Anderson Hills

God created us for fellowship with Him and with others. We need each other to care for, grow, learn, and love. God uses friendship as an instrument of sanctification, so it is important for Christians to carefully choose their friends. Friendship is powerful for wisdom, and our choice of friends will shape our character. Wise relationships are marked by honest discussion and dialogue. You need a friend who is willing to lovingly tell you what you may not want to, but yet need to hear. Wise relationships are marked by dependability. There is nothing more deflating than counting on someone to be there for you and they are a no-show. Wise relationships are marked by making one another stronger. We are told in Proverbs to sharpen one another. Giving and receiving wise counsel makes us stronger.

God created us for fellowship with Him and with others. We need each other to care for, grow, learn, and love. God uses friendship as an instrument of sanctification, so it is important for Christians to carefully choose their friends. Friendship is powerful for wisdom, and our choice of friends will shape our character. Wise relationships are marked by honest discussion and dialogue. You need a friend who is willing to lovingly tell you what you may not want to, but yet need to hear. Wise relationships are marked by dependability. There is nothing more deflating than counting on someone to be there for you and they are a no-show. Wise relationships are marked by making one another stronger. We are told in Proverbs to sharpen one another. Giving and receiving wise counsel makes us stronger.

The biggest blessing parents can give their children is to live a righteous life of integrity before God. While Proverbs tells parents that they are to direct their children on the right path so that when they are older, they will not leave it, all adults have a role to play in this. You can’t pass on what you don’t possess, and you can’t cultivate in them what hasn’t yet captivated you. Children are blessed when adults show them what authentic faith in Jesus actually looks like in daily life. Parents have the primary role of teaching or disciplining their children in godliness. This is done in the context of a loving relationship where they support, encourage, and play with their kids, and when needed, they lovingly correct them. As with God, correcting and disciplining children is a mark of love.

The biggest blessing parents can give their children is to live a righteous life of integrity before God. While Proverbs tells parents that they are to direct their children on the right path so that when they are older, they will not leave it, all adults have a role to play in this. You can’t pass on what you don’t possess, and you can’t cultivate in them what hasn’t yet captivated you. Children are blessed when adults show them what authentic faith in Jesus actually looks like in daily life. Parents have the primary role of teaching or disciplining their children in godliness. This is done in the context of a loving relationship where they support, encourage, and play with their kids, and when needed, they lovingly correct them. As with God, correcting and disciplining children is a mark of love.

Marriage is a sweet and precious gift from God and He desires righteousness within the marriage relationship. God wants His people to delight themselves in their spouses. In Proverbs, you’ll find that the key to protecting a marriage is to cultivate contentment and rejoice in the good gift given by God’s hand. Pursuing a healthy marriage is profoundly simple, yet excruciatingly hard. Proverbs tells us that a healthy marriage is oneness. God desires a husband and wife to be one, and the fruit of oneness is contentment. Peace is also important for a healthy marriage. In marriage, the lack of peace is never one-sided and is unpleasant for both parties. The world needs godly marriages. Through marriage, we have a great opportunity to display God’s wisdom to the world.

Marriage is a sweet and precious gift from God and He desires righteousness within the marriage relationship. God wants His people to delight themselves in their spouses. In Proverbs, you’ll find that the key to protecting a marriage is to cultivate contentment and rejoice in the good gift given by God’s hand. Pursuing a healthy marriage is profoundly simple, yet excruciatingly hard. Proverbs tells us that a healthy marriage is oneness. God desires a husband and wife to be one, and the fruit of oneness is contentment. Peace is also important for a healthy marriage. In marriage, the lack of peace is never one-sided and is unpleasant for both parties. The world needs godly marriages. Through marriage, we have a great opportunity to display God’s wisdom to the world.

Proverbs teaches that the “fear of the Lord” is the gateway and the pathway of wisdom that impacts all of our relationships. The “fear of the Lord” is an inward condition of reverent awe that affects the way we live and has practical implications for our lives. The fear of the Lord is the basis for a right relationship with God. As His children, we must listen to Him, receive His word and treasure Him. We must revere Him, humbling ourselves before the Lord, because we know His purposes toward us are good. We must call out to Him, seek and search for Him. As we do this, we will understand the “fear of the Lord” because we will begin to see as He really is. And when we live in a way that is pleasing to God, we find the life we truly want.

Proverbs teaches that the “fear of the Lord” is the gateway and the pathway of wisdom that impacts all of our relationships. The “fear of the Lord” is an inward condition of reverent awe that affects the way we live and has practical implications for our lives. The fear of the Lord is the basis for a right relationship with God. As His children, we must listen to Him, receive His word and treasure Him. We must revere Him, humbling ourselves before the Lord, because we know His purposes toward us are good. We must call out to Him, seek and search for Him. As we do this, we will understand the “fear of the Lord” because we will begin to see as He really is. And when we live in a way that is pleasing to God, we find the life we truly want.

An essential and constant characteristic of an authentic spiritual awakening is an exciting realization of unity—we are all one in Christ. Jesus’ last prayer to the Father ended with asking for His followers to be of one mind and heart, to live in complete unity so that the world would see and notice and be attracted to their unconditional love. The apostle Paul both convicted and encouraged the churches regarding the importance of living in harmony with each other. He declared that God’s people should be speaking with one voice in glorifying God. Christians bring honor to God’s name by pursuing unity in the power of the Holy Spirit who brings us together through faith in Christ. A unified body provides the proper kindling for stoking the fire of revival.

An essential and constant characteristic of an authentic spiritual awakening is an exciting realization of unity—we are all one in Christ. Jesus’ last prayer to the Father ended with asking for His followers to be of one mind and heart, to live in complete unity so that the world would see and notice and be attracted to their unconditional love. The apostle Paul both convicted and encouraged the churches regarding the importance of living in harmony with each other. He declared that God’s people should be speaking with one voice in glorifying God. Christians bring honor to God’s name by pursuing unity in the power of the Holy Spirit who brings us together through faith in Christ. A unified body provides the proper kindling for stoking the fire of revival.