Pride is often the hidden sin, one that is a little more acceptable for Christians to carry around in their luggage. Pride grows because we crave independence and self-sufficiency, yet we are called to depend on God in humility. Through hard conversations and honest prayer, we can set down the baggage of pride and find freedom.

We are not meant to carry the weight of bitterness and anger, but we can trade them for freedom and peace. Jesus offers us peace in exchange for the bitterness we can experience in life. Identify a person who has hurt you and set down the baggage of bitterness by making the decision to forgive.

Once we allow Jesus to heal our brokenness, we are empowered to follow his footsteps and act as a neighbor to the broken people around us. By following Jesus, we actively choose to imitate the Good Samaritan rather than the religious leaders: we help the hurting even if they hate us.

Even in the familiar stories of Jesus, we can find new truths and applications for our lives. As God in the flesh, Jesus is like the Samaritan neighbor to broken humanity, and he cares for us until we are made well. Before we can hope to apply any lesson from the parable of the good Samaritan, we must allow Jesus to heal our brokenness.

Following the way of God is living in wisdom, it's being willing to see life differently than the world around us. It's doing relationships and finances God's way. How do we know that way? How do we find direction? It all centers around where we put our trust. Do I trust God with everything?

How we handle our money matters. There is much wisdom shared throughout Scripture about this very important personal issue, including in Proverbs. How do we become more skilled at living as it relates to money? What kinds of attitudes is God looking for from his followers?

The wise person is active, industrious, and productive. As people of wisdom, we should avoid laziness, for it may very well lead to our demise. We are called to be active followers of Jesus, both physically and spiritually. If not careful, our lives can quickly become full of weeds and disrepair.

Our friendships matter for many reasons. Good friends build us up, encourage and stay with us when life is hard. Throughout Proverbs, there are many life principles shared about our friendships. Where are you going in life and who is going with you? Wisdom is contagious and walking with wise people matters!

God has a special place in his heart for the poor and needy. As people of wisdom, we should promote justice in our society and help those who are on the outside, the hurting and broken. But how do we do that? There are so many needs! Maybe it starts with a simple question.

The feeling of being lost is uneasy and scary. How do we truly know the way in life? Our options are seemingly unlimited. Our culture's values are constantly changing. God has a way shared through the wisdom and instruction of Proverbs. It might not be easy or comfortable but it is the way that helps point our lives in the right direction.