Lesson14 PROVERBS part 2
THE CONTENTMENT OF THE WISE
Read Proverbs 14:30
Proverbs 14:30 (AMP) 30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
Review: There is only one real sin “I” am the center of my life. “I” am number one.
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1.Read Proverbs 23:17a. Considering “sinners” are not just criminals but also the folks next door; how does this verse relate to us today? ______
Proverbs 23:17 (AMP) 17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long.
2. What effect do advertisements play on us? ______
3. A. Read James 3:13-18. A wise man may desire to manifest his gift by teaching; James says to show it by: (vs.13) ______
James 3:13-18 (AMP) 13 who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. 15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). 16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). 18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God's will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
B. What is the source of bitter envy and selfish ambition? (Vs. 14-15) ______
C. What are the effects of envy and strife? (vs. 16) ______
D. What is the “Wisdom from above”? (vs. 17) ______
E. Peace is the opposite of strife; therefore, righteousness has its beginning in peace (not envy and strife). To whom does righteousness appear? (vs. 18)
4.How does envy lead to sin? See:
Genesis 4 ______
Genesis 37:4-28 ______
Numbers 12 ______
5. What was the root cause of the first murder and kidnapping? ______
6. What outward penalty did Miriam receive that represented an inward condition of her heart? ______
7. Is there any warning for us from these examples? Y___ N ___ How/what? ______
8. A. Comment on Proverbs 14:30 ______
Proverbs 14:30 (NASB) 30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.
B. Bones are the framework on which the body hangs. This verse gives the idea of “wood eaten by termites”. In everyday language, what is this verse saying to me? ______
Read Psalm 73 (Modern translation preferably.) Living Bible (TLB)
73How good God is to Israel—to those whose hearts are pure. 2But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping and I was almost gone. 3For I was envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked. 4Yes, all through life their road is smooth! [a] They grow sleek and fat. 5They aren’t always in trouble and plagued with problems like everyone else, 6so their pride sparkles like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty! 7These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8They scoff at God and threaten his people. How proudly they speak! 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut through the earth.
10And so God’s people are dismayed and confused and drink it all in. 11“Does God realize what is going on?” they ask. 12“Look at these men of arrogance; they never have to lift a finger—theirs is a life of ease; and all the time their riches multiply.”
13Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? 14All I get out of it is trouble and woe—every day and all day long! 15If I had really said that, I would have been a traitor to your people. 16Yet it is so hard to explain it—this prosperity of those who hate the Lord. 17Then one day I went into God’s sanctuary to meditate and thought about the future of these evil men. 18What a slippery path they are on—suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their destruction: 19an instant end to all their happiness, an eternity of terror. 20Their present life is only a dream! They will awaken to the truth as one awakens from a dream of things that never really were!
21When I saw this, what turmoil filled my heart! 22I saw myself so stupid and so ignorant; I must seem like an animal to you, OGod. 23But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! 24You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel, and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! [b]25whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you! 26My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!
27But those refusing to worship God will perish, for he destroys those serving other gods.
28But as for me, I get as close to him as I can! I have chosen him, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful ways he rescues me.
9. A. Asaph declared that God was good to Israel – but what about him? (vs. 2) ______
B. What was Asaph’s problem? (vs. 3) ______
C. Name some reasons Asaph was envious. ______
D. What arrogance does the wicked display? (vs. 9) ______
That caused Asaph (and others) to question? (Vs. 10-12) ______
E. What faulty conclusion did Asaph come to? (vs. 13&14) ______
F. In what moral dilemma did Asaph find himself? (Vs. 15-16) ______
G. What happened to “change Asaph’s mind”? (vs. 17) ______
What transpired at that time? (Vs. 18-20) ______
H. What awakened in Asaph’s consciousness? (Vs. 21-22)______
I. What truth did Asaph fall back on? (Vs. 23-26) ______
God is the source of all life, those who stray from Him stray from the source of eternal life. We must abide in Him to live. Envy “rots the bones” – but a heart at peace gives life to the body. (Proverbs 14:30) The greater our nearness to God, the less we are affected by sin (our own or others).
J) What was Asaph’s resolve? (vs. 28) ______
K) How does this lesson apply to me? ______
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