives or desires that show half-hearted trust in God?
Your heart suggests that to trust in the Lord is a personal act and no one does it for you, and you cannot do it for someone else. A right relationship with God results when an individual makes the Lord the complete source of security, confidence, and hope.
If you’re going to trust in God with all your heart, you’ve got to start OBEYING Him. Flowery talk won’t do it. Only real obedience in real life will show the trust that leads to healing and strength. We have lived long enough to have gained some wisdom along the way. When God is the author of this wisdom, the wisdom will work. Your own opinions won’t. God is not anti-intellectual; He’s anti-arrogance. The contrast provides a clear choice for finding security and confidence for life: Lord or self. To think about Him in all your ways means far more than just to recognize or accept the fact of His existence.
The Lord was not to be relegated to life’s fringes or assigned only to specific days, places, or practices – even religious ones. To know Him truly called for a continuous experience with Him in the crucibles and in the routines of daily living. If you truly know Him, you cannot help but trust Him.
Points:
1. Trusting the Lord completely is key to being in right relationship with Him.
2. Depending on our own wisdom and understanding is not a reliable way to live life to its fullest.
3. The Lord can be trusted to direct our lives and provide that which allows us to know fullness of life.
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?” What song was this from? (The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot)
II. LIVE OUT GOD’S WISDOM – PROVERBS 3:13-18
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.
SOPHIA ISN’T A BROWN-EYED BRUNETTE: Sophia is more than a top baby girl name for this decade or an Italian actress. The Greek noun sophia means “wisdom, intelligence, or knowledge.” In the Old Testament, sophia describes a person who looks to God for instruction in living. Solomon declared in Proverbs 1:7 that fearing God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Based on this, what efforts must be put into discovering and living according to true wisdom?
What is our responsibility in living by God’s wisdom?
How would you define wisdom as used in these verses?
Points:
1. Finding God’s wisdom brings true happiness that is found only by being in right relationship with God.
2. God’s wisdom is of incomparable value.
3. Holding on to God’s wisdom is the way to the blessed life.
III. CHOOSE GOD’S WAYS – PROVERBS 3:31-35
31 Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; 32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord, but He is a friend to the upright. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous; 34 He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.
What is our responsibility in living by God’s wisdom?
How would you define wisdom as used in these verses?
- For the Christian believer, these words remind us that whatever good one enjoys in life is a gift from God (James 1:17), a blessing that comes from living with divine wisdom (V.5).
Points:
1. Finding God’s wisdom brings true happiness that is found only by being in right relationship with God.
2. God’s wisdom is of incomparable value.
3. Holding on to God’s wisdom is the way to the blessed life.
III. CHOOSE GOD’S WAYS – PROVERBS 3:31-35
31 Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; 32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord, but He is a friend to the upright. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous; 34 He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.
THAT TURNS MY STOMACH!: At the risk of making you feel a little queasy, list some things that make people feel nauseated. Now list a few things people do to get relief from nausea.
Some actions and attitudes are so offensive to God that they virtually turn His stomach. Solomon listed seven of those detestable things in Proverbs 6:16-19. Why would each make someone sick?
Christ said in Revelation 3:16 that lukewarm, half-hearted commitment to Him makes Him want to vomit. What do you think relieves God’s nausea?
Contrast the fate of the wicked with that of the wise.
- The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked
- But He blesses the home of the righteous
- A curse from the Lord was a withdrawal of His presence, leaving an individual to be bound by whatever other choice he or she had made. A curse represents God’s judgment and punishment. Blessing, on the other hand, refers to the goodness that comes from the Lord.
Points:
1. The Lord detests those who do evil.
2. The Lord blesses those who are humble and upright before Him.
3. To be wise in the ways of the Lord means to stay focused on Him and to shun the ways of those who oppose Him.
After this lesson, my prayer is that you will:
1. Find hope for all relationships by getting your relationship with God right.
2. Embrace upright living.
3. Demonstrate your commitment to God with whole-hearted trust and obedience.
4. Delight in learning from God.
5. Find true happiness by discovering and living according to God’s wisdom.
6. See the subtleties of wickedness and refuse wicked behaviors, attitudes, or goals.
7. Connect with God by conversing with Him regularly throughout the day.
Prayer of Commitment
Lord, many things vie for my attention. However, my heart’s desire is foremost to be in right relationship with You and to heed Your words and follow Your wisdom. Please help me. Amen.
This is a great start to a great series on extraordinary relationships. There is a direct connection between relationship with God and relationships with others. If you desire real connections and right relationships with others, you must get that most important relationship right. Only God can guide you to connect well with others.
See you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
