Iron sharpening iron

[2Timothy2]

Let's get together and discuss the book of Proverbs. As it says in chapter 27 verse 17 "Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Let this passage be our introduction, as it introduces the whole book and the reasons and benifits of the book of Proverbs.

[bible]Proverbs 1:1-7[/bible]

Quote a passage and give a few words, if you'd like, in way of explanation.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Amen. Sounds like a plan.

In listing the benefits of the book of Proverbs, God sets our priorities-the things He wants us to seek each day. But sometimes when we begin our days, we think of what to eat, what to wear, what to accomplish during our workday to move ahead, but it might be beneficial to stop and think, "What will increse my wisdom today? What will increase my knowledge?" Sometimes it's easy to focus on temporary priorities rather than investing in the kingdom of heaven.

 

[heartnsoul]

How true that proverb is. As I get older, I realize the value of seeking wisdom to avoid learning things the hard way. In my younger years, I just lived my life my own way and tried to be a good person. Now (at age 40), I realize that I could have saved myself a lot of heartaches and grief if I had only trusted in God and let God lead my life. But thank goodness, God is gracious and he has blessed me over and over again and even though I may have shut God out of my life, I always gave him thanks to all the blessings I received.

Recently, the past few months, God has shown himself to me so many times when I was in emotional pain, and I am convinced without a shadow of the doubt that He is near me always. God is awesome and I know NOW that God was always there all along. It was me who shut him out. Now I talk to Him everyday (pray everyday) and I choose to walk & talk with Him everyday. When I ask for wisdom or if someone gives me words of wisdom, I follow the wisdom way. Even if I may not 100% understand the significance of the words of wisdom, I still follow it because I know now that God is with me.

Amen!

 

[caitlincares]

[bible]Proverbs 2:5-6[/bible]
[bible]Proverbs 2:10-11[/bible]

It is so awesome that it is so simple...
All we have to do is seek the knowledge of the Lord
thru Him we have all the discretion and wisdom we need.

 

[Serenity Now!]

"Remember the Lord in everything you do and he will show you the right way."
Proverbs 3:6

I love this verse. I'm having such a difficult time, and I don't want the devil to take advantage of my emotions and get me saying something or acting out in a way I shouldn't. I will remember the Lord in every situation so he will show me the correct way to respond.

"Your reward depends on what you say and what you do; you will get what you deserve."
Proverbs 12:14

Again, I need to watch my actions and words. Also, I take comfort that a thorn in my heal will get what she deserves because of her behavoir. Although, I do not want her to recieve the wrath of God. I pray she repents.

"IF you repay good with evil, you will never get evil out of your house."
Proverbs 17:13

The most important verse in checking myself in my words and reactions to difficult situations where I feel like I am being attacked.

God is with me, he will guide my ways and help me with my reactions! God is good!

 

[nhzname]

~ Proverbs 3:5 ~ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Trust has been such a hard thing for me, but I have learned, and continue to learn that God is faithful and true. As I grow in Him, I realize that even though I don't always understand how He's working in my life, He always brings me through every circumstance stronger and closer to Him. Bless His name.

 

[2Timothy2]

Proverbs 4:5, 7-8

Get wisdom, tet understanding; forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth...Wisdom is the principal thing; therfore, get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee, she shall bring thee to honor when thou dost enbrace her.


I believe this can be directly contrasted with the knowledge that puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1). This wisdom, this understanding begins with the fear of the LORD. As such, it includes, and is wrapped up in, love; love for God and love for others. As you look through the book of Proverbs, notice those things it says to do and how to be. These are practical ways to love God and others. And the things it warns against are things that come from pride, arrogance, selfishness, and a lack of love for God and others.

 

[nhzname]

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

We can be such a fickle creature, swayed by emotions and impulses and feelings. Often the enemy will use this against us and try to lead us down the garden path. But praise be to God, if we love the Lord with all our hearts and allow Him to reign in us, He leads us in His paths of righteousness and gives us His wisdom to rightly discern all things.

 

[IDS]

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight.


How often do we as christians trust in the Lord with all our heart and yet continue to lean to our own understanding. They say a tree will fall the way it is leaning when it is cut down. When we trust in our understanding instead of in the Lord when things befall us we tend to "fall the wrong way".


Perhaps another way of looling at this is like driving into a major city like Chicago, Illinois. At the outskirts of the city we toss our map out the window and trust in our own understanding, insticts, and feelings to get us where we need to be. That, of course, would be quite foolish.


But how often do we do this spiritually?


GOD brings us to a place and when we are almost where we need to be we toss faith out the window and begin to rely on feelings or common sense.


But when we "stay on course", continue to acknowledge Him by our words and our life, those confusing times eventually straighten out.


How much grief, to ourselves and the Holy Spirit, could we avoid is we truly acknowledged Him in every circumstance and never leaned on our own understanding? How often would the dead ends, detours and being totally lost be avoided if we really did trust in the Lord and not ourselves?


Not to say the right road is always the easiest. But it will always be right. And most of us have discovered that the "easy road" and "shortcuts" usually turn out to be more difficult and take longer than if we had just stayed on the course we knew was right.


Just some thoughts.


.....peace.....

 

[2Timothy2]

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins.


I think this deals with when someone does us wrong. What is our response supposed to be? If we respond from our own inclinations, strife is inevitable. If we respond as Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount, "turn the other cheek...bless those who curse you," etc., we are covering sin. Or put another way, forgiving as we have been forgiven. Striving with our brothers is a sure sign of hatred in our hearts. Forgiveness is a sure sign of love in our hearts.

 

[nhzname]

Proverbs 25:11 ~ The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.

We all know how good it feels when that word of encouragement comes in the midst of turmoil - when the blood tests come back clear - when dad tells mom all the fingers and toes are there on their newborn son. Precious. Like gold.

 

[aBlinken]

Proverbs 30

25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;

Many times I've sat and watched the ants do there thing, and I always wonder how they know what to do. God has even given some wisdom to the ants because they show cooperation, loyalty, and prepare for the future. I pray we take up our cross and are about the Lord Jesus's work with as much wisdom as the ants have.

 

[aBlinken]

Proverbs 15

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.

I find my own heart heavy when my wife is sad and not feeling well, but I find myself delighted at the sight of my wife's face when she is laughing or smiling.

 

[2Timothy2]

Proverbs 26:4-5

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

If I understand these verses correctly, there are times when we should not engage with some people in a debate or discussion, or we will be pulled down into their sin. However, there are also times that leaving one unchallenged would do more harm.

 

[caitlincares]

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

We should not speak ill of our neighbors, co-workers, etc.
It is good to keep the secrets of our friends.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

We should not speak ill of our neighbors, co-workers, etc.
It is good to keep the secrets of our friends.

A very good point. In fact, all these posts are so good! Reference the verse about deriding neighbors, sometimes I wonder whether it's really a good idea to separate married men and women in gender-specific Bible study. I think it's okay for single men and women to have gender-specific Bible studies, but I find that at these studies involving married people, a lot of discussion takes place that could do harm in the marriage. The intention of course being to procure help, but sometimes it seems like certain boundaries get crossed. Of course men and women have different issues, but sometimes in the name of gender bonding...I don't know.

Can anyone shed some light on how the verse posted might or might not apply in this situation?

 

[Glorianna]

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

What an awesome reason to write a book!

 

[2Timothy2]

Proverbs 15:33

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.


A proper attitude toward God leads us to act, think, and speak as we should, wisely. And, 'before honor is humility', sounds like Matthew 20:26, 'whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.' It also reminds me of in the Army, you must go from private up to sergeant, you don't start with rank and authority.

 

[Glorianna]

 

[nhzname]

~ Proverbs 1:10 ~ My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

Sometimes, friends may try to involve you in gossip and slander, nights of frivolousness and coarseness, and in other ways that are not of the Lord. If we stop and think and see the big picture, we will come to realize that there is no real joy or peace found in anything outside of Christ. We are better off to pass on the invitations.