Wise Relationships Series

INTRODUCTION

• I think we all have had some close relationships throughout life.

• We are often a product of our relationships, whether good or bad.

• Some of those relationships were good for us, and some of them were toxic, while others were fun, but we seemed to find ourselves in trouble quite a bit because of them.

• I know the times I got into trouble in life were tied to the relationships I had at the time, and the times where I have achieved much also were connected to the relationships I had around me at the time.

• We need to understand that we were designed not to be alone; we were made to crave relationships with other people.

• What is the difference between a relationship or friendship that is a blessing and one that is not so much a blessing?

• The answer is found in Jesus.

• Relationships are gifts from God, so wise relationships are oriented around God.

• This means there are specific characteristics of a wise relationship.

• We have to decide what kind of relationships or friends we desire in life.

• Trust is a prominent characteristic that we will not cover in our text today. Proverbs 3:5-6.

• Trust in a relationship with another human has to start with trusting God.

• Can you trust God in all your ways, including your relationships?

• When you trust God “in all your ways,” you don’t have to micromanage relationships.

• If your spouse has friends, that’s okay.

• If your friend hangs out with other friends, that’s okay.

• When problems arise, and you trust God in all things, you don’t have to be the savior of the situation. Instead, you can point people to the one who can help fix this mess.

• Today we are going to examine three qualities found in Proverbs 27 that can help to have wise relationships as we seek to achieve wise living.

› Big Idea of the Message: Wise relationships are rooted in our relationship with God.

• Proverbs 27 is nestled in the midst of Proverbs 25-29, these proverbs were collected a couple of hundred years after Solomon wrote them by a group of men under King Hezekiah, according to Proverbs 25:1.

Proverbs 25:1 (CSB)

1 These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.

• Chapter 27 is a popery of wise sayings from King Solomon.

• We will not cover all 27 verses of this Proverb, but we will look at the few that apply to the subject at hand.

• Let’s begin in verses 5-6.

Proverbs 27:5–6 (CSB)

5 Better an open reprimand than concealed love. 6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

SERMON

• Wise relationships are marked by:

I. Honest discussions.

• One of the marks of a wise relationship is that you are with someone with whom you can have honest discussions or an honest dialogue.

• Verse five tells us better an open reprimand than concealed love.

• The context speaks of a friend willing to lovingly tell you what you do not want to but need to hear.

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs (A. Comparative Proverbs (25:1–27:22))

To keep silent is not always a sign of love. Open rebuke (or “reproof”) in the book of Proverbs is an important tool in the process of moral instruction (see 1:20–33; cf. also Eccl 7:5–6; 12:11).

The one who offers rebuke does so wisely (25:12) and never demeans another (11:12).

• There are times when a real; friend will step up and tell you the truth.

• When something needs to be said, the one who is a wise friend will say it.

• It is not love when you do not speak or act when the time calls for it.

• Who wants to be reprimanded? I don’t.

• But I am thankful that I have some people around me who love me enough to speak when I need to be spoken to.

• In this context, a reprimand refers to correcting someone’s behavior frankly and honestly.

• Concealed love refers to a failure to express something openly.

• Frank criticism is worth more than a friendship or any relationship that is not demonstrated.

• How many folks have you known who were surrounded by the proverbial “yes” men?

• When we see someone crash and burn, that person is usually surrounded by folks who, for whatever reason, would not speak up.

• Maybe they were too afraid to speak up.

• If you are around someone you cannot speak freely with, you need to figure out why and change that.

• I listened to a podcast on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill church.