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Bible Study: Living to honor God


NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.

Bible Passages: Proverbs 31:10-16, 23-31

Discussion Questions:
— How does the way we view God impact how we treat our family and coworkers?
— What markers in a person’s life point to them being committed to God?

Food for thought:

How-to videos on YouTube make most of us the plumber we never were, the mechanic we hoped to be, or the fisherman who can find the big ones. These videos give us an example to follow and we just need to repeat all the steps in the example. These videos are more about modeling than about information and theory. We just need a sample that we can follow and that gives us the confidence to try.

In Proverbs 31, we are told about a special woman. She was committed to her husband, wise in her business dealings, and sure in her reputation. The description of this woman ends with a contrast between the fear of God, and charm and beauty. We are told that charm is deceitful and beauty is short-lived. By comparison, the fear of God is trustworthy and long lasting.

Verses 30-31 summarize the passage, giving us insight about the woman described in the passage. Her praise originated from her relationship with God and her living out that relationship in all areas of her life. She trusted God for wisdom in relating to her husband, providing for her family, and dealing with others. She is more than a virtuous woman; she is a follower of God.

So many times we try to get stuff in our lives straightened out and we forget that it all starts with our relationship with God. We try to fix our family relationships on our own or approach work as if God is not interested in that part of our life. We are unable to relate to others until we are in a growing relationship with God through faith in Jesus. Work finds true meaning only when we see it as a means for bringing honor to God. Our reputation opens the door for us to share about the God who loved us and sent His Son to die on a cross for our sin.

The woman described in Proverbs 31 serves as a portrait of everything included in Proverbs. She is the example of what it looks like in practical terms to fear God; one of the themes repeated throughout the Proverbs. She is letting us know we can live a life that honors God if we choose to do so.

Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.