Embracing Wisdom: Six Instructions for Godly Living

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into Proverbs chapter three, focusing on the theme of acquiring wisdom. We explored six distinct instructions paired with promises, emphasizing that while we shouldn't need rewards to obey God, He understands our human nature and provides these promises as motivation. However, the ultimate motivation should be Christ's sacrifice on the cross, which is the greatest reward we have already received. We are called to live for Christ, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5, and to follow His word regardless of earthly rewards.

The first instruction is to remember and comply with God's teachings, not to intentionally reject them. This is a plea from a loving father who desires his children to walk uprightly and honor the Lord. The second instruction is to remain faithful, both to God and to others, as this leads to favor and a good reputation. Faithfulness is not blind loyalty but a commitment to truth and integrity.

The third instruction is to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. Life's challenges should not cause us to deviate from God's path. Trusting God means acknowledging Him in all our ways, allowing Him to make our paths straight. The fourth instruction is to fear the Lord and turn away from evil, which brings healing and refreshment to our lives. Wisdom acts as medicine, guiding us away from unhealthy choices.

The fifth instruction is to honor the Lord with our wealth, recognizing Him as our provider. Giving is an act of faith and acknowledgment of God's provision. It's not about the amount but the heart behind the giving. Finally, the sixth instruction is to accept the Lord's discipline, understanding it as an act of love meant to restore us. Discipline is not judgment but a means to redirect us towards righteousness.

Key Takeaways:

- Intentional Rejection vs. Forgetfulness: The call to remember God's teachings is not about mere forgetfulness but an intentional choice to reject wisdom. This rejection leads to destruction, as seen in Hosea 4:6. We must choose to embrace wisdom and not let it slip away. [47:00]

- Faithfulness as a Dual Commitment: Faithfulness to God and others is crucial. It builds a reputation of integrity and trustworthiness. Our faithfulness to God can influence how others perceive us, as they see our commitment to Him reflected in our actions. [01:06:10]

- Trusting God Amidst Life's Challenges: Trusting in the Lord means not relying on our limited understanding but acknowledging Him in all circumstances. This trust allows us to navigate life's challenges without deviating from His path. [01:12:43]

- Wisdom as Medicine: Wisdom acts as a healing agent for our sinful nature, guiding us away from unhealthy choices. It combats the natural inclination to make decisions based on our flawed understanding. [01:26:26]

- Discipline as a Sign of Love: God's discipline is a sign of His love, meant to restore us and prevent us from greater judgment. It awakens us to our errors and redirects us towards righteousness. [01:41:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to Proverbs 3
- [05:30] - Six Instructions and Rewards
- [10:45] - The Greatest Reward: Christ's Sacrifice
- [15:20] - Remembering God's Teachings
- [20:00] - Faithfulness to God and Others
- [25:15] - Trusting in the Lord
- [30:40] - Wisdom as Medicine
- [35:50] - Honoring God with Wealth
- [40:30] - Accepting God's Discipline
- [45:00] - The Role of Church Discipline
- [50:10] - Communion and Reflection
- [55:00] - Baptism Celebration
- [01:00:00] - Closing Remarks and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 3:1-12
- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
- Hosea 4:6

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the six instructions mentioned in Proverbs 3:1-12, and what promises are associated with each instruction?
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between forgetfulness and intentional rejection of God's teachings? [47:00]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and how does this relate to not leaning on your own understanding? [01:12:43]
4. How is faithfulness to God and others portrayed in the sermon, and what impact does it have on one's reputation? [01:06:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's discipline is an act of love rather than judgment? How does this understanding affect one's view of challenges in life? [01:41:23]
2. How does the sermon explain the role of wisdom as a healing agent in our lives, and what are some examples of unhealthy choices it helps us avoid? [01:26:26]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between honoring God with our wealth and recognizing Him as our provider? How does this perspective challenge common views on financial security? [01:31:44]
4. How does the sermon interpret the idea of making straight paths in life, and what does it mean for one's purpose and direction? [01:18:55]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you intentionally rejected wisdom in your life. What were the consequences, and how might embracing wisdom have changed the outcome? [47:00]
2. Consider your current level of faithfulness to God and others. What steps can you take to strengthen your commitment and integrity in these relationships? [01:06:10]
3. Identify a situation where you are currently leaning on your own understanding rather than trusting in the Lord. What practical steps can you take to shift your trust to God? [01:12:43]
4. Think about an area in your life where you have experienced God's discipline. How can you view this discipline as a sign of His love and use it to grow in righteousness? [01:41:23]
5. Evaluate your current approach to giving and honoring God with your wealth. How can you adjust your mindset and actions to better reflect trust in God as your provider? [01:31:44]
6. Wisdom is described as medicine for our sinful nature. What specific unhealthy choices are you currently facing, and how can you apply wisdom to make healthier decisions? [01:26:26]
7. How can you actively acknowledge God in all your ways this week, especially in areas where you feel uncertain or challenged? What changes might this bring to your life? [01:18:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Wisdom to Avoid Destruction
Remembering and complying with God's teachings is not merely about avoiding forgetfulness but about making a conscious choice to embrace wisdom. This intentional rejection of wisdom leads to destruction, as highlighted in Hosea 4:6. The call is to actively choose wisdom, allowing it to guide our lives and decisions. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's desires and avoid the pitfalls of ignorance and disobedience. [47:00]

"For my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." Hosea 4:6 (ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you have been intentionally ignoring God's wisdom? How can you begin to embrace His teachings today?


Day 2: Faithfulness as a Reflection of Integrity
Faithfulness is a dual commitment to God and others, building a reputation of integrity and trustworthiness. It is not about blind loyalty but a commitment to truth and integrity. Our faithfulness to God influences how others perceive us, as they see our commitment to Him reflected in our actions. This dual commitment strengthens our relationships and enhances our witness to the world. [01:06:10]

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate faithfulness to God and others in your daily interactions? How might this impact your relationships and witness?


Day 3: Trusting God Beyond Our Understanding
Trusting in the Lord with all our heart means not relying on our limited understanding but acknowledging Him in all circumstances. Life's challenges can tempt us to deviate from God's path, but true trust allows us to navigate these challenges without losing sight of His guidance. By acknowledging God in all our ways, we invite Him to make our paths straight, leading us through life's complexities with divine wisdom. [01:12:43]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing where you need to trust God more fully? How can you acknowledge Him in this situation today?


Day 4: Wisdom as a Healing Agent
Wisdom acts as a healing agent for our sinful nature, guiding us away from unhealthy choices. It combats the natural inclination to make decisions based on our flawed understanding, offering a path to healing and refreshment. By fearing the Lord and turning away from evil, we allow wisdom to act as medicine, restoring us to spiritual health and vitality. [01:26:26]

"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8 (ESV)

Reflection: What unhealthy choices have you been making that wisdom could guide you away from? How can you invite God's wisdom to bring healing into your life today?


Day 5: Discipline as a Loving Restoration
God's discipline is a sign of His love, meant to restore us and prevent us from greater judgment. It awakens us to our errors and redirects us towards righteousness. Understanding discipline as an act of love helps us to accept it with humility and gratitude, recognizing it as a means to grow closer to God and align our lives with His will. [01:41:23]

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)

Reflection: How have you experienced God's discipline in your life? In what ways can you embrace it as an expression of His love and a path to restoration?

Quotes



And though we... We really shouldn't need rewards or promises of rewards to be obedient to God, he also knows how we are as just people, and sometimes, we need a little bit extra motivation to do what God wants us to do, but let me tell you guys this. Solomon wrote before Christ, we live after Christ, death and sacrifice on the cross for us, so we've already received, have received the greatest reward that we could ever receive, and we should not need additional motivators. [00:42:48] (36 seconds)


Christ's death on the cross for us, his love for us, his sacrifice for us, the fact that while we were yet still sinners, he came and died for us, demonstrating his love, that is all the motivation we should need. For Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5, in light of that, he says, therefore, it is no longer I who live, but my life I live for Christ. [00:43:45] (22 seconds)


It's a forgetfulness that is not based upon something slipped my mind. But it's I have chosen. I have chosen with willful knowledge and understanding to choose to not do it. We see this take place, for example, in Hosea four and six, where God says, my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge since they have what rejected knowledge. I also will what reject you from being my priest since you have forgotten Sakai, the law of your God. I will also forget your children. [00:47:00] (30 seconds)


This is the plea of a desperate father who so loves his son and so desires to want his son to have. Victory, who so desires to want his son to walk upright, who so desires to want his son to honor the Lord with his life. He says, I am pleading with you. Do not hear my words and make an intentional choice to reject them, to forsake them, to go your own way. [00:48:29] (23 seconds)


Because in doing so, there's a length of days and prosperity or peace that is added unto you. Now, the idea of length of days is not, this is, theologically, it gets complicated at times when we start to deal with this and the idea of the sovereignty of God and all of those things like that, right? And so we should not ignore the sovereignty of God when talking about this, but we also should not ignore what the text written by the Spirit of God is actually communicating. [00:51:44] (29 seconds)


So the Bible teaches these two truths. One, God has set how far we can go, and no one can add more days to that. But at the same time, God has said, though I have ordained an end point, you, because of the way you choose to live, can go before that end point. We call that theologically a premature death, okay? [00:54:08] (23 seconds)


If you think you can do drugs every single day of your life and think that it's not doing something to the quality of your life or deteriorating the days, then we are foolish. We are foolish. We are foolish. We are foolish. Right? If you think that you can be out the streets, but you don't got enough no in you, N -O, in you, to say, and I ain't hanging around y 'all, because every time I'm around y 'all, y 'all do street -type activity. [00:55:40] (28 seconds)


Solomon says, I want my son to have a long and prosperous life. Therefore, listen to the wise instructions that are meant to stop you from foolishness, wickedness, and excessive wickedness. That make sense? Now, let me just say this, by the way. [00:59:44] (16 seconds)


Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Remember, the heart is the seat of what? Our desires. It directs our, it pilots our actions. We talked about this last week. But these words, kindness and truth, the Hebrew word see and emet, right? These two words are typically paired together. Kindness and faithfulness. Typically, they're paired together. [01:01:27] (24 seconds)


And so, in other words, Solomon says, you need to be faithful to God, and you need to be faithful to men. Now, this is not blind loyalty. This is not saying, no matter what they say, no matter what they do, you got to be faithful. What he's saying is, whatever your word is, let it be true. [01:06:10] (18 seconds)


Wisdom is meant to combat the fact that in this unhealthy body, by ourselves, we will make unhealthy choices, right? So wisdom becomes a medicine. Why? Because though I may desire to make an unhealthy choice, wisdom comes alongside that choice and say, you shouldn't do that. Because I thought in my own brain it was made sense, because the conscience is seared, right? I thought in my own mind that this was the path to go, right? [01:25:51] (23 seconds)


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Transcript
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