Trust
February 25, 2024
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 3:9-10
9Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Psalm 116:16-17
16Truly I am your servant, LORD;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
Read Proverbs 21:5
1. If you are unfamiliar with Proverbs, do some quick Google research to learn about the genre. What do we know about the genre of the book of Proverbs? How might this impact how we interpret and apply passages from Proverbs?
2. Do you view passages like this from Proverbs as ‘always true promises of God’ or ‘generally true observations which help us access God’s wisdom?’ Why? What are the implications?
3. Describe a time in your life that you now wish you had planned more diligently than you did. What did you learn?
4. Describe a time when you avoided a poor decision by taking adequate time to pray, reflect, and find God’s wisdom.
Read Proverbs 22:7
5. Do you read this as a prescriptive statement or a descriptive statement? That is, does this passage tell us what ought to be, or does it describe what actually is? How does this distinction affect our interpretation and response to this passage?
6. What does this passage suggest about the wisdom of borrowing and debt?
7. Consider the history of Israel as slaves in Egypt. How might that history affect the impact of this passage on its original audience?
Read Proverbs 3:9-10
8. What is the primary principle this passage conveys? What does it look like for you personally to put it into practice?
9. What are firstfruits? (Feel free to do a little research) How does our understanding of firstfruits affect the way we put this passage into practice?
Read Psalm 116:16-17
10. What chains has God freed you from?
11. One way the Psalmist responds to his deliverance is with a thank offering. How do you personally express your gratitude to God for His saving work in your life?
12. What connection do you see in this passage between the practice of thanking God and the practice of calling on His name for help?