The Bible Speaks - Walk with the Wise: A study of the book of Proverbs

[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily

[00:00:44] podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word

[00:00:50] of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at

[00:00:57] the address given at the end of the broadcast. And now here's Elgin.

[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to another edition of The Bible Speaks, where we explore timeless wisdom from Scripture and how it applies to our lives every day. This week we will be studying the book of Proverbs in a series titled Walk with the Wise, a study in the book of Proverbs.

[00:01:39] Proverbs 13 and 20 reading from the New International Version reads, Walk with the Wise and Become Wise, for a Companion of Fools Suffer Harm. That's our call this week, to walk alongside the wisdom that God has given us through the book of Proverbs, gaining insights that

[00:02:00] that can shape our lives, decisions, and purpose. The book of Proverbs, written primarily by King Solomon, is a guide for living a life that honors God and fulfills the purpose he has for us. Solomon, known as the wisest man in history, shares principles that cover every area of life, whether it is relationships, work, speech, and even the condition of our hearts.

[00:02:29] But at its core, Proverbs is about living wisely so that we can do God's work and bring him glory.

[00:02:39] So this week, we'll unpack the primary thought that Proverbs is not just a collection of wise sayings, but a God-given blueprint for living a purposeful and impactful life.

[00:02:53] Our journey begins with understanding the foundation of wisdom.

[00:02:58] Proverbs 1 and 7 declares,

[00:03:02] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[00:03:09] To walk wisely, we must first recognize that true wisdom comes from God.

[00:03:16] Honoring God as the source of all wisdom means acknowledging his authority and seeking his guidance in everything we do.

[00:03:25] Living with reverence for God opens the doors to understanding and discernment.

[00:03:30] When we put God first, our hearts become fertile grounds for the seed of wisdom to grow.

[00:03:38] Proverbs has a lot to say about living righteously and steering clear of foolish behavior.

[00:03:45] Proverbs 4 and 23 says,

[00:03:48] Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

[00:03:55] Righteous living is about protecting the condition of our hearts,

[00:03:59] making decisions that reflect God's character,

[00:04:02] and avoiding actions that lead to sin or destruction.

[00:04:06] So this week, we'll dive into how Proverbs guides us to live upright lives,

[00:04:12] avoiding the traps of foolishness that can derail our purposes.

[00:04:17] Foolishness in the context of Proverbs isn't just about making mistakes.

[00:04:21] It's about living in a way that ignores God's wisdom.

[00:04:27] We'll discuss practical ways to guard our hearts and make choices that honor God.

[00:04:34] One of the most practical areas Proverbs addresses is our speech.

[00:04:39] Proverbs 18 and 21 states,

[00:04:43] The tongue has the power of life and death,

[00:04:46] and those who love it will eat its fruit.

[00:04:49] Our words have immense power to build up or tear down.

[00:04:54] So we'll explore how to use our speech to bring life,

[00:04:59] encouragement, and truth to those around us.

[00:05:02] Speaking wisely is not just about avoiding harmful words.

[00:05:06] It's about using our voice to uplift,

[00:05:09] heal, and point people to God.

[00:05:13] We'll look at practical ways to harness the power of our words,

[00:05:17] and how speaking truthfully reflects our commitment to God's wisdom.

[00:05:22] Another key theme in Proverbs is the importance of diligence.

[00:05:28] Proverbs 6 verses 6 through 8 offers this vivid image.

[00:05:33] Go to the ant, you sluggard.

[00:05:36] Consider its ways and be wise.

[00:05:39] It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

[00:05:43] yet it stores its provision in summer

[00:05:45] and gather its food at the harvest.

[00:05:49] God's work requires us to be diligent, proactive,

[00:05:53] and responsible with the resources and opportunities he gives us.

[00:05:59] So we will also discuss how diligence honors God

[00:06:02] and how laziness can prevent us from fulfilling our purpose.

[00:06:07] We'll explore practical steps to cultivate a strong ethic

[00:06:11] that reflects God's design for our lives.

[00:06:16] Finally, Proverbs emphasizes the value of seeking wise counsel

[00:06:22] and trusting God's direction.

[00:06:25] Proverbs 3 verses 5 through 6 reminds us,

[00:06:28] Trust in the Lord with all your heart

[00:06:31] and lean not to your own understanding.

[00:06:35] In all your ways submit to him

[00:06:37] and he will make your path straight.

[00:06:41] We're not meant to navigate life on our own.

[00:06:45] Proverbs encourages us to seek the advice of godly mentors

[00:06:49] and to trust God to guide our steps.

[00:06:52] So this week we will also explore the importance of community,

[00:06:57] mentorship, and learning from those who walk with wisdom.

[00:07:02] We'll also discuss how surrendering ourselves

[00:07:06] to God's understanding will bring clarity and direction.

[00:07:11] By following the principles of Proverbs,

[00:07:14] we can live lives that bring glory to God

[00:07:17] and impact those around us.

[00:07:20] Wisdom is not just about making smart choices.

[00:07:23] It's about aligning our lives with God's purpose

[00:07:26] and reflecting his character in all that we do.

[00:07:29] So, brothers and sisters,

[00:07:32] I thank you for joining me as we kick off the series,

[00:07:36] Walk with the Wise,

[00:07:39] and we will unpack the powerful insights

[00:07:42] and practical steps to help us live wisely.

[00:07:46] If you're ready to dive deeper into the wisdom of Proverbs,

[00:07:50] be sure to tune in each day

[00:07:52] as we explore how to honor God,

[00:07:54] live righteously,

[00:07:56] speak truthfully,

[00:07:57] work diligently,

[00:07:59] and seek wise counsel.

[00:08:02] I thank you for spending time with me on today,

[00:08:05] and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.

[00:08:09] Until then,

[00:08:10] God bless.

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