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Published: July 27, 2022, 8 a.m.

The other day I Googled the phrase \u201cHow to Live Well.\u201d 19.5 trillion entries popped up. Yikes! Apparently a lot of people have something to say on this matter. And I do as well in today\u2019s episode. But it\u2019s going to be different than what my 19.5 trillion colleagues are offering up, I\u2019m sure.

But before we get into all this, welcome to You Were Made for This. If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Here you\u2019ll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for.

I am your host John Certalic.\xa0 As an award-winning author and relationship coach, I'm here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you.

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Today\u2019s episode, number 168, is about a really important relationship God designed for you and me; namely, a relationship with Him! It\u2019s where we\u2019ll find the greatest amount of joy, for He teaches us how to live well in so many practical ways. For example, he devoted a whole book of the Bible to this subject, drawing from the life of Solomon. the wisest man who ever lived.

I\u2019ll read the first chapter of this book from the Bible, the Book of Proverbs, and then comment from time to time as I read. It\u2019s only 33 verses, so it won\u2019t take long. As I read, notice the contrast between people who are wise, and those who are not, and notice the practical advice Solomon has for how to live well here in the 21st century.

NOTE: The comments I interject in reading of Proverbs 1 appear only in the audio version

The Purpose of Proverbs

1\xa0These are the proverbs of Solomon, David\u2019s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,\u2028\xa0 to help them understand the insights of the wise.\u2028\xa0 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,\u2028 to help them do what is right, just, and fair.\u2028\xa0 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,\u2028 knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.\u2028 Let those with understanding receive guidance\u2028, 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,\u2028 the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,\u2028 but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

A Father\u2019s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

8 My child, listen when your father corrects you.\u2028 Don\u2019t neglect your mother\u2019s instruction.\u2028\xa0 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace\u2028\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0and be a chain of honor around your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you,\u2028 turn your back on them!\u2028\xa0 11 They may say, \u201cCome and join us.\u2028 Let\u2019s hide and kill someone!\u2028\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Just for fun, let\u2019s ambush the innocent!\u2028\xa0 12 Let\u2019s swallow them alive, like the grave;\u2028 let\u2019s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.\u2028\xa0 13 Think of the great things we\u2019ll get!\u2028 We\u2019ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.\u2028\xa0 14 Come, throw in your lot with us;\u2028 we\u2019ll all share the loot.\u201d
15 My child, don\u2019t go along with them!\u2028 Stay far away from their paths.\u2028\xa0 16 They rush to commit evil deeds.\u2028 They hurry to commit murder.\u2028\xa0 17 If a bird sees a trap being set,\u2028 it knows to stay away.\u2028\xa0 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;\u2028 they are trying to get themselves killed.\xa0 \u202819 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;\u2028 it robs them of life.

Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.\u2028\xa0 She cries out in the public square.\u2028\xa0 21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,\u2028 to those gathered in front of the city gate:\u2028\xa0 22 \u201cHow long, you simpletons,\u2028 will you insist on being simpleminded?\u2028How long will you mockers relish your mocking?\u2028 How long will you fools hate knowledge?\u2028\xa0 23 Come and listen to my counsel.\u2028I\u2019ll share my heart with you\u2028 and make you wise.
24 \u201cI called you so often, but you wouldn\u2019t come.\u2028 I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.\xa0 \u202825 You ignored my advice\u2028 and rejected the correction I offered.\u2028\xa0 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!\u2028 I will mock you when disaster overtakes you \u2014\u2028\xa0 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,\u2028\xa0 when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,\u2028\xa0 and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
28 \u201cWhen they cry for help, I will not answer.\u2028 Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.\u2028\xa0 29 For they hated knowledge\u2028 and chose not to fear the Lord.\u2028\xa0 30 They rejected my advice\u2028 and paid no attention when I corrected them.\u2028\xa0 31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,\u2028 choking on their own schemes.\u2028\xa0 32 For simpletons turn away from me\u2014to death.\u2028 Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.\u202833 But all who listen to me will live in peace,\u2028\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0untroubled by fear of harm.\u201d

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \xa9 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

So what does all this mean for YOU?

If you start going through the 19.5 trillion Google entries for \u201chow to live well\u201d I mentioned at the beginning, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll find some things that sound attractive. But most of them are about behavior.

Solomon, however, takes it a step further and talks about behavior rooted in our relationship with God and our reverence for Him and all that he stands for. Which raises the question for all of us, namely, how much do my values align with God\u2019s values?

Here\u2019s the main takeaway I hope you remember from today\u2019s episode

The answer to \u201chow to live well\u201d is found in growing in wisdom by looking beyond ourselves. It\u2019s to live in reverence to God and embrace what is important to Him, and then live accordingly.

I\u2019d love to hear any thoughts you have about today\u2019s episode.

Closing

In closing, I hope your thinking was stimulated by today\u2019s show, to ask yourself how wise are you living? Are you growing wiser as you allow the Spirit of God to teach you how to live well?

For when you do, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God designed for you. Because as you know by now, You Were Made for This.

Well, that\u2019s it for today. Please consider telling others about this podcast if you think it would be interesting and helpful to them. And don\u2019t forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. And I\u2019ll see you next time.

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139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast?

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