Introduction

• Proverbs 1:1-4

Make your ear attentive to wisdom

• Proverbs 1:20-22; 2:1-5
• Proverbs 2:11-22 – Wisdom will help us avoid traps.
• Proverbs 3:5-7 – Who is wiser, you or God?
• Proverbs 5:11-12
• Proverbs 6:20-26
• Proverbs 7:24-25 – It comes down to your heart. Watch your heart and attitudes.
• Proverbs 4:7 – The first rule of wisdom: Get it!

If sinners entice you, do not consent.

• Proverbs 7:6-20 – The adulterous woman tries to entice with worldly wisdom.
• Proverbs 1:10

Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

• Proverbs 6:27-35
• Proverbs 8:1
• Proverbs 5:15

… as an ox goes to the slaughter …

• Proverbs 7:21-27 – There’s a big difference between the façade and the reality.
• Proverbs 5:3-11

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians, continued

God authorized churches to provide for needy saints, continued

• Acts 24:17 – Paul carried money from other churches to Jerusalem. He simply acted as the means to transport the money.
• Romans 15:25-27
• I Corinthians 16:1-3 – A voluntary collection of funds was taken on the first day of the week. The amount was “as he may prosper.” Some argue that this passage is only talking about funds for benevolence, not for preaching, but there are several passages that show that a local church can use its money to support preaching the gospel.
• II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
• II Corinthians 9:1 – The money was directed specifically to needy saints.
• I Timothy 5:16, 3-5 – “Honoring” widows can include monetary support. See Matthew 15:4.

Observations

• Churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.
• Individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
• How generous!
  • Acts 11:29
  • Acts 4:34 – These people were selling their own property to give the money to others in need.
• Use wise judgment.
  • II Thessalonians 3:6-12 – Be generous, but also be wary of those who would prey on that generosity.

Introduction

• Job 1:8
• Luke 4:13

Sin tends to get worse until someone intervenes

• II Kings 17:7-13, 22-23
• Jeroboam set up idols in Dan and Bethel
  • I Kings 12:26-30
  • King after king followed these sinful ways. The altars stood for 300 years until Josiah tore them down.
  • Hosea 8:7
  • Strong leadership could have changed things, but none of the kings were willing to do anything.
  • Proverbs 22:6

So take the initiative to be righteous and teach the next generation!

• Judges 2:8-10
• The ugliness of sin
  • Hebrews 10:29
• Physical purity
  • Romans 13:12
• The importance of family
  • Titus 2:3-5

Solomon

• II Samuel 12:24 – First mention of Solomon.
• II Samuel 3:2-5 – Sons born to David.
• II Chronicles 2:5 – God is the one who chose Solomon to succeed David as king.
• I Kings 1:5-6 – David never rebuked Adonijah for attempting to usurp the throne.
• I Kings 3:10-14 – Solomon asks for wisdom from God. Solomon’s annual income in gold alone was 25 tons, worth about $1.2 billion in today’s money. Solomon’s net worth was estimated at about $2.1 trillion.
• I Kings 10:23
• I Kings 10:6-9 – The report of the queen of Sheba.
• I Kings 9:4-9 – God’s warning to Solomon if he departs from God’s commandments.
• Proverbs 22:6 – Is this 100% foolproof? No, it is a general guideline.
• Proverbs 4:20-27
• Proverbs 10:16
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
• Proverbs 11:6-10 – Activities of the righteous vs. wicked.
• Proverbs 5:1-6 – Warnings about forbidden women (adultery, etc.).

“He only is my rock and salvation.” (Psalms 62:1-8)

• Daniel 4:28-33 – Shouldn’t we learn the same lesson of humility that Nebuchadnezzar did? Proverbs 3:5
• I Timothy 6:17 – Riches are uncertain.
• Nothing on earth is secure like God is!
• Psalms 62:3-4 – David had enemies all around.
  • John 16:33
• Psalms 62:8 – See I Peter 5:7.

“You recompense a man according to his work.” (Psalms 62:9-12)

• Proverbs 1:10-19 – Do not go in the way with the evil man.
• Psalms 62:11-12 – God will make things right in the end!
• Do I ever stop and take a good look at my life?
  • Mark 9:20-24 – “Help me with my unbelief!”