09 Proverbs 23:17-21,29-35

HONOR YOUR BODY

FOCUSInformation, entertainment, and social connection are always at our fingertips. With our smartphones and tablets, our favorite games and TV shows are easily accessible. Through social media, our friends are always a click away. While there are many benefits that come from technology, it comes with drawbacks as well. We can easily become dependent on them such that we fill every moment with them. If we are not careful, we will fail to give thought to the impact these things are having on us. While the section of Proverbs that we will look at today primarily addresses alcohol abuse, the principles can be applied much more broadly. Whether it’s alcohol or social media, followers of Jesus don’t let things control them, because Jesus is their Lord. Today we will see that God cares for us, including our bodies—so should we.

Our God cares about our bodies and calls us to take care of them.

This week’s

TRUTHCentral

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09.01 WHAT IS THE LONGEST YOU HAVE EVER GONE WITHOUT WATCHING

TELEVISION, PLAYING A VIDEO GAME, OR CHECKING SOCIAL MEDIA?

.02 WHILE WE GET ENJOYMENT OUT OF THESE THINGS, WHY MIGHT IT BE

HELPFUL TO TAKE A BREAK SOMETIMES?

Talk it out

Begin by reading through the passage.

EXPLORATIONProverbs 23:17-21,29-35

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

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Proverbs 23:19-21

.03 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ENVY SOMEONE? WHY MIGHT

WE BE TEMPTED AT TIMES TO ENVY SINNERS?

.04 HOW DOES FEARING GOD HELP US FIGHT THE

TEMPTATION TO ENVY OTHERS? WHAT IS PROMISED TO

THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD?

Proverbs 23:17-18

CONVERSATION

LITERARY CONTEXTVerse 20 doesn’t mean we must never spend time with people who do certain sinful things. Jesus, after all, was known as a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Luke 7:34). The idea is that we shouldn’t envy or follow the example of those who get drunk or overeat—actions that show disregard for the human body and for God, who made human bodies in His image. This passage is not a ban on loving, serving, or even building relationships with such people, but a call to be wise as we do so. As we strive to point people to Christ, we need to lean on God for wisdom so that we don’t adopt their lifestyle.

Reflect and respond.

.05 WHO DID SOLOMON SAY WE SHOULD NOT ASSOCIATE WITH AND WHY?

.06 WHAT VALUE IS THERE IN BUILDING CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO

FEAR THE LORD?

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09.07 WHOSE LIFE IS MARKED BY SORROW AND CONFLICTS

ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES?

.08 HOW DOES SOLOMON SAY WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO

NOT LOOK AT WINE? HOW MIGHT THIS APPLY TO OTHER

FORMS OF TEMPTATION?

.09 WHAT DOES DRUNKENNESS LEAD TO ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES?

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM THE WAY DRUNKENNESS IS DEPICTED IN

OUR CULTURE?

.10 WHAT DOES SOLOMON SAY WILL HAPPEN IF WE DON’T FIGHT THE

TEMPTATION TO GET DRUNK? HOW MIGHT THIS APPLY TO OTHER SINS WE

MIGHT FACE?

Proverbs 23:29-32

Proverbs 23:33-35

Journal your response here.

CULTURAL CONTEXT

While we have more information now than ever before about the dangers of getting drunk, many people today continue to glorify the abuse of alcohol. There is an entire trilogy of films that make light of a night of drunken partying (The Hangover) and countless others where abusing alcohol is depicted as enjoyable or funny. In light of this we need the clear wisdom of Proverbs all the more. Solomon reminds us that drunkenness dulls our senses and enslaves us (v. 25)—it disrespects our bodies and leads us to disrespect the bodies of other image bearers.

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NOW WHAT?

.11 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR BODIES? WHY IS IT

IMPORTANT THAT WE RESPECT THE BODIES OF OTHERS?

.12 WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE TEMPTED TO THINK YOU CAN’T LIVE

WITHOUT? HOW CAN YOU FIGHT THE TEMPTATION TO SEEK ULTIMATE JOY IN

THAT THING?

.13 HOW MIGHT WE HELP ONE ANOTHER FIGHT TEMPTATION? HOW CAN WE

SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER?

.14 HOW WILL YOU SEEK TO SUBMIT TO GOD’S STANDARDS AND DESIRES FOR

YOUR LIFE? HOW DOES THIS LEAD TO JOY?

CENTRALTRUTH

Our God cares about our bodies and calls us to take care of them.

How does this apply to your life?

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Choose five days this week to set aside time to dig deeper into God’s Word with these devotions. We hope you’ll make this a priority and encourage others in your group to do so as well.

Dwell.01 WHAT SHOULD WE DO INSTEAD OF

ENVYING SINNERS?

.02 IS THERE SOMEONE YOU ENVY OR

RESENT BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO HAVE

IT BETTER THAN YOU? HOW CAN THESE

VERSES HELP YOU?

It can be tempting to envy others who act in sinful ways because they seem to live better lives than us. Maybe they are engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage, or gaining a large social media following through crude jokes. But the promises of sin never deliver in the end. In contrast, fearing and respecting God gives us a bright future and sure hope.

MemorizeWrite Proverbs 23:19 on a Post-It note and stick it somewhere you’ll see it every day, like your bathroom mirror, a notebook, or inside your locker. Read it to yourself each time you see it.

PrayThank God for the bright future He has promised to those who fear Him.

PROVERBS 23:17-18

FOR BIBLE READING

Day One

7 Arrows

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE SAY?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE CHANGE

THE WAY I RELATE TO PEOPLE?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT GOD?

WHAT DID THIS PASSAGE MEAN TO ITS ORIGINAL

AUDIENCE?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE PROMPT ME

TO PRAY?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT MAN?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE DEMAND

OF ME?

DEVOTIONSDaily

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DwellEvery day we are surrounded by messages (through advertisements, movies, TV, and social media) telling us we can gain happiness through alcohol, food, sex, material possessions, etc. Not that these things are bad in themselves when used appropriately, but the temptation to chase after them can be overwhelming if we think they will bring us happiness apart from God. Solomon warns us in these verses that becoming fixated on these things will only lead to sorrow and conflict.

.01 VERSE 29 ASKS A SERIES OF

QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH “WHO

HAS WOE?” WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO

THESE QUESTIONS (V. 30)?

.02 WHAT SHOULD WE TURN TO

INSTEAD WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED BY

THESE THINGS?

MemorizeUse your phone or computer to record yourself reading Proverbs 23:19, and play it back to yourself throughout the week.

PrayThank God that He has given us good food to nourish and strengthen our bodies.

DwellAlong with envying others, we may choose to spend our time with people who seem to benefit from sinful behavior, hoping that their success will rub off on us. But this is a dangerous path. These verses use the examples of drinking and overeating—these activities dishonor our bodies, which God calls us to honor and protect. We need to surround ourselves with people who fear the Lord and will encourage us to act in ways that honor and glorify Him.

.01 WHAT IS A GLUTTON? WHY DO

THESE VERSES WARN US ABOUT

ASSOCIATING WITH THEM?

.02 HOW MIGHT YOU HONOR GOD WITH

YOUR BODY THIS WEEK?

MemorizeSet Proverbs 23:19 as a text or calendar notification to yourself one or two times a day. When you see the notification, read the verse silently or aloud a few times.

PrayPray that God would help you to treat the body He has given you with honor and respect.

PROVERBS 23:29-32PROVERBS 23:19-21 Day ThreeDay Two

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Dwell.01 WHY IS WISDOM GOOD ACCORDING

TO THESE VERSES?

.02 DO YOU THINK OF GOD’S WISDOM

AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BRING JOY

TO YOUR LIFE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

Much like the sweetness of honey, wisdom is meant to be pleasant and to fill our lives with joy. We might sometimes think that following God’s wisdom is painful and that all it does is get in the way of us doing the things that we want to do. But God calls us to engage in right behavior not just because it is the correct thing to do, but also because it will lead to joy and hope in our lives.

MemorizePractice reciting Proverbs 23:19 from memory with a friend or family member. Ask them to follow along as you recite, and prompt you with words from the verse if you need help remembering.

PrayThank God that He asks us you follow Him not just out of moral obligation, but because it is good for you to do so.

PROVERBS 24:13-14Day Five

DwellThe more we give in to temptation, the easier it will be to continue down that path. In these verses Solomon describes someone who is confused from drinking too much wine, but his description could apply to anyone who has overindulged in sinful behavior and has become confused. The longer we follow the path of sin, the more it becomes difficult to find our way back to the path of wisdom and the more danger we invite into our lives.

.01 WHY DOES THE PERSON IN VERSE 35

SAY “I’LL LOOK FOR ANOTHER DRINK!”?

.02 WHAT MIGHT THE NEGATIVE

CONSEQUENCES BE OF FOLLOWING

THESE TEMPTATIONS IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

MemorizeWrite Proverbs 23:19 on a notecard or piece of paper and carry it with you. Read it to yourself word by word until you can recite it from memory.

PraySpend some time in prayer that God would help you joyfully follow His will for your life.

PROVERBS 23:33-35Day Four

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