Wisdom In Relationships
Opening Prayer
Father God, You’ve graciously given me many rewarding relationships and I’m very grateful for each and every one.
Read Proverbs 2:1-22
[1] My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, [2] turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding- [3] indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, [4] and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, [5] then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. [6] For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. [7] He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, [8] for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. [9] Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. [10] For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. [11] Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. [12] Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, [13] who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, [14] who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, [15] whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. [16] Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, [17] who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. [18] Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. [19] None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. [20] Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. [21] For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; [22] but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What benefits of following God's wisdom are given here?Sex is the great obsession of our age. It’s featured in TV programs, films, advertising, magazines, and the internet. It’s an ever-present temptation. Sex is, of course, a good and wonderful part of God’s creation. Solomon understood the link between sex and wisdom. If we have God’s wisdom and see things from his perspective we shall understand the proper role of sex. Wisdom will preserve us from inappropriate relationships. These can seem superficially attractive for all sorts of reasons: mutual attraction, a sense of excitement, boredom with our partner, longing for a relationship, and loneliness–but they’re just not worth it. Note how strong the language is (18,19). Death is the outcome because such behavior ultimately takes us away from God who is the source of life. Thankfully there is, in Jesus, always a way back, but Solomon warns us strongly not to get involved. Appropriate sex takes place in the context of a covenant (17), a binding and mutual commitment, entered into before God and the wider community. Proverbs has plenty to say about wrong or dysfunctional relationships, but it also has plenty to say about the joy of a good marriage (5:18; 18:22; 19:14).
Apply
Pray for all those who face the destructive pressure of sexual temptation, that they may know and follow God’s wisdom.
Closing prayer
Lord God, may I live appropriately, wisely and lovingly in all my relationships so that they please and glorify You.
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