Today’s passage: Proverbs 18
Helpful thoughts:
- The first verse of this chapter is talking about a person who searches and follows their own heart. Buying into the philosophy of “follow your heart” will not work out well.
- Being quick to speak and slow (or refusing) to listen is the trademark of a fool.
- Said positively, a wise person will desire to hear the whole matter and will only delight in speaking if it truly helps another.
- You can’t be everyone’s best friend…no one could possibly keep that up. But, praise God for a friend who “sticks closer than a brother.”
Questions to consider:
- What are we to learn from verse 9? How is lazy work comparable to the act of destruction? What is the motivation for both? Who suffers? What is characteristic of good hard work and who benefits?
- How could we compare and learn from verse 16, 18, and 19? What are the similarities? What is the point? How are we to treat people with whom we disagree?
- Which proverbs stuck out the most to you? How can you put it into practice today?
Prayer:
Lord, your name is our strong tower! We thank you for providing our safety from the destruction we deserve for our sin through Jesus Christ. You have made us righteous in Christ and you have given us eternal safety in Him as well. May this truth remind us to be humble, that we would be ready to listen and hear truth from one another. Thank you for our spouses. Thank you for our friends. Thank you for the church. You did not make us to live in isolation…may we work together in our homes, families, friendships and together as a church toward wisdom and Christ-likeness.