Week Fifteen – July 3-July 9, 2016

Proverbs – Human Wisdom

Think.

• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? Who gave it to you? Do you follow it?
• What is a piece of advice that you hear a lot from your parent? Do you follow it? Why do you think it is important for them to tell you this?
• If you could give a piece of advice to someone a 2-4 years younger than you, what would you tell them? Why should they listen to you?

Listen.

King Solomon had been a child of wealth and privilege, while his father David had been a shepherd’s son. He was raised in the royal courts, never having to do his own work, while his father had been sent out as a child to protect the flock from predators. Other men fought on behalf of Solomon. David had often fought his own battles. And then then when David told Solomon that he’d be responsible for building God’s temple, he also undercut his son by telling everyone else around how young and inexperienced his son was and how much help he would need. When we look at the Book of Proverbs, we need to know that Solomon most likely did not create these sayings, although there are some attributed to him. It is most likely that these came from a wide range of fathers, religious leaders and other parental figures for the young people they felt responsible for.

My child, do not forget my teaching,

    but let your heart keep my commandments;

for length of days and years of life

    and abundant welfare they will give you.

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;

    bind them around your neck,

    write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good repute

    in the sight of God and of people.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not rely on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

– Proverbs 3:1-6

Flip through Proverbs and pick a saying that stands out to you.

Now take a look at these two verses…

Do not answer fools according to their folly,

or you will be a fool yourself.

Answer fools according to their folly,

or they will be wise in their own eyes.

– Proverbs 26:4-5

Ask.

• Do these two verses seem to contradict themselves? Why or why not?
• If you were a young person in the time of Solomon or after, learning these wise sayings, what would you think of all of them put together?
• How would you know what was God’s wisdom versus human wisdom? Who should you listen to?

Say.

Living a life that pleases God has to include practical applications that anyone can use in lots of everyday situations. Some of it comes from God in a perfect sense. And some of it comes from godly people who may not even agree with each other and who definitely aren’t perfect or all-knowing but who do care about you.

Ask.

• Can you think of anything that a young Solomon and you have in common?
• Have you’ve been blessed or privileged with a lot of advantages, support and encouragement that others did not start with or that you did not earn?
• If someone has ever said that you didn’t deserve an award or that you only got to where you are because you were a teacher’s pet or coach’s favorite, etc….then how can you show your true worth?

A lot of us adults care about you. Parents, coaches, teachers, youth volunteers, older family members, etc. We care about you! We may not have all the answers and yes, we can even be wrong. But try to listen to us. We’ve been there and have learned a lot the hard way that we hope you will not have to experience on your own. So reach out for biblical wisdom that comes from God and from human wisdom from those who care about you too.

Close with prayer.

Thank God for the people who have sacrificed to provide you with a better life. Ask God to guide you to stay humble. Thank God for the people who care about you and try to give you good advice. Ask God for discernment in knowing what advice to follow.

More.

 0-100 | Best Advice You’ve Received.

Rainn Wilson, the actor who played Dwight on “The Office” has an inspirational web series called Soul Pancake. He brought in people ages 0-100 (actually all the way up to 105) to answer some of life’s big questions. They were asked the question, “what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?”