Bible ReadingProverbs 30:1-9>The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, “I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!”
[25:10]>Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
[28:17]>Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
[28:33]>Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
[42:12]Matthew 4:1-11>Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
[32:03]Jeremiah 31:31-33>“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
[51:53]Deuteronomy 8:17-18>“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
[40:17]Observation questions- What words does Agur use to describe his own limits, and what impossible things does he list in Proverbs 30:1-4?
- According to Proverbs 30:5-6, what is true about God’s words, and what warning is given to the person who adds to them? [28:17]
- What two dangers does Agur connect with poverty and with riches in Proverbs 30:7-9?
- In Matthew 4, what repeated words does Jesus use when facing hunger, a shortcut to public approval, and the offer of earthly kingdoms? [32:03]
Interpretation questions- Why might admitting personal limits before God be necessary for someone who wants to live wisely rather than merely feel self-sufficient? [29:00]
- Proverbs 30 warns against adding to God’s words. In what kinds of situations might a believer be tempted to add a “but also” exception to commands about truthfulness, forgiveness, purity, or love? [34:22]
- Jesus answered each temptation with Scripture, even when the easier option would have met a real need or avoided suffering. What does this show about the difference between meeting a need and trusting God faithfully? [32:03]
- Why can both hardship and abundance become spiritual dangers? How do Agur’s prayer and Deuteronomy 8 help a believer recognize those dangers?
Application questions- Where are you most tempted to live by a personal code of self-protection—perhaps when you feel insulted, overlooked, wronged, or afraid? What would it look like to respond “as it is written” in that situation? [35:18]
- Is there a command of God that you regularly qualify with an exception: “I know God says this, but my situation is different”? What is the exception, and what would humble obedience look like this week? [34:29]
- What blessing in your life—skills, experience, money, health, relationships, stability, or success—could make God feel less necessary to you? How can you intentionally receive that blessing as something from God rather than something you own by your own strength? [45:21]
- What hardship or unmet need currently makes compromise seem reasonable? Ask the group to help you name one faithful next step that does not require pretending the hardship is easy. [45:28]
- Agur prays, “Feed me with the food that is needful for me.” What would it mean for you to ask God for “enough” rather than simply asking for more control, comfort, or security? [42:30]
- Where have visible results become the main measure of whether you are doing well—at work, in parenting, in relationships, or in serving others? How would your perspective change if faithfulness were the measure of success? [53:26]
- Set aside ten minutes this week to read Proverbs 30:5-9. As you read, ask: “Where am I forgetting God? Where am I compromising?” What is one specific prayer for faithfulness that you can carry into the week? [52:56]
