INTERACTIVE TEACHING/LEARNING GUIDE
Push the Limits-Live What You Believe – Week 3
A Study of the Book of James
Session Title: Seeking Wisdom
Focal Passage:James 1:5-8
Central Teaching/Learning Aim: Learners will discover the meaning of wisdom, how God gives wisdom and what qualities should be employed in asking for wisdom.
- Hook
- Ask your class to quote some of the wise sayings of Benjamin Franklin. These quotes might include:
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
- “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
- “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
Share the following article from the online money magazine, Saving Advice:
10 Money Lessons from Benjamin Franklin
Long before the financial gurus with their TV shows and personal finance books to sell were around, Benjamin Franklin was giving down-to-earth, sound money advice to anyone who would listen. The advice was so sound that it’s still relevant and applicable to this day. Here are ten money lessons from Ben Franklin that you would be wise to follow:
“A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned”
This is one of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous quotes, and it’s still one of the most useful for modern society. The adage states that saving money is the most important factor in financial stability and building wealth. Benjamin Franklin knew what he was talking about when it came to saving money, as he was able to put enough aside to retire fairly early.
“If You Do Not Exceed In Quantity As You Lessen the Times, Half Your Expense in These Articles Will Be Saved”
This lesson goes hand in hand with the first lesson. If saving is the most important way to build financial stability, then it’s equally important to learn how to save. In this quote from “Plan for Saving One Hundred Thousand Pounds,” he suggests splitting monthly expenses in half. One half is allocated toward necessary amenities such as rent or food, and the other half on superfluous things like entertainment or luxuries. He goes on to say that buying used items, or limiting the amount you spend on entertainment can help you save money.
“Don’t Give Too Much For the Whistle”
This quote comes from a story that happened during Benjamin Franklin’s childhood. When he was seven, he saw another boy blowing a whistle and wanted the toy for himself. He offered the other boy all his money in exchange for the whistle. He later learned that he had paid more than four times what the whistle was actually worth. He learned an important lesson that many people still need to learn: don’t overpay for items.
“Rather Go To Bed without Dinner than To Rise in Debt”
This lesson cautions people against living beyond their means. This is an important thing to learn as many people in today’s society often fall into debt because they spend money they don’t have in order to life a lifestyle they can’t afford. Living with debt severely impacts your lifestyle and you should do everything you can to prevent it. Readjust your lifestyle if it means you won’t succumb to debt.
“Think What You Do When You Run In Debt: You Give To Another Power Over Your Liberty”
We all know that debt is an awful, stressful experience. As the previous two items on the list suggest, it’s important to not overspend on items so you don’t go into debt. As Benjamin Franklin says in this quote: when you go into debt, you’re giving up your freedom. When you’re so far in debt, your life choices start revolving around paying off that debt. Your first priority is the debt, and everything else is secondary.
“He That Is Of the Opinion Money Will Do Everything May Well Be Suspected Of Doing Everything for Money”
Benjamin Franklin cautioned people against letting money control them. Everyone wants to be financially stable and wants to make enough to buy the things they desire, and it’s easy to convince yourself that your life will be better with more money. But be careful that you don’t let your greed for money control your life. Some people will go out of their way and do risky things for money, sometimes ending up in debt or bankruptcy. Don’t let money control your life.
“Buy What Thou Hast No Need Of, and Before Long Thou Shalt Sell Thy Necessaries”
Because we live in a society that runs on consumerism and capitalism, people tend to over buy. One of Benjamin Franklin’s best money lessons is admonishing people for consistently buying items they don’t need and can’t afford. We’re all guilty of buying items we never end up using. If you’re looking to save money, consider whether or not you actually need the item you’re thinking of purchasing. Are you only buying it because it’s there in front of you, on sale, or convincingly advertised?
“The Eyes Of Other People Are The Eyes That Ruin Us. If All But Myself Were Blind I Should Want Neither Fine Clothes, Fine Houses Nor Fine Furniture”
A lot of people try to live beyond their means or compare themselves with neighbors, colleagues, friends, or strangers. If someone has a luxury car or designer clothes, they suddenly want it too, even if they can’t afford it. But why worry over these status symbols? If you can afford to buy them – great! If not, stop comparing yourself to other people and focus on buying what you can afford.
“Never Keep Borrowed Money an Hour Beyond The Time You Promised”
This is another great lesson on how to avoid debt and save money. The longer you have loans or credit card debt, the more money you’ll end up paying in interest. This lesson is also useful for those times when you borrow money from a friend or family member. Paying it back in a timely manner is not only polite, but it means they’ll be more likely to lend you money again.
“Gain May Be Temporary and Uncertain, but Ever While You Live, Expense Is Constant And Certain”
This quote is especially relevant in today’s economy. Your financial stability might be secure one day and ruined the next. You never know when you could lose a job or suddenly win a million dollar jackpot. No matter what your current financial situation is, you know that you’ll always have expenses to pay and you should factor that into your daily life regardless of your personal wealth.
Danielle Warchol, “10 Money Lessons from Benjamin Franklin,” Saving Advice May 10, 2012.
Ask – Would you say that these 10 lessons are “wise counsel?” What is it that makes them “wise?” How do you define “wisdom?”
State – In our Bible study today we will talk about the importance of seeking wisdom.
- Optional Method – Animaniacs: Wally Llama
Location:
Length: 5.22
Synopsis: The Warner’s travel to the Himalayas to visit the great and wise Wally Llama to ask him a very important question.
State – I imagine that you have some very important questions facing you. They are probably much more significant than how buns and wieners are packaged. What difficult life questions face you today?
Ask – Who do you search out when you need wise counsel?
State – In our lesson today James says that if we lack wisdom that we should ask God.
- Optional Method – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Start: 1:10:20
Stop: 1:13:20
Synopsis: Most of your class members will be familiar with the plot of The Empire Strikes Back. It is a dark time for the Rebellion. After a devastating attack on their ice base on the frozen planet of Hoth, the Rebels are scattered by Imperial pursuit. Luke Skywalker seeks out the mysterious Jedi Master, Yoda, in the swamps of Degobah, while Han Solo and Princess Leia outrun the Imperial fleet to the beautiful Cloud City of Bespin.
In this scene Luke’s fighter has just sunk in the swamps of Degobah. Yoda has encouraged Luke to recover the craft, but Luke fails.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 20th Century Fox Productions, Directed by Irvin Kershner, Produced by Gary Kurtz, 1980.
Ask – According to Yoda, why did Luke fail to recover his fighter? In what should Luke have believed? The Force? His own ability to extract the fighter from the swamp? Something else?
State – In our Bible study today James says that we God wants to give with great generosity, but we should not be surprised that we don’t receive whe we fail to believe in Him.
- Optional Method – Let’s Make a Deal
Location:
Length: 20 seconds
State – In my wallet today I have some money. There may be $100 or $500 or it could be that there is $1 or less. I’m going to select one of you at random to see if you are willing to trade me the money you have in your wallet for the money I have in my wallet.
Select a member of the class and ask – Would you be willing to trade with me? Continue until you find someone who will make the deal.
State – Francis Chan says that in the Old Testament the Israelites continually tried to make this kind of deal. They knew God and what he had done for them but they were looking for opportunities for more, so they saw people worshipping other gods and would go after the other gods thinking that they offered more. That same sin is true for us today. We are looking for a god that will offer us more pleasure or fun and we abandon the God who loves us to chase after something else. In our Bible lesson today James says that believers who sin are double minded and unstable.
- Book
- Write the following outline on the marker board:
Seeking Wisdom
What is the meaning of wisdom? (James 1:5)
How does the Giver of wisdom give? (James 1:5)
How should the seeker of wisdom ask? (James 1:6-8)
- Utilize the discussion guide to examine the Scripture passages.
- Look
- Locatethe Seeking Wisdom group projects handout. Divide your class into two groups and allow time for groups to complete their work. Debrief.
- Took
- Sharethe following story with your class:
In the 19th century there was an acrobat named Charles Bolndin. Blondin stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls. The rope was longer than four football fields and was 160 feet above the raging waters below.
A great host of over 100,000 people crowded around the tightrope and watched as Blondin made his first trip across. Over the period of several days Blondin made several round-trips over the Falls. He accomplished the feat blindfolded. He traversed the falls on stilts. Once he stopped in the middle of the rope to cook and eat an omelet.
Blondin once pushed a wheelbarrow from one side of the falls to the other. When he reached the crowd on the other side of the falls he raised his hands to the applauding crowd; “I am Blondin. Do you believe in me?”
The people chanted “We believe! We believe!”
“Do you believe that I can push this wheelbarrow across the rope with someone in it?”
“We believe! We believe!” the people chanted.
When Blondin asked “Who will volunteer?” the crowd fell silent. Legend has it that finally someone came forward and Blondin successfully pushed the wheelbarrow with the person in it to the other side of Niagara Falls and back again.
Let me pose two questions:
- First, is the tightrope walker trustworthy? Has he proved that he can be believed?
- Who in this account really believed? Was it the crowd who loudly professed their belief or was it the person who got into the wheelbarrow?
Ask – How often do you pray? When you pray do you believe or are you double minded? What are some evidences of your double-minded attitude? Is God inviting you to get into the wheel barrow right now? How will you respond?
Close in prayer, asking that God increase our faith.
- Optional Method – Let’s Make a Deal
Remind your class of the “Let’s Make a Deal” activity from the beginning of the session.
Ask – Are you double minded? What is the “pet sin” that you commit over and over again? Would you agree that the struggle between that sin and your desire to live a godly life cause you to be driven like a wave on the sea?
Paul encourages us to get rid of the sin. He says:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Close in prayer, asking God to give us wisdom. Tell God of your belief and ask Him to help you with your unbelief.
- Optional Method – Andrea Gail and “The Perfect Storm”
Start: 1:51:22
Stop: 1:54:00
DVD Scene 34
Synopsis: The Andrea Gail was a 57.9 foot commercial fishing vessel based in Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts. She began her final voyage on September 20, 1991, bound for the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland. After a period of poor fishing there her Captain, Frank W. “Billy” Tyne, turned the Andrea Gail east to the Flemish Cap where he believed they would have better luck.
Despite reports of dangerous weather conditions the captain turned his craft toward home on October 26/27, 1991. She encountered the rough weather and reported 30-foot waves and wind gusts up to 93 miles per hour. The Andrea Gail was lost at sea with all hands in The Perfect Storm of 1991.
The story of the Andrea Gail was the basis for Sebastian Junger’s book, The Perfect Storm in 1997 and the motion picture by the same name in 2000.
James says that a person who doubts is like the waves of The Perfect Storm – one minute they are praising God and the next they doubt His existence. These people go to church to sing and worship. They are at the peak of the wave.
Later, they are confronted by that temptation to which they have given in so many times and they choose to sin. The sin plunges them into the depths of doubt and despair. James says this kind of person “is unstable in all his ways.”
Paul encourages us to get rid of the sin. He says:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Ask – What is that sin in your life that causes you to be like a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind? Do you want to be free of it? James says “ask God.”
Close in prayer, asking God to give us wisdom. Tell God of your belief and ask Him to help you with your unbelief.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Teacher Copy
- In James 1, what word connects verses 4 and 5? What does this tell us about the relationship between wisdom and being a person who is “mature and complete?” (James 1:4-5)
[The word connecting verses 4 and 5 is “lack” or “lacking.” The result of perseverance in the life of a believer is to be “mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James says in verse 5 that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it.]
- According to James, how does God respond when we ask for wisdom? (James 1:5)
[When we ask God for wisdom He gives generously.]
- When have you asked God for wisdom? Did you find Him to be generous?
- For what world problems do we need to seek God’s wisdom?
- What conditions did James put on his instructions regarding prayer for wisdom? (James 1:6)
[James says that the person who prays for wisdom must believe and not doubt.]
- How does James describe a person who doubts? (James 1:7)
[James says that a person who doubts “is like a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”]
- How does doubt affect a person’s prayer? (James 1:7)
[A doubter should not expect to receive anything from God.]
- What does it mean to be a “double-minded person?” How can we avoid being “double-minded?”
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Student Copy
- In James 1, what word connects verses 4 and 5? What does this tell us about the relationship between wisdom and being a person who is “mature and complete?” (James 1:4-5)
- According to James, how does God respond when we ask for wisdom? (James 1:5)
- When have you asked God for wisdom? Did you find Him to be generous?
- For what world problems do we need to seek God’s wisdom?
- What conditions did James put on his instructions regarding prayer for wisdom? (James 1:6)
- How does James describe a person who doubts? (James 1:7)
- How does doubt affect a person’s prayer? (James 1:7)
- What does it mean to be a “double-minded person?” How can we avoid being “double-minded?”
Seeking Wisdom