Wisdom part 1

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Wisdom Part 1 – This is taken from Proverbs 3.13-18

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honour.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Proverbs 3.13-18, NIV

Start with a prayer. Asking that God would open up his Word to you so that you can understand it and see what God has to say to you – and to the people in your group

First thing to do is to read the verses from Proverbs. Get a different person to read each verse, including the one leading the group. Then read it again. And again. It’s good to read the Bible over because it starts to really impact. However, don’t read it like reading some line from an essay but with meaning and purpose. Encourage people to do this.

Write down a list – shout out – things that your mates and other people consider to be priorities and worth chasing after..

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Examples:

(Money, fame, glamour, nice house, nice car, nice husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend, nice family, best job, being a pop star, movie star, good looking, being into the ‘right’ kind of music, having the best clothes, having loads of stuff etc.)

The world wants success, it rates success. If you are a success, you are great. People look up to those who are successful, often regardless of how they got there. God is different. God rewards obedience, faithfulness. What’s that? Well, doing what God tells you to do (whether it’s directly to you, or from his Word). Faithfulness is being steady, being there, keeping on doing what you know is right, what God has told you.

This Bible passage is about wisdom. The Bible tells us that wisdom is far more worthwhile than the things of the world, like riches, success, fame..

Get each person in the group to take a Bible verse each and write down what wisdom does for a person..

Verse 13

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(ANSWER: Happiness)

Verse 14

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(ANSWER: Worth more than silver or gold)

Verse 15

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(ANSWER: More precious than rubies, worth more than anything else)

Verse 16

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(ANSWER: Long life, riches and honour)

Verse 17

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(ANSWER: Make your life pleasant and bring you peace)

Verse 18

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(ANSWER: Life, having a worthwhile life, happiness)

Go and read 2 Kings 1.7-12. This is the story of Solomon asking God for wisdom..

QUESTION – If God said to you, ask me for whatever you wanted, what would you say? Yeh, it’s cool to joke and have a laugh, but what would you say?

QUESTION – Some people say God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom. It’s kind of true but there’s more to it than that. Read verse 10. Solomon didn’t ask for wisdom (initially) out of selfish motivation? Write down from the Bible – or in your own words – what you think he was saying..

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(ANSWER: He wanted wisdom and knowledge so that he would be able to lead the people in God’s purposes and plan as he knew that no-one could rule them without God’s help).

QUESTION – How would you describe Solomon’s attitude here?

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(ANSWERS: He asked for help. He put God first. He wanted God’s will for him and the people. He humbled himself. He realised that needed God)

QUESTION – What did God promise Solomon as a result of what he said.

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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(ANSWERS: Wisdom. Knowledge. More wealth, riches and honour than any King before or after him)

CHALLENGE – How would you describe your attitude compared to Solomon’s in verse 10? Spend time with God asking him to challenge you by the Holy Spirit and respond to what God says. Make a change in your life and priorities today!