Prayer: Father, I wonder as I launch into the book of wise sayings, am I prepared to listen? Help me to have a listening and willing spirit, to take heed of the wisdom which Your word brings to me life. May I listen and apply. Amen.
Reading: Proverbs 1 key: vs. 2-6
2 to acquire wisdom and discipline,
to understand the words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise behavior,
righteousness, justice and fairness,
4 to give discernment to the naïve,
knowledge and discretion to the youth
5 (let the wise listen and increase learning
and the discerning obtain wise counsel)
6 to understand a proverb and a puzzle,
the sayings of the wise and their riddles.
The Bible Project: Overview of Proverbs
Attention: Have you ever sought advice or wisdom from someone you deemed to be wise and then not accepted or listened to their advice? I remember a time as a 25+ year old male, going to a lead pastor of the church I was attending and asking his advice on a ministry opportunity which I had been offered. I was attending a private Bible college in preparation for a staff position in a local church. I had been seeking the help of a couple pastors, in securing my first pastoral position in a local church. One was just encouraging me to get my feet wet and get experience. The other pastor knew the senior pastor of the church which was interested in inviting me to join their staff. He didn’t tell me what to do, but wisely told me “The pastor of this church you are considering, has never had a successful ministry.”
Anxious to get that first opportunity, I accepted the offer of this church and moved my family to live locally near the church and then commute to classes at school. The wise advice of the second pastor proved accurate and true. My tenure at this church lasted only a couple of years and difficulty began quickly.
You might wonder, what does your story have to do with Proverbs. The parallel is this, the wisdom of God is higher than man’s and the answers to navigating life is contained in the pages of Scripture. Are we studying Scripture to harvest the wisdom it contains and even if we are studying, am I heeding the instruction? I didn’t listen to the pastor’s advice and suffered for it. I’ll give you this guarantee. If you do not listen to the wisdom and instruction of Scripture and apply it, like me, you are setting yourself up for suffering. It is your choice, but understand, our choices have consequences.
Action: I will increase my listening and advance my acting on wise choices.
Yield: I yield to the wisdom of scripture.
Engage: I engage with the Holy Spirit to listen to His instruction and apply to my life.
Relationship: I choose to do life with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Prayer: Father, how foolish of me when I try to do life my way and by myself. Save me from my foolish decisions and selfish choices. Amen.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 1:33
Music Video: You are Beautiful Beyond Description
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”