Proverbs 19:15-29

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Wisdom in Later Years

Several proverbs in this lesson speak of the blessings that will come to the person who leads a godly life. Identify these proverbs and the specific blessings associated with them.
What attribute of God is emphasized in verse 21? What blessings come to us as a result of this attribute of God in the area of counsel?
Identify the 3 kinds of people in the proverb in verse 25. How does each of them respond to the opportunity to learn?

The proverbs in verses 16, 20 and 23, all indicate that as a general truth, blessings will come to the person who leads a godly life. In verse 16, the blessing for keeping God’s commandments is prolonged life. In verse 20, the blessing for listening to godly counsel is growing in wisdom even in a person’s later years. And in verse 23, the blessing for living a life in the fear (deep respect and awe) of the Lord is a life of contentment and protection from evil.
The proverb in verse 21 emphasizes the omnipotence or sovereignty of God. Here we see that God can thwart and overturn the plans of people who are against us, He can overrule our own faulty plans for our own good and for His glory, and He can take our good plans that are in line with His will and bring them to pass.
The mocker or scoffer has a closed mind and has no desire to learn. The simple person who sees the scoffer punished will open himself to learning from another’s mistakes, and the wise and discerning person allows himself to be corrected even by a simple word of rebuke.

Discuss the plight of the poor in your area, or in an area of the world in which you are familiar. List their greatest needs. Consider the avenues or means that are available for you to give of your material blessing to help those in poverty in the most effective way.

When was the last time you thought about those who are poor? When was the last time you reached out in some way to help care for them? There is no better time than now. When you give to those who are truly in need, you are merely letting the Lord borrow from you temporarily and He always pays back with great interest! Remember, “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.”;

“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.” Proverbs 19:20, 21