Bible: 5 Poetic Books

Lesson 5: The Book of Proverbs: Teach Me, Grasshopper!

Wisdom concerning THE HEART

God is love. If there is a message to take to HEART, that's it. Since we are to learn from God, we must also learn to love. Many claim to do it, but few follow through:

Proverbs 20 6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?

If we are to learn to love, we have the best teacher for that. So what are the habits and motivations of a loving person?

Proverbs 10 12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

[A loving person chooses love because of its power. Showing love to a fellow human can DESTROY a bad mood or a depressing day. Most people like to know that they are valued, that they are loved. Few hear it on a regular basis.]

Proverbs 15 17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

[Gold-diggers have it all wrong. Marry for money? That's an empty marriage. Once you have the money, and you realize you don't love the person you're with, what's most likely in your future? Divorce. I think in this case, that's called by another name: stealing. ]

Proverbs 16 6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

[A healthy fear of God helps us to honor His ways, and to show more love and compassion to our fellow humans. God's love for us--grace--allows us to have our sins washed away through the blood of Jesus. Can we not do the same for those who have wronged us?]

Proverbs 17 9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

[Some people love to repeat ancient history. If you forgive, you forget. If you forget only until the next big argument, you haven't truly forgiven. Do you know anyone like this? perhaps PERSONALLY? These are the people who remember every word, savor every incident where you were not shining your brightest. They can call them up at a moment's notice and hurl them at you to hurt. We are called to love even our enemies, for if they see loving behavior in us, they may be affected enough to check out our lifestyle, to check out Jesus.]

ASSIGNMENT:

The assignment in this section has two parts:

1. Go out and do some random acts of kindness for someone you don't even know. Pay for the food of the car behind you at the drive-through. Rake the leaves for your next-door-neighbor when you rake your own. The little extra effort you take will be greatly appreciated!

2. Love poetry is the reason there is poetry. Think of that special person and write them a love poem inside a greeting card THAT IS BETTER THAN THE ONE IN THE GREETING CARD! Send both for no special reason. Again, the effect you'll have on that person's mood will be such a positive reward that you may be encouraged to do it again sometime soon...

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