Personal Growth Text: Proverbs 1: 5
5.A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
The famous football coach John Wooden once said, “What counts, is what you learn after you know it all.” Teddy Roosevelt said, “There’s never been a person in history that led a life of ease, whose name is worth remembering.” The key word in Proverbs is wisdom, “the ability to live life skillfully.” A godly life in an ungodly world is no easy assignment! Proverbs offers every reader detailed instructions on how to become successful with practical affairs of everyday life: how to relate to God, parents, children, neighbors and government!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart,” There is no God.”
Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. these wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer!
In the text vs.5 say’s a wise man will hear, and increase in learning… Here are 3 words you need to remember about personal growth. 1. Growth isn’t automatic. One man said, “You’re only young once, but you can be immature indefinitely.” 2. Growth today brings success tomorrow. 3. Growth is your responsibility. Gail shehy writes, “If we don’t change, we won’t grow, and if we don’t grow, we’re not really living.”
Question: Can you think of anything worse than living a life devoid of growth and improvement?
Proverbs 4: 7-8 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
Here are 6 principles to personal growth: 1 Never stay satisfied with your current accomplishments. “The greatest enemy of tomorrow’s success is today’s success!”
2. You must stay hungry! Refuse to settle in the comfort zone, or let success go to your head!
3. Become a continual learner! Henry ford said, “It’s been my observation that successful people get ahead during the time other people waste!”
Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
4. Refuse to plateau. One man said, “It’s tragic when we’ve made our last climb. When that happens we’re old, whether we’re 9-or 99!”
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
5. Pay the price! Solomon says: “Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
6. Find a way to apply everything you learn. Refuse to allow learning to lead to knowledge-let it lead to action!
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Matthew 12:42 …indeed a greater than Solomon is here (O course Jesus is proclaiming this statement about Himself.)
When it comes to personal growth we have no excuse because we have within us the great teacher (the Holy Ghost.)
