Godly Wisdom – Pt 6
Proverbs 5:1-14 (NLT)
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
7 So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
8 Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!
9 If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
10 Strangers will consume your wealth,
and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish
when disease consumes your body.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers?
Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
and now I must face public disgrace.”
Proverbs 4:6 (NLT)
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
Traps are intentionally hidden by false, hopeful promises of pleasure and peace based on foolish behavior.
HOW TO AVOID THE TRAPS OF SIN:
1. See where traps will lead.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NLT)
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
2. Flee the traps that tempt you the most.
Proverbs 5:15-23 (NLT)
15 Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?
17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?
21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
3. Decide in advance what will guide your life.
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Avoid the traps of foolishness that lead to destruction.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Proverbs 5:1-14. Name some of the traps in this passage and how they translate in today’s world.
▶ Read Proverbs 4:6. Share a story of a time that words of wisdom impacted your life and protected you from harm and destruction.
▶ Read Proverbs 5:21-23. What are some foolish behaviors that can lead people to choose a different path? What are the consequences?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.
What trap are you most prone to step toward? What is one thing you can start today to flee from it? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and guide you in your next step.
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Pray that our desire for God and His Wisdom would continue to grow in us and in our church, and that we would be free from the traps that distract us from doing what God created us to do.