Three Important Considerations about Wisdom 1 What are the Consequences if you Fail to Find Wisdom? Verses: Proverbs 8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death. (NIV) Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. (NIV) Define Key Words: (Circle your favorite synonym and antonym for each key word) Harm means to injure or inflict pain. The opposite is benefit or bless. Hate means to despise, resent, or scorn. The opposite is to love or cherish. Death means to expire, perish, or become extinct. The opposite is life or vitality. Darkness means blinded or full of confusion. The opposite is to see with clarity. Stumble means to fall down or become injured. The opposite is stability or protection. Paraphrase the Idea: Really, failing to find wisdom is like hurting yourself. If you hate wisdom it is like loving pain and death. You will walk in deep darkness. When you smash your face on an overhanging ledge or fall into a deep pit you won t even know what happened. Final Thought: Even after I heard about wisdom, for years I kept falling into painful circumstances. Even if my circumstances were favorable, my emotions were all over the place. I was not able to fully enjoy some of the best times of my life. Fear of the unknown and worry kept me depressed or anxious even when things seemed to be going well. I was always afraid that another storm might be just around the corner. As you gain wisdom all this begins to change. You begin to use wisdom s principles to navigate challenging situations with skill. Even if things seem to take a turn for the worse, you begin to trust that wisdom will help you regain success in the future.
Questions for Reflection: 1. Is being continually troubled by fears and insecurities a form of wisdom or a form of foolishness? What are some of your biggest fears or insecurities? 2. If your life was more full of wisdom, how would it help you overcome these fears and insecurities? Record your favorite verse from Proverbs Chapter 6: 2 What keeps you from Getting Wisdom? Verses: Proverbs 1:22 How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? (NIV) Proverbs 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (NIV) Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (NIV) Define Key Words: (Circle your favorite synonym and antonym for each key word) Simple means untrained, immature, or inept. The opposite is equipped or prepared. A fool is a stupid or ridiculous person. He is an idiot, a bonehead, or a buffoon. Waywardness means defiant, rebellious, or perverted. The opposite is wise, disciplined, respectful, and devoted. Complacency means apathy, indifference, or passiveness. The opposite is to pursue something with passion and diligence. Conceal means to hide or disguise. The opposite is to expose or reveal. Sin means to miss the bulls-eye. The opposite is hitting the mark exactly in the desired location. Renounce means to. The opposite is to condone or defend. Mercy means compassionate help, aid, or relief. The opposite is cruelty or torment.
You Paraphrase the Idea: My Paraphrase of the Idea: Complacency and defiance are enemies of wisdom and enemies of your life. They ensure torment and ultimate destruction. Are you ready to identify and reject your foolish ideas, behaviors, and habits? Unless you are willing to identify these areas, they will continue to have a stronghold in your life. They will continue to torment you. When you reject these areas and replace them with wisdom you will receive help and relief. Final Thought: All of us live with certain foolish ideas, behaviors, and habits. Many times we feel like they are our friends. How would we function without them? How would I get rid of them even if I wanted to? How much effort would it take to rid my life of these weeds? Many times it is not easy to rid your life of complacency and foolishness, but with wise instruction and effort all things are possible. Foolishness must be identified for what it really is, a weed. It is a thorn and a snare. After the weed is identified it must be uprooted. If you leave the root the weed will grow back. Once you get rid of the weed, you must plant something good or beneficial in its place. Just like cultivating a garden, a life full of wisdom takes constant attention. You must fertilize the good plants and eradicate or uproot the bad. Questions for Reflection: 1. Can you relate to the idea of feeling like foolish ideas or behaviors are your friends? As you consider this idea, what foolish attitudes or behaviors have you welcomed into your life as friends? 2. Solomon indicates that complacency and defiance are enemies of wisdom and enemies of your life. Why do you think complacency and defiance are so dangerous?
3. If complacency and defiance are two of your biggest enemies, it s probably a good idea to identify them. How do you think complacency or defiance might be influencing you to choose foolish attitudes or behaviors? Record your favorite verse from Proverbs Chapter 7: 3 Is there a Sure Way to Find Wisdom? (Week 3) Verses: Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. (NKJV) Proverbs 7:1 My son, keep my words, and store up my commands within you. (NIV) Proverbs 1:33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. (NIV) Define Key Words: (Circle your favorite synonym and antonym for each key word) Store up means to memorize, meditate on, or hide in your heart. Seek diligently means to search out, pursue, or deeply yearn for. The opposite is complacency, apathy, or laziness. Find means discover or obtain. The opposite is to fall short or give up. Listen means to understand and implement a principle. The opposite is cognition without taking necessary or appropriate action. You Paraphrase the Idea: My Paraphrase of the Idea: If you want to find wisdom you must search with eagerness and consistency. You should store up wisdom in your life by memorizing and meditating on her principles. Whoever takes action and applies wisdom s principles will have success and safety. Final Thought: I wish someone had explained this process for me years ago. First you must identify and root out foolish attitudes and behaviors. Start searching for wisdom
with eagerness and consistency. As you do this it is important to start memorizing and meditating on wisdom s principles so that you can recognize the difference between wisdom and foolishness. The final and all-important step is to take action and apply wisdom s principles. As I read this prescription it seems so straightforward, but life is complex and the disciplines of wisdom are not acquired overnight. The Proverbs Challenge to gain wisdom will save you from years of pain and confusion if you apply what you will learn. It will enable you to more quickly identify and apply the principles necessary to start you on the road to success in your journey with wisdom. Questions for Reflection: 1. In the final thought above, a step-by-step process was given to ensure success in your search for wisdom. Write out these steps in your own words. 1. 2. 3. 4. 2. You ve just outlined a successful plan for gaining wisdom, but it will only work for you if you take action. You must do the plan. Can you think of a few realistic reasons why some people fail to develop a new pattern of consistent action when they learn a good idea? 3. If you are going to transform your future with wisdom, you must make some changes. Why is it necessary to change your attitudes and behaviors in order to cultivate a heart full of wisdom? Record your favorite verse from Proverbs Chapter 8:
Life Application Questions: 1. How do you hope to grow or what do you hope to gain by investing time and energy in The Proverbs Challenge? (Growth areas can include education, career, finances, growth in leadership, relationships, communication, life direction, etc.) 2. What are the hopes or dreams that are most important to you? 3. Why is wisdom an important key as you pursue your hopes and dreams? 4. The primary goal for The Proverbs Challenge is to become passionate, devoted, and disciplined about searching for and applying wisdom in order to change your future. Why do you think this is an important goal? 5. If you embrace a life full of wisdom what will the results be? (How will it affect you over the next year? How will it affect you over the next five to ten years? How will it affect your future and the future of your family?)