LESSON 1 // INVESTMENTS THAT INVITE INCREASE

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1 LESSON 1 // INVESTMENTS THAT INVITE INCREASE Proverbs 3:1-2 (NIV) My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. In a get-rich-quick world, we can easily miss what truly satisfies and lasts. Proverbs 3 helps us understand that real riches are grounded in a relationship with God and flourish as we apply His wisdom every day. The first two verses give us a foundation for investing that needs to be firmly established in our hearts for God s riches to flow to us and through our lives to others. 1. God has given us covenant promises. These verses describe a covenant that God wants to establish with people who choose to listen to and obey Him. Throughout Scripture God s covenants always involve five elements: God s initiative. He always takes the first step and reaches out to us. God s promises. His covenants are sets of promises to us. God s integrity. His character and His Word stand behind every promise. God s power. He never promises anything He does not have the power to perform. God s conditions. There are conditions we must meet by making the right choices. 2. God s covenant promises release blessings. As we cooperate with the conditions of God s covenant promises, He pours out blessings to us. The following biblical covenants reveal God s heart to release His blessings to people He loves. Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). Moses and the people of God (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). David and his descendants (Psalm 89:3-4). Jesus and those who follow Him (Acts 3:24-26; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 7:22; 8:6). 3. The release of God s blessings brings increase. In Proverbs 3:1-2 God promises longevity and prosperity (Hebrew shalom) to those who fulfill the conditions of His promise. Shalom refers to completeness, safety, soundness, welfare, health, contentment, peace a comprehensive prosperity and richness. This is a promise of great increase! Scripture confirms God s desire and promise to increase our: Productivity (Genesis 1:28). Influence (Deuteronomy 1:11).

2 Substance (Deuteronomy 6:3; 2 Corinthians 9:10). Character (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Power (Ephesians 3:14-19). Wisdom (Colossians 1:9). Legacy (Psalm 112:1-2; 115:14) 4. Release of God s blessings involves our investment. How do we partner with God for the release of His blessings into our lives? Two simple keys in these verses define our responsibility: remember His instructions and obey His commandments. This involves earnestly seeking God s instructions in His Word, listening attentively to them and holding them at the forefront of our daily lives. It means that we obey from our hearts what He tells us. This is the investment that invites the increase God has promised. Discussion questions 1. Review the five key elements of God s covenants. What do these tell you about His heart for people? 2. What richness and increase does God promise in Proverbs 3:1-2? What difference should this promise make in your life? 3. What is your responsibility and the investment you must make in order to experience the increase God promises? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 1

3 LESSON 2 // THE REWARDS OF RICH CHARACTER Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV) Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. The Lord says to us in these verses, I want to make you rich in character! God invites us to partner with Him by developing certain character traits. As we do, He promises to release blessings in our lives. 1. Passing the test of character. In the New Testament, character translates a Greek word that refers to genuineness, authenticity and qualities of moral excellence proved through testing. We can recognize this kind of character in our lives by: What we are on the inside. What thoughts and attitudes occupy and preoccupy us? What we are under pressure. How do we respond to the stresses of life? What we are when we re alone. What do we do when no one is watching? What we are in our relationships. What are our attitudes and actions toward others? What we do with our responsibilities and commitments. How responsible and loyal are we? 2. Loving people. Richness of character involves a depth of love for people as God loves them. This love is not a feeling but attitudes and actions based on a commitment to always seek what is best for someone else. Jesus put it this way: Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31) and Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30). The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful picture of this love in action: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 3. Living faithfully. God is faithful and calls us to faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 10:23). To be faithful is to be trustworthy, enthusiastically fulfilling our assignments and responsibilities. Faithful people can be counted on!

4 Jesus speaks of the importance of faithfulness in many of His teachings. He taught us that faithfulness is measured by how we handle small things, as well as the large ones. Faithfulness is something everyone can live out, but faithful people also distinguish themselves from the crowd and experience spiritual promotion and eternal rewards. We are to demonstrate this kind of faithfulness to the Lord, in our families, at church and in all our relationships by what we say and do and by keeping the commitments we make. 4. Realizing the rewards of character. A life rich in character reaps rich rewards. Proverbs 3:4 tells us that we will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. God s favor involves blessings we don t deserve, open doors we couldn t open for ourselves and pleasant, God-given surprises we never would have imagined. A good name refers to respect. Proverbs 22:1 states, A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. We are not really rich unless we are building a good name a good reputation through richness of character. Our name is associated with our character. Building a reputation takes time and involves making deposits in our relationships, and sometimes rebuilding when damage has occurred. What a great privilege God has given us to partner with Him. When we do what He calls us to do, He then releases incredible blessings to us! Discussion questions 1. How is character tested and revealed in our lives? How does your character stand up to the test? 2. In what ways do you need to grow in love for others? In faithfulness to your commitments? 3. How have you experienced the favor of God in your life? In what ways is the Lord helping you build a good name? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 2

5 LESSON 3 // A GOVERNOR AND A GUIDE Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. In these verses we discover some of the wealth God wants to deposit in us and the rewards that come as these are established in our lives. He has promised to be our Governor and Guide, if we learn to respond properly to Him. Let s look at four important aspects of this. 1. An unshakable foundation trust in the Lord with all your heart An unshakable spiritual and emotional foundation is built on the right kind of trust. Why is this so important? Because trust in God produces some wonderful fruit in us: Willingness to obey God s Word and will. Willingness to take steps of faith. Peace of heart and mind. Assurance for the future. 2. Attitudes to avoid lean not on your own understanding While God expects us to think wisely, He warns us about relying on this thinking as our sole source of strength, discernment and direction. Relying on our own understanding apart from God s wisdom is dangerous because our perspective is limited, weak and warped. The Lord is reminding us of the danger of a prideful, arrogant, self-sufficient and independent spirit. He is calling us to an attitude of humility and dependence on Him. 3. A priority to practice in all your ways submit to him Submitting to the Lord is an active, ongoing process that involves at least four things: Asking God for His involvement in our lives. Seeking God for His direction. Listening to His instructions. Walking in His wisdom and ways.

6 4. A pathway provided he will make your paths straight As we trust and submit to the Lord, He promises to make our paths straight (NIV) or direct our paths (NKJV). He will be the Governor and Guide who: Keeps us from wandering. Illuminates the dark places, providing enough light for the next step (Psalm 119:105). Prepares our pathway. Removes obstacles. Straightens crooked places. Gets us to where we need to be. Discussion questions 1. How does trusting in the Lord help build an unshakable foundation in our lives? 2. What is the danger of leaning on our own understanding? How can we avoid this pitfall? 3. Look again at the four aspects of submitting to the Lord listed above. Which of these do you need to work on in your life? What step can you take to move forward with this? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 3

7 LESSON 4 // HOLY AND WHOLE Proverbs 3:7-8 (NIV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. In these verses the Lord declares His heart to heal and the pathway to a healthy and whole life. His covenant with us includes the promises and provision of healing spirit, soul and body and we must partner with Him to experience this wholeness in our lives. 1. The need for healing Disease and devastation are consequences of living in a sinful, fallen world. They leave many bleeding, battered, bruised and broken. All of us need the healing grace of God because we are afflicted in our: Spirit. The deepest core of our being is affected by sin, darkness and bondage. Soul. Many struggle with diseased thoughts, weakness of will and debilitating emotions. Body. Physical pathology is the result of the presence of sin in the world. God is not the author of sickness; He is the Source of healing and health. The entrance of sin into the world brought with it the damaging affects of disease and death. 2. God s heart to heal God s desire to bring a rich deposit of healing to us is evident through His: Promises of healing (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:2-3; 147:3) Provision for healing in Jesus (Matthew 4:23-25; 8:16-17; Luke 9:11; Acts 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24). Patterns of healing (Numbers 21:4-9; 2 Kings 5:14; Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26; Acts 14:8-10). 3. Experiencing God s healing grace Different accounts of healing in the Bible reveal at least ten elements associated with the release of healing grace in our lives: Relationship with God. Faith. Confession and connection. Prayer personal and the prayers of others. God s Word. Responsible action. Miracle moments.

8 Process. Patience. Eternal hope. God wants you to experience more of His healing grace in your life. While all of our sicknesses and diseases will not be healed in this life, there are expressions of healing that God wants to make evident to you. It s time to pursue healing! 4. Holiness and wholeness As we experience God s healing grace, we must learn to maintain our health and live in wholeness. Proverbs 3:7-8 describes three keys to this: Stay humble. Maintain an attitude of openness to God s wisdom a teachable spirit. Fear God. Respect and reverence for Him as the Sovereign Lord leads to holy living. Shun evil. Reject and turn away from ungodliness that afflicts our spirit, soul and body. As you choose to walk in humility and the fear of the Lord, living by His wisdom, God will release a flow of healing and wholeness into your life. What a promise! Discussion questions 1. How has sin brought devastation and the need for healing to all of us? In what ways do you need healing in your life? 2. What do see about God s heart to heal in the following verses: Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:2-3; Psalm 147:3; Matthew 4:23-25; 8:16-17? How do these encourage you to trust Him for healing? 3. Read Proverbs 3:7-8 again. What do you need to do to receive and maintain the health God wants to give you, according to these verses? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 4

9 LESSON 5 // THE PATHWAY TO ABUNDANT PROVISION Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. God promises to provide for us in our covenant relationship with Him, and He teaches us what we must do to experience His abundant provision. 1. God s promises of provision It s important for us to understand that God cares about our material needs. As a good Heavenly Father, He promises to take care of His children. This is evident in: God s covenant promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-2) and Israel (Deuteronomy 28:8), as well as His promises concerning tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:10). Jesus teachings on the Father s care and abundant provision (Matthew 6:31-33; Luke 6:38). The Apostle Paul s instructions to local churches about God s provision (2 Corinthians 9:10-11; Philippians 4:19). From these verses, and by observing the way the Lord worked with His people throughout the Bible, we learn three important things about God s provision for us: There is a predictable pattern of provision planting and harvest. He promises us consistent provision. He promises us abundant provision. 2. Stewarding our resources Honor the Lord with your wealth (Proverbs 3:9a) points us to the beginning of abundant provision: identifying our wealth and honoring the Lord with it. Wealth includes what we have in our: Heart. Consistent promotion and provision come to those who have learned to manage the resources of their heart. You may have little in terms of material resources, but if you have the right set of attitudes the right kind of heart you will succeed. These heart attitudes include faith, faithfulness, friendliness, fervency, fun, forgiveness and fortitude. House. This involves the proper management of our time and material possessions by budgeting, living within our means, practicing discipline in our use of time and spending, deferring gratification when necessary, avoiding destructive debt, saving for the future and making wise financial plans. Hands. We all have opportunities, skills and responsibilities, and good stewards make the most of these.

10 3. Seeding for harvest God s provision in our lives is associated with faithfully planting seeds that produce this harvest. In Scripture, the concept of planting seed is often associated with giving to the Lord and others. We are instructed to give: Systematically. God established the tithe as a way to give systematically to Him. The first ten percent of all we receive is to go to the Lord to His house (Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23). Worshipfully. Giving to God is an act of worship in which we relinquish our gift to Him and trust Him to reward us accordingly (Psalm 96:8). Cheerfully. It s a joy to give to God and we should always do it with a smile on our face and laughter in our heart. He loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)! Generously. Generous giving opens the door for abundant blessings (Exodus 36:2-7; Proverbs 11:25; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Luke 6:38). Expectantly. A farmer would be silly to plant seed and not expect a harvest! God wants us to anticipate blessing abundant provision as we give the way He has called us to give. Discussion questions 1. Why is it so important to understand that God cares about your material needs? How does this affect your faith in His promises of provision? 2. How can you honor the Lord with the wealth of your heart, house and hands? What does He promise when you do this? 3. In what ways are you planting seed through giving? What are you expecting God to do as you plant in faith? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 5

11 LESSON 6 // THE DIVIDENDS OF DISCIPLINE Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV) My son, do not despise the Lord s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. In these verses we discover the promise of God to discipline us. We also discover the dividends that come to us as we respond properly to the discipline of the Lord. 1. A grand plan: God s purposes in discipline. God has made a commitment to discipline and even rebuke those who know Him. Why does the Lord discipline us? He loves us (Proverbs 13:24). He accepts responsibility for us. We represent His family (Hebrews 12:10). He has a vision for our future (Jeremiah 29:11). Discipline may rescue us from a destructive pathway (Proverbs 14:12). Discipline protects us from foolish mistakes and moral failures (Proverbs 6:23). Discipline builds Christ-like character in us (Hebrews 12:11). Discipline brings deliverance from our bondages. Discipline prepares us for spiritual victories (1 Corinthians 9:25). Discipline leads to a life of blessing (Psalm 94:12; Proverbs 13:18). 2. A grace-filled process: God s way of discipline. Because His discipline is based in His love, we can be confident that everything God does in the process is saturated with His mercy and grace. How does God discipline us in this grace-filled process? The ministry of His Word. The ministry of His Spirit. The tests and trials of our faith. The elements of external discipline He has ordained. Our spiritual battles. Divine delays we experience. Spiritual exercises we engage in.

12 3. A grateful response: our part in the discipline process. We all choose our response to God s discipline in our lives. On the one hand, we miss the benefits of the Lord s discipline if we ignore, rationalize, resent or resist it. The better way is to respond as God s Word instructs us with: Humility. Repentance. Attentiveness. Prayerfulness. Patience. Spiritual persistence. Appreciation. Discussion questions 1. How does God s discipline protect us? How does it build Christ-like character in our lives? 2. In what ways does God use His Word and His Spirit to discipline us? How has He done this in your life? 3. Why is it important to respond to God s discipline with humility, prayer, patience and persistence? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 6

13 LESSON 7 // THE RICHES OF WISDOM Proverbs 3:13-14 (NIV) Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Wisdom is profitable for our lives in a way that is more valuable than money or material riches. We are truly rich when the bank account of our soul is full of wisdom! In order to get the best return on this investment in godly wisdom, we have to: 1. Value God s wisdom above less important things. Our value system will determine our priorities what is most important to us. We will go after and hold on to what we really value. So we must decide what is most valuable to us. This decision is influenced by one or more of the following: Our own emotions, experiences and opinions. The emotions, experiences and opinions of others people we know personally or through the culture and media around us. The truth of God s Word (Psalm 119:14). We can only be sure of what s most valuable in life through the truth of God s Word. Clearly wisdom is at the top of this list in the Bible: Proverbs 4:7 (NCV) Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Proverbs 2:4-5 (NIV) If you look for Proverbs 8:11 (NCV) Wisdom is more precious than [wisdom] as for silver and search for it as rubies. Nothing you could want is equal to it. for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 2. Discover and gain wisdom from God. Wisdom is God s insight into life a treasure He invites Matthew 6:21 (NIV) For where your us to search for and discover. It s the ability to perceive treasure is, there your heart will be also. and practically apply His knowledge to any situation, leading to excellent decisions, attitudes and actions. We discover this wisdom by: Submitting ourselves to God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10a), so submitting to Him in reverence and awe is foundational. Asking God for wisdom (James 1:5). Consistently searching, receiving and meditating on God s Word (Proverbs 2:1-6). Remaining humble and teachable before God and others (Proverbs 11:2; 13:10).

14 3. Continue pursuing wisdom. Wisdom is not static but dynamic. It takes into account changing situations and seasons, even though it s anchored in unchanging truth. So we have to be learning and growing in wisdom to experience the real riches of it. Here s some ways we can do this: Learn from our successes and failures (Proverbs 15:31). Learn from the successes and failures of others (Proverbs 19:20). Seek to live wisely (Ephesians 5:15; James 3:13). Consistently hang out with wise people (Proverb 13:20). Actively observe and reflect on the world God has made (Proverbs 6:6-11). Enjoy the journey of growing in wisdom with God (Proverbs 10:23)! Discussion questions 1. Why is it so important to choose our values based on the truth of God s Word? What happens if we don t do this? 2. In what ways is wisdom a treasure more valuable to us than material wealth? How does it make us rich? 3. What practical steps can you take to discover and grow in godly wisdom? church-redeemer.org // realizing real riches series // lesson 7