Unit 11 Notes: TEENAGERS and PROVERBS

GOD’S WISDOM FOUND IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

Bible: Old Testament

The first seven chapters of Proverbs record a wise father giving practical advice to his son. Many of the issues discussed in these chapters are things that will confront you as a teenager.

Do youlack a hunger for wisdom or correction?

Proverbs emphasizes the value of wisdom and the importance of correction. The father in Proverbs essentially says to his son, “Whatever you get in life, get wisdom! It is more valuable than you will ever know.” The importance of listening and submitting to correction is similarly emphasized. Proverbs goes so far as to say, “He that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).

Do you have atendency toward legalism?

Proverbs doesn’t give us an encyclopedia of do and don’ts, or rights and wrongs. What Proverbs give us is two worldviews, wisdom and foolishness. Here we find two ways of living: the way of the wise that gets its direction from the truth of God, and the way of the fool that gets its direction from human perspective and desire. God is looking for more than outward behavior. We cannot and we must not reduce godly living to a set of rules. Godliness is humble, thankful worship that causes us to desire what God says is valuable and to do what God says will bring Him glory.

Human legalism leads to human self-righteousness. Human self-righteousness denies the need for the saving, enabling grace of Christ. Human righteousness embraces the cruelest of Satan’s lies, that a person can be righteous by keeping the law. If that were true, there would not have been the need for the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Are you unwise in your choice of companions?

There is a great deal of material in Proverbs about friendship and the influence that others have on you and your behavior. Friendship is very important. A person is known by the company he keeps. It is impossible to be uninfluenced by one’s friends. As a teenager you need to learn the skill of wisely choosing friends. Examine your thoughts, desires, motives, choices, and behaviors with respect to friendship.

Do you struggle with sexual temptation? (read Proverbs 6:20-33; 7:21-27; also I Corinthians 6:15-20)

The father in Proverbs has much to say about sexual temptation. There is an explosion of sexual awareness and sexual temptation in the teen years. It is a time when many teens fall into sexual sin that alters the course of their lives. A secret pattern of sexual sin can keep you in bondage for years.

Are you present-focused?

Many teenagers are shockingly present-focused. You may live as if the present moment is the only moment of your life. The culture around you reinforces the falsehood that life is found in present, earthly, physical treasure, and that the successful person is the one with the biggest pile. Society tells you, “You are the labels (name-brands) that you wear. You are your body size. You are your intelligence. You are your athletic ability. You are the car you drive. You are the house you live in. You are the level of popularity that you have.” We need to learn to look at the long view of life, from the perspective of eternity. Then we will better understand what really matters and is important.

Do you lack of heart awareness?

Right in the middle of the Proverbs father’s instruction of his son is this warning: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart” (Proverbs 4:20-21). He is saying, “Son, listen carefully. What I have to say to you is very important. Don’t ignore these words.” Then he says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). In other words, “Of all that I have said, Son, focus on your heart. Know it. Protect it. Guard it. Your heart is the control center of your life. What rules your heart will rule you.”