To 160th Ave Church of Christ

Proverbs

• Part of wisdom literature: – “skill in the art of godly living; orientation which allows one

to live in harmonious accord with God’s ordering of the world.”

– Job through Song of Solomon• Job- How to suffer• Psalms- How to Pray• Proverbs- How to act• Ecclesiastes- How to enjoy• Song of Solomon- How to love

• Specifically addresses young people (Prov. 1:1-8)– Written from the perspective of a father to a son (Prov. 1:8)– Chapters 2-7 begin with an address to a son(s).

Lessons from Proverbs:Snares and Entanglements

Entanglements with the Wrong Crowd

• Prov. 1:10-19• Prov. 13:20– The type of People you hang out with are the type

of people you become. – When you choose your friends you are choosing

the person who you are going to be. • Prov. 20:19- gossip• Prov. 22:24-25- anger• Prov. 23:20-21- drunkards and gluttons

Entanglements with the adulterousWoman

• God made us as a sexual people. This is both a good and most dangerous thing.

• Prov. 7:1-2, 6-23– perhaps describing the man who repeatedly

passes by. – The adulterous woman– Sexual temptation is not solved by marriage – Living in a sexually charged world we need to be

aware of this most dangerous trap

Entanglements with Alcohol

• Prov. 23:29-35• Dangers of alcohol:– Physical trouble and harm (vs. 29, 35)– Addiction (vs. 30, 35)– Hallucination/Illusion (vs. 33)

• The world’s testimony of its danger:– “drink responsibly”– Law: You can’t drink and drive– Age requirements– The existence of Alcoholics anonymous

Entanglements with Alcohol

• Reasons young people want to drink:– To prove you’re an adult– An expression of rebellion– To fit in with the crowd– An Instrument of partying and having a “good time”– An Instrument for seduction

• I would suggest that if you don’t drink while you are young, You’ll find that when you get older that there is no real point to anyway.

Financial Entanglements

• Financial issues incorporate moral issues• Proverbs 6:1– Co-signing on a loan– Many other financial temptations can start early

on • Proverbs 22:7– If you want to be a slave, borrow money

Entanglements of the tongue

• The image of the snare is most frequently used in the context of the tongue

• Prov. 12:13• Prov. 10:19• Prov. 12:16• Prov. 17:27-28• The point is not that you never say anything but

to realize how easy it is to speak before you think