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LESSON 9: WISDOM BRINGS BLESSING

“What difference can I make? I’m only one person.” I’m not sure if God laughs out loud at this statement or shakes his head in frustration. It could not be a more absurd thing to say. In the hands of a sovereign God, who works all things together according to His will, every life wisely lived in faith is a powerful tool. Let me give one astonishing example of how your life, lived with the wisdom that comes from God, can have staggering impact.

Now I could rattle off a list great people in history who made significant impacts, but that is too easy to argue against because such people are few and far between. I’d rather we look at a person like Edward Kimball. Mr. Kimball was a volunteer Sunday school teacher who in 1855 humbly and obediently exercised his God given wisdom to speak with a wayward teen about Jesus Christ and then vanish into history. That teen gave his life to Christ that day. His name was Dwight L. Moody. Young Mr. Moody then dedicated his life to leading others to Christ. His example so blessed one pastor named F.B. Meyer that he went on an evangelistic tour of America. His challenge at a conference moved another young pastor named Wilbur Chapman to begin conducting evangelistic campaigns of his own. He recruited former baseball player Billy Sunday to join him and Sunday became one of America’s most successful evangelists. A group that came to Christ at one of Billy Sunday’s campaigns, put together their own event and invited evangelist Mordecai Ham to speak. At that event another young man gave his life to Christ. His name is Billy Graham. For me the story doesn’t end there. In 1952 Billy Graham held an event at Forbes field in Pittsburgh. A father and son who were present at that event came forward in response to the gospel and gave their lives to Jesus Christ in faith. Their names are Frank and Richard Meyers. My grandfather and father. So, you see, one ordinary man like us, a Sunday school teacher, simply lived in godly wisdom, and more than 100 years later is still leaving a legacy of blessing.

Never underestimate the power of the witness of your life. God told Abraham, “through you all nations of the earth will be blessed.” Solomon reminds us that doing what is wise will lift up those around us, while the unwise bring only grief and ruin to their family, their community, and themselves. God told
the returning Israelites in Zechariah 8:13 that they had been saved in order to be a blessing among the nations. We were saved for the same reason; to be a blessing. Wisdom recognizes our purpose and lives in it joyfully. Thank you Mr. Kimball!

BIG IDEA: When we do what is right, we bless those around us.

MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Proverbs 14:34
Jeremiah 29:7
Psalm 67Proverbs 14:34
Jeremiah 29:7
Psalm 67

SECTION VERSE:
Then you will understand what is  right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. – Proverbs 2:9-10

LESSON VERSE:
Doing what is right lifts people up. But sin brings judgment to any nation. – Proverbs 14:34

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Read and discuss Prov. 14:26-35.
• Can you think of a time when you or someone else got everyone in trouble by doing the wrong thing?
• How can your right actions bless those around you? In your family, school, country?
• Mom or Dad, can you trace your history of faith to faithful servants of God? Why not share that story?

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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader.  In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.