03 Proverbs3:21-35

LOVE WELL

FOCUSThink back to the first person you remember becoming friends with—this person was probably into some of the same things you are into or at least participated in some of the same activities. You probably met on the playground or the soccer team or in your neighborhood when you were playing a game. This is one of the easiest ways to make a friend—to bond over a shared hobby or interest. While there is certainly nothing wrong with making friends this way, true, lasting, meaningful friendships go deeper than shared interests. Today as we continue unpacking what it means to be truly wise, we will see that the Bible calls us to make every effort to be a good neighbor to the people around us. True wisdom is shown in how we treat others—loving and serving them, and never exploiting them.

True wisdom is shown in how we treat others—loving and serving them, and never exploiting them.

This week’s

TRUTHCentral

Session 3 // 21

03

.01 WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON YOU REMEMBER BECOMING FRIENDS WITH?

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO STRIKE UP A FRIENDSHIP WITH THIS PERSON?

.02 SHARE ABOUT A TIME WHEN SOMEONE DEMONSTRATED TRUE FRIENDSHIP

TO YOU.

Talk it out

Begin by reading through the passage.

EXPLORATIONProverbs 3:21-35

21 Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.22 They will be life for you and adornment for your neck.23 Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble.24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.25 Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.27 When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs.28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.29 Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you and lives near you.30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.31 Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous;34 He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.35 The wise will inherit honor, but he holds up fools to dishonor.

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Proverbs 3:27-30

.03 REVIEW: WHAT IS WISDOM, AND HOW SHOULD WE GO

ABOUT SEEKING IT?

.04 HOW DOES WISDOM HELP US FEEL SECURE? HOW DOES

IT MAKE US MORE CONFIDENT IN DAILY LIFE?

.05 WHAT KEEPS US FROM SEEKING WISDOM FROM GOD OR

FROM BELIEVING THAT HE IS GOOD?

Proverbs 3:21-26

CONVERSATION

CULTURAL CONTEXTWalk into any bookstore and the largest section will probably be the self-help section. We live in a world where we are constantly told that the solution to most of our problems is to believe in ourselves or follow our hearts. You are regularly told that you are the source of wisdom and truth. In contrast to this, Proverbs tells us to look to the Lord for direction. Let God be your confidence and your source of wisdom (Prov. 9:10; 3:26). While people might get some temporary help from self-help books, God’s Word gives us eternal wisdom about how to live in a way that honors Him and promotes His kingdom.

Reflect and respond.

.06 WHAT ARE SOME EXCUSES PEOPLE OFTEN GIVE FOR NOT

HELPING OTHERS IN NEED? HOW DO THESE COMPARE

WITH THE EXCUSES IN VERSES 27-28?

Session 3 // 23

03.07 IT’S EASY TO THINK THAT WE ARE LOVING OUR

NEIGHBORS AS LONG AS WE DON’T WISH THEM HARM OR

ACTIVELY DO THINGS TO HURT THEM. HOW DOES THIS

COMPARE WITH PROVERBS 3:27-30?

.08 HOW SHOULD WE VIEW THE PEOPLE AROUND US

ACCORDING TO VERSES 29-30? HOW SHOULD WE TREAT THEM?

.09 THESE VERSES COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? WHAT IS THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE LIFE OF EACH?

.10 WHY MIGHT WE BE TEMPTED TO MISTREAT PEOPLE?

WHAT OUGHT WE TO DO INSTEAD?

Proverbs 3:31-35Journal your response here.

LITERARY CONTEXT

As you read Proverbs 3:27-30, you might wonder who would be considered your neighbor. Is it the people who live on the same block? Is it everyone in your city, state, or country? Jesus was once asked this question and he responded with a story, which can be found in Luke 10:25-37. By choosing a Samaritan to be the hero of this story, Jesus indicates that followers of Christ should not label some people their neighbors and others their enemies. The point is, “Who is my neighbor?” is actually the wrong question. Instead, when we see someone in need, we should ask, “How can I help?”

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NOW WHAT?

.11 WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU WILL SEEK WISDOM THIS WEEK? WHAT IS ONE WAY

YOU WILL PUT THAT INTO ACTION?

.12 WHAT IS WRONG WITH SEEING PEOPLE AS OBJECTS OR TOOLS? HOW

SHOULD WE SEE THEM INSTEAD?

.13 HOW CAN WE FIGHT THE TEMPTATION OF USING PEOPLE TO GET AHEAD?

WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU COULD SHOW LOVE TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT

THIS WEEK?

.14 WHAT POWER DO YOU POSSESS TO LOVE AND SERVE THE PEOPLE AROUND

YOU? HOW WILL YOU USE IT?

CENTRALTRUTH

True wisdom is shown in how we treat others—loving and serving them

and never exploiting them.

How does this apply to your life?

Session 3 // 25

Choose five days this week to set aside time to dig deeper into God’s Word with these devotions. We hope you’ll make this a priority and encourage others in your group to do so as well.

DwellIn these verses, Solomon tells his readers to not “lose sight” of wisdom. This is basically the opposite of the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” When we no longer see something or pay attention to it, we can get distracted and forget about it entirely. Solomon knew this, and tells us that if we keep wisdom from going “out of sight” it will be life-giving and beautiful.

.01 WHY DO YOU THINK SOLOMON

COMPARES WISDOM TO A

NECKLACE (V. 22)?

.02 HOW CAN YOU SEEK WISDOM

THIS WEEK?

MemorizeWrite Proverbs 3:27 on a Post-It note and stick it somewhere you’ll see it every day, like your bathroom mirror, a notebook, or inside your locker. Read it to yourself each time you see it.

PrayPray that God would help you to keep sight of the wisdom you have been learning through your study of Proverbs.

PROVERBS 3:21-22

FOR BIBLE READING

Day One

7 Arrows

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE SAY?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE CHANGE

THE WAY I RELATE TO PEOPLE?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT GOD?

WHAT DID THIS PASSAGE MEAN TO ITS ORIGINAL

AUDIENCE?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE PROMPT ME

TO PRAY?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT MAN?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE DEMAND

OF ME?

DEVOTIONSDaily

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DwellThese verses give us some instructions for how we should treat our neighbors and people in our community. As followers of Christ, we should have a goal of doing more than the bare minimum to be “nice”—we should look for ways to actively serve people when they have needs. And we should certainly not make blind accusations or plan harm to others.

.01 WHY SHOULD YOU NOT PLAN HARM

AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR ACCORDING

TO VERSE 29?

.02 WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU COULD

HELP A NEIGHBOR OR COMMUNITY

MEMBER IN NEED THIS WEEK?

MemorizeUse your phone or computer to record yourself reading Proverbs 3:27, and play it back to yourself throughout the week.

PrayTake a moment to pray that God would show you ways to be a good neighbor to those around you.

DwellThere are many things that can cause you to stumble as you’re walking, whether you’re hiking through wilderness or simply walking along city streets. A crack in the sidewalk or a loose stone could cause you to trip, or your foot could get tangled in a tree root. The same is true for life—there are many unexpected issues and temptations that can keep us from walking a straight path. But if we follow the way of God’s wisdom, we can be confident that we will not fall.

.01 WHAT IS A SNARE AND WHY DOES

SOLOMON WARN HIS READERS ABOUT

IT (V. 26)?

.02 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KEPT UP AT

NIGHT BECAUSE OF FEAR OR WORRY?

HOW MIGHT THESE VERSES HELP YOU

IN THE FUTURE?

MemorizeSet Proverbs 3:27 as a text or calendar notification to yourself one or two times a day. When you see the notification, read the verse silently or aloud a few times.

PrayThank God that you can be confident and free of fear as you walk in His wisdom.

PROVERBS 3:27-30 PROVERBS 3:23-26Day ThreeDay Two

Session 3 // 27

DwellThese verses compare two different categories of people. On the one hand there are the people who fit into the category of “violent,” “devious,” “wicked,” and “fools.” On the other hand are the “upright,” “righteous,” “humble,” and “wise.” Solomon gives strict warnings to avoid the path of the wicked and instead seek God’s blessing by following the path of the wise and righteous.

.01 HOW WILL THE LORD WILL TREAT

THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND WICKED?

.02 HAVE YOU EVER ENVIED A VIOLENT

PERSON? WHY SHOULD YOU NOT ENVY

THEM IN LIGHT OF THESE VERSES?

MemorizePractice reciting Proverbs 3:27 from memory with a friend or family member. Ask them to follow along as you recite, and prompt you with words from the verse if you need help remembering.

PrayGive thanks to God for the grace, honor, blessing, and friendship He offers the wise.

PROVERBS 3:31-35Day Five

DwellOn day three we looked at some verses about how we should treat neighbors. One definition of neighbor is a person who lives nearby, like on the same street or block as us. But Scripture gives us a different understanding. Someone once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a parable that revealed we are called to be good neighbors to everyone who crosses our path.

.01 WHY DID NEITHER THE PRIEST OR

THE LEVITE STOP TO HELP THE MAN IN

THE PARABLE?

.02 DO YOU HAVE AN EASY OR A

DIFFICULT TIME HELPING PEOPLE

IN NEED? HOW DO THESE VERSES

CHALLENGE YOU?

MemorizeWrite Proverbs 3:27 on a notecard or piece of paper and carry it with you. Read it to yourself word by word until you can recite it from memory.

PrayThank God that He cares so much about His creation that He calls us to love one another.

LUKE 10:25-37Day Four

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