Day 9 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "Wisdom's Responsibility and Benefits"

Tuesday, September 07, 2010 Bryan Hudson 11 Comments







SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 8:12 (NLT) “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. 13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. 14 Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.15 Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.16 Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. 17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. 18 I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. 19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! 20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. 21 Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries."

INSIGHT: 
In Proverbs Chapter Eight, Solomon uses yet another method to make the message of wisdom come alive to the readers. He gives wisdom personality and a voice. Verses 12 - 21 highlight many of the attributes of wisdom including common sense, insight, justice, guidance for leaders, as well as prosperity God's way.


Verse 13 makes a key statement, "All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech." This is especially important when dealing with the subject of material possessions and finance. As stated at the outset of this 21 Day Growth Challenge, much of the bad sentiment about discussions about prosperity/provision has to do with pride and arrogance related to this subject.

Clearly, there is a "right" way to approach this subject and understand how to walk in God's blessings while maintaining a godly and humble attitude. In fact, material success is a by-product of living according to God's word. Putting first things first is one of the themes of the Book of Proverbs. Discussions and teachings that focus solely on money, without regard for greater principles, miss the mark of God's agenda. It's too easy to latch onto scriptures that promise benefits, while ignoring scriptures that call us to responsibility to Christ. If we focus on biblical responsibility, the benefits will follow.

Proverbs Chapter Eight closes with the words (verses 35-36): "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death."


PRAYER:
"Lord, thank you for helping me to focus on my responsibilities to Christ and the Word of God. Your blessings and benefits will follow my obedience."            

ACTIVATION: 
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
  1. What responsibilities of wisdom do you see in Proverbs Chapter Eight?
  2. What is the biblical basis for prosperity according to the text?
  3. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
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COMMENT SECTION:
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11 comments :

  1. 1.) We must seek wisdom and God's will for our lives in order to realize our individual purpose/ destiny. Many revelations & blessings require us to go looking for it to show that we are truly earnest about seeking the truth. God wants to see us focus and determined to seek him and obey him, only then can he reward us in huge and unexpected ways.

    2.) Acquiring wisdom in the things of God leads to changes in behaviors and perspective (i.e. changing arrogance into humility or pride into compassion). This same wisdom encompasses our daily life to the point where we make better discussions and realize the importance of living justly, free from strife and violence. Those "better discussions" and change in attitude lead to success and prosperity.

    3.) I will be sure to check myself and make sure I do not become prideful. Any success I experience came first from God and not myself.

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  2. 1. What responsibilities of wisdom do you see in Proverbs Chapter Eight?
    Wisdom is responsible for direction, and guidance.

    2. What is the biblical basis for prosperity according to the text?
    The text says that material things are with wisdom.

    3. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    Today I will focus on making sure I am meeting my responsibilities and keep walking in obedience.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great thoughts Angela!
    "Acquiring wisdom in the things of God leads to changes in behaviors and perspective (i.e. changing arrogance into humility or pride into compassion). This same wisdom encompasses our daily life to the point where we make better discussions and realize the importance of living justly, free from strife and violence"

    ReplyDelete
  4. What responsibilities of wisdom do you see in Proverbs Chapter Eight?
    We have to decide not to walk in evil, pride, arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. We have to be able to discern and gain insights on what these things really mean and seek diligently to avoid them and anything else that displeases God.

    What is the biblical basis for prosperity according to the text?
    We have to love wisdom and search for it.

    What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    I will continue to pray for God's wisdom to manifest itself in all my decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. According to Proverbs 8, it is the responsibility of wisdom to call out in an effort to persuade men and women to take heed of what she has to say, for if they do not, they can only look forward to a path that leads to misery and death. Prisoners, for example, are leading a life of misery due to the unwise decisions that led up to their incarceration.
    2. The biblical basis for prosperity according to this text is to seek wisdom and do not veer from it. If we do this, we will be in the Lord’s good favor, thereby having a prosperous life.
    3. I will continue to seek the Lord’s wisdom in all matters in order to stay on a straight and prosperous path.

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  6. 1)Spiritual, financial and pysical prosperity are the benefits ascribed to wisdom. Wisdom empowers us to live righteous lives. Seeking God and obeying wisdom is the most important thing we can do. It is the principle thing. If we love God, we love wisdom. God promises favor to all who diligently seek Him.

    seeking, listening and obeying wisdom produces God's prosperity.

    2)God's prosperity is spiritual, physical and financial and seeking, listening and obeying wisdom produces God's prosperity.

    3)I will listen to God/Wisdom and be careful to obey. I will be grateful for the benefits that are promised.

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  7. 1.The responsibilities of wisdom I see in Proverbs 8:
    a.To listen when wisdom speaks to receive understanding, common sense, and advice that is wholesome and good.
    b. To choose the instruction of wisdom instead of pursuing honor and riches.
    c.To use wisdom in the situations and the roles assigned in life.
    2. According to the text Proverbs 8:12-21, the biblical basis for prosperity is wisdom. In wisdom is the receiving of good judgment, knowledge, discernment, humility, integrity, sound speech, common sense, success, insight, strength, riches and honor, inheritance of wealth, and justice, gifts of more value than the purest gold and sterling silver.
    3. The actions I will take today are to listen to the Lord and others that share godly wisdom to receive the help I need to make better choices and to put wisdom to use in life’s situations.

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  8. 1. Wisdom is responsible for a person having riches, honor and living a successful life.
    2.The biblical bases for obtaining prosperity is to acquire wisdom. Asking God for it by faith and receiving it; but the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Fear God and watch prosperity come through wisdom.
    3.I will continue to ask God for more wisdom, and hold on to it as I would a precious stone; then watch God bless my life even more.
    -Davis

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  9. 1. The responsibilities of wisdom are: good judgement,knowledge, discernment, common sense, success, insight and strength.
    2. The biblical bases for prosperity is getting wisdom, which is better than gold and silver. Wisdom leads us in paths of righteousness and justice.

    3. I will continue to be prayerful, open to what I see and hear in the word and applying it to the situation I encounter today.

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  10. The responsibilities of wisdom in Proverbs chapter 8 are: to search for spiritual insight into the practical lessons that God has given us in His holy word.

    As we continue to focus on God's word and getting to know Him better, he tells us that "I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice". As we focus on our biblical responsibility the benifits will follow.

    We will continue in his word; so we may discover the nuggets (wisdon) that are better than silver and gold.

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  11. 1. In order to be wise we must show responsibility in using good judgement. Strength is another responsibility of wisdom..no weak person easily persuaded will use wisdom o develop a fear of God, so as to respect the things of God.
    2. The bibical basis of prosperity according to the text is 'Wisdom', it says those who search will surely fine wisdom, it ha riches & honor as well as enduring wealth & justice...Those who love 'wisdom' will inherit wealth.
    3. Action Taken: Pray that I become wiser in daily living, because wisdom will lead me to Gods kind of wealth which is everlasting.

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