Quote:
Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves in. - Eugene Peterson

The TRUTH for all of us coming into the world - we don't enter with wisdom inside us:
WISDOM IS NOT AUTOMATIC - BUT IT CAN BE ACQUIRED.

Today, we want to look at how WISDOM can impact, improve and build our relationships in life. Whether at work, family, friendship, acquaintances and in every arena we navigate — in each one we need relational wisdom

Recap verse for this series: Proverbs 1:1-7

Every day, in every relationship, we are planting seeds. We want to plant relational wisdom so our relationships blossom and grow healthy!

Wisdom with our EARS (who we listen too; how we’re to listen)

Stephen Covey says, “Many people do not listen with intent to understand. They listen with intent to reply.”

Proverbs 18:13 “The one who gives an answer before he listens— this is foolishness and disgrace for him.”

The Book of James says, “Be quick to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19).

Building healthy relationships involves a commitment to listening.

We’re also told to make sure we listen to the right people.

—LISTEN TO THOSE CLOSE
Proverbs 1:8
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
*you’ll see this refrain all throughout the book of Proverbs - to hold close to parental teaching/instruction

—LISTEN TO COUNSEL
Proverbs 12:15
A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

—LISTEN TO CORRECTION
Proverbs 15:32
Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.

WISDOM WITH OUR WORDS

As Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man finds joy in an apt reply—and how good is a timely word.”

It takes effort and thought—to make sure we say the right thing, the right way, at the right time.

3 key proverbs around our words:

Proverbs 10:19, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Proverbs 21:23

Relationship Wisdom also has with it a strong invitation to seek out the right kind of people and allow them to SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another

It’s the Principle of Accountability

Questions:
-Do you have these kind of good/godly — sharpening kind of friendships?
-Are you allowing wise people to speak into your life - even when it might be challenging you at times? — because you will be blessed as you do.
-Do you have friends that can hold you accountable?

We are all BETTER when we have relational wisdom activate within our relationships!

Wisdom with our ears
Wisdom with our words
Wisdom with the right kind of people speaking into our lives

Wisdom is not automatic - but it can be acquired!

Solomon said,
“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (13:20).

Proverbs offers an exalted view of friendship that goes beyond surface-level camaraderie to a deeper level in which we share our hearts and lives with one another.

Solomon said, “A man of many companions comes to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24)

Having mere companions isn’t enough. To make it through life we need close, heart-to-heart, inner-circle friends who are exercising relational wisdom in our relationships.

We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we continue our series in Proverbs. It's also Father's Day and we'll be celebrating DADS and having an old school ice cream social immediately following service - join us for a treat!

Take the Proverbs Challenge - the month of June!
Each day - read the Proverb chapter of the day and reflect.
June 1st - read Proverbs 1
June 2nd - read Proverbs 2
June 3rd - read Proverbs 3
and so on -- jump in with us today...