Wise Words: Week 1

Where do we get our understanding of right and wrong?  Where do we seek the answers to questions like "How is life supposed to work?"  We all follow the lead of someone or something in life...This someone or something defines our understanding of right and wrong, how we are to go about living each day, and what gives us purpose- all of which stem from "Wisdom". 
What I have found (and what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 1) is that what we fear most is what carries the loudest voice in our lives.  When I talk about "fear," I'm not talk about fear of heights or snakes....however, a deeper fear behind those phobias could be a fear of death...the unknown, etc. 
Here is what I mean, oftentimes as kids, we "fear" our parents most (for defining purposes, when I say "fear" I mean a healthy respect for, and a big picture view of).  So as kids our definition of what is right and wrong tends to be what mom and dad say.  What we do and don't do, stems from what they desire for us. 
As kids grow into teens, mom and dad can be replaced by anything...culture, friends, media, etc...We find our wisdom...our understanding in life, from what we fear most.

Here is why this is so important...Solomon, in Proverbs 1:7, says "The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

From this verse, we can conclude that until God because more than a thought...more than something we do on Sunday nights...more than someone who we talk to before lunch...until our view of God becomes so grand and our relationship with Jesus so intense and personal...our WISDOM...the way we see the world...the way we react to the world around us, it won't be grounded in who God is...a healthy fear of Him.

Use these questions to help guide you this week as you think about Godly wisdom in your life.

1. What do you "fear" the most in life?  Do you find that this thing/person guides how you approach life?
- What defines right and wrong for you?
-What gives purpose to your life?
2. Read 1 Kings 3: 3-14
- What does it seem Solomon FEARS most? This new kingship, his job responsibilities, or his desire to serve God?
3. Read Proverbs 1:1-7
- Why is it so important for students to gain their understanding of wisdom from God right now as teens, and not later on in life?
4. What area of your life do you need Godly wisdom the most?  (Relationships, Friendships, Use of Time, etc...?)
5. What happens after we have made bad choices in life?  Is wisdom learning from our mistakes or just knowing right from wrong?  Explain.

Join us Thursday at 7pm and Matt & Amanda's as we dive deeper into this idea of Wisdom!