Summit Drive Church

God’s creation is still good. This might seem like a very basic point, but from the beginnings of the early church until today, there are ways of thinking that devalue the material world in favour of the spiritual realm. Through this series, we will be noting some of these tendencies and listening to how the scriptures re-inform our thinking and living to recognize and celebrate the inseparable connections between the physical and spiritual world.

Proverbs observes a grace possessed by the wise: restraint. The wise show emotional, verbal, and opinion restraint to live in harmony with God's good order.

As we dive into what the book of Proverbs says about laziness and why it happens, we look at what it means to live the opposite life: a life of diligence.

When we welcome God’s discipline for ourselves, when we learn appropriate “self-discipline," and when we appropriately discipline our children, ultimately, we are joining in God’s good goal for maturity.

One of the main themes in the book of Proverbs is that wisdom comes by being teachable – being open to advice and correction. Of course, this raises some important questions for all of us: What keeps us from being teachable? What would help us to be more teachable? And who should we listen to?

There is a human tendency to think that we always need just a little bit "more." This week, we look at the first eleven of the "Thirty Sayings of the Wise" (Proverbs 22:22-23:11), a collection of sayings about wisdom and wealth. We look at four wrong approaches us humans take in our pursuit of "more," and we look at a better way forward.

About 25% of the introduction to Proverbs focuses on adultery. It calls us to wisdom in the way we conduct ourselves sexually, but also functions as an allegory for foolishness. Wisdom is seeking a life of value more than a life of pleasure, which means keeping our relational commitments with integrity.

The instructions of the Proverbs begin with a very basic word: listen. Those who live by wisdom are those who have learned to listen well and to listen to the right people. The text of Proverbs 1: 8-19 is framed as a conversation between a father and son, but the meaning is for all of us: learn to resist those who pursue ill-gotten gain by learning to listen to those who speak God’s wisdom. When you do, God makes you attractive to a world in need of true wisdom.

This week, we’ll see from Proverbs 22:29, the goodness of work and how we are called to do that work to the best of our ability. This will lead to serving God in places not normally open to us and give opportunities to influence culture and share the news of Jesus.

God wants us to be wise, and He has given us the Proverbs to help. Wisdom is skill in the art of living and the gateway to wisdom is the fear of the Lord—to revere God's ways above all else.