Wisdom For Family Relationships Series

PROVERBS #2: WISDOM FOR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

OPENING SCRIPTURE:

“Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do!” (Proverbs 4:7a, NLT).

• Last week, we started a month long journey through the Book of Proverbs.

• I challenged you to read a chapter from Proverbs every day. Let’s seek God’s wisdom!

QUOTE: “Who can ever forget Winston Churchill’s immortal words: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills." It sounds exactly like our family vacation.” (Robert Orben).

• I hope that’s not true of you and your family!

THE BIG IDEA: The Book of Proverbs contains God’s wisdom for daily living. This wisdom will help us to have strong and healthy relationships, especially in our families.

GENERAL WISDOM FOR RELATIONSHIPS:

The Book of Proverbs has lots of wisdom for having healthy relationships:

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:24).

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17).

• The NLT words the last part of 17:17: “A brother is born to help in time of need.”

• In other words, God wants us to be loyal in our friendships and help each other.

• Today’s social networking generation mentality = we can ‘unfriend’ people.

WISDOM FOR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS:

WE ARE DIFFERENT! (Taken from Men are Like Waffles; Women are Like Spaghetti).

• Because of the differences between men and women, we need God’s wisdom and help!

IN THE BATHROOM: A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, a razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.

ARGUMENTS: A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, or get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

I. WISDOM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY FAMILY:

Although this first set of Proverbs doesn’t exclusively deal with family relationships, they are definitely helpful to anyone who wants a strong and healthy family…

1. SPEAK ONLY POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING WORDS:

“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” (Prov. 12:18).

• Words are powerful, and we need to encourage and build up one another in our families.

2. BE SLOW TO GET ANGRY:

“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly” (14:29).

• As parents, we need lots of patience with our children, and they need grace with us, too.

3. GET ALL THE COUNSEL YOU CAN GET:

“Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” (15:22).

• Read the Bible and avail yourself of resources from ministries like Focus on the Family

• Get support from your church family. We need wisdom to raise our children right!

COMMUNICATION: What She / He Really Means…

(From Men are Like Waffles; Women are Like Spaghetti)

If She Says: She means:

We need… I want…

It’s your decision. The correct decision should be obvious by now.

Do you love me? I’m going to ask for something expensive.

I’ll be ready in a minute. Kick off your shoes and find a good game on TV.

All we’re going to buy is a soap dish. It goes without saying that we’re stopping at the cosmetics

Department, the shoe department, I need to look at a few

new purses, those pink sheets would look great in the

bedroom, and did you bring your wallet?

If He Says: He Means:

I’m hungry. I’m hungry.

I’m sleepy. I’m sleepy.

What’s wrong? (first time) I don’t see why you are making such a big deal out of this.

What’s wrong? (second time) What meaningless self-inflicted psychological trauma are

you going through now?

What’s wrong? (third time) I guess sex tonight is out of the question.

4. GUARD AGAINST STRIFE AND OFFENSES:

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.” 17:1).

“The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” (17:14).

“A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.” (18:19a).

• THUMPER WISDOM: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

• One key ingredient to healthy relationships is forgiveness!

5. HAVE LOTS OF FUN TOGETHER: