Today’s passage: Proverbs 13
Helpful thoughts:
- Our words can build up, strengthen and produce good results, or they can tear down and cause harm. (Ephesians 4:29)
- Our wealth (Or the lack thereof) will not be what brings us happiness and contentment.
- There is a big difference between agreeing with a statement and taking the time to consider it and apply it. One makes for good conversation, the other changes our lives.
- There are patterns in this chapter today. One action leads to another which leads to another. They can all combine to make a downward spiral or great momentum and upward trajectory.
Questions to consider:
- How could verse 12 be tied together with the rest of the proverbs in this chapter? (What kinds of desires will be fulfilled for those who will not listen, who are lazy, who are pretending to be rich, etc.? What kinds of desires will be fulfilled for those who listen and hear wisdom, who are diligent and hard-working, who are wise stewards of their resources and will not flaunt their increase, etc.?) Do foolish acts (Or wise acts) occur in isolation or do they usually build one upon another? How will the accumulation of wisdom or foolishness impact our lives and the lives of those around us?
- How would verse 20 prove true? What does “walking” with people mean? How would those relationships affect us over time? How does verse 20 impact verse 24? What kind of people do our children need to walk with in order to grow up wise? What kind of people do parents need to be for their children?
- Which of these proverbs stuck out the most to you? How can you put it into practice today?
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the wisdom you give us through your word. I pray for the parents of our church, that they would walk with the wise, be wise, and share that wisdom with their children diligently as they grow. May we all work together as a church to build one another up, multiplying in fruitfulness. Help us to understand that every decision we make affects the next decision and the next decision after that. Help us to understand that every decision we make affects not just us but the people around us as well. Father, may we be people who think and act wisely and benefit one another exponentially for our good and for your glory. And of course, we thank you for the most exponential good act in the history of the world, the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. May we remember that our wisdom and obedience and fruitfulness did not originate in our own power, but that they are the fruit of your love and the change you have brought to our lives through Christ.