Proverbs 4 Is ___ a sin? - Wisdom

Scripture: Proverbs 4:1–9. Key themes: Wisdom vs. folly, God’s desire to protect and guide us, wisdom as skillful living, learning the easy way instead of the hard way, avoiding life’s "icebergs", and pursuing the person God is shaping us to become. Description: This message begins a new series on wisdom by asking us to imagine meeting our past self. What advice would you give? What mistakes would you warn yourself to avoid? And would your younger self actually listen? That tension helps us understand Proverbs 4, where a father passes on wisdom to his children and urges them to “get wisdom” no matter the cost. In the Bible, wisdom is connected to skill—the ability to live well. A wise artist knows how to paint in the right order. A wise carpenter measures twice and cuts once. A wise sailor knows how to navigate through icebergs without sinking the ship. In the same way, God’s wisdom helps us navigate school, friendships, habits, goals, temptation, anxiety, and the kind of person we are becoming. This message also helps us move beyond asking only, “Is this a sin?” Sometimes the better question is, “Is this wise?” Some choices may not immediately sink your life, but they can still knock you off course, slow you down, or make the journey harder than it needs to be. Proverbs reminds us that God is not trying to rob us of joy—He longs to give us wisdom for our good and for the good of others. The first step is humility: “I don’t know it all. I need help. I need wisdom.”