SEARCH 163 – GOD MEETS OUR NEEDS

Key Verse

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.
— Ecclesiastes 2:26

Wisdom

Daniel 1:17-20; 2:1-13, 24-30

Worldly wisdom and godly wisdom do not come from the same source, and they bring totally different results. Note the key verse and James 3:13-17. Godly wisdom comes when we ask God and then follow the instructions given us, which are always within the guidelines of the Word of God. These are revealed to us by His Spirit. See Isaiah 11:2 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is wisdom? How do we differentiate between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom? See James 3:13-17.
  2. Read Job 28:12-28 and list the different sources from which wisdom was sought and could not be found. Where is wisdom to be found?
  3. According to our key verse, the Lord gives wisdom to the man that is “good in his sight.” What are some of the attributes of a person who is good in the sight of God?
  4. During a Christian’s life span, he will encounter a variety of trials and direct attempts of Satan to overthrow his faith in God. In no sphere is wisdom so essential, or folly so disastrous, as in the matter of life’s reverses. A clear example of this is found in our text. King Nebuchadnezzar judged that Daniel and his three friends were ten times wiser than the magicians and astrologers in his land. How was this proved by subsequent events?
  5. Knowing that wisdom is God-given, how can one obtain and develop this most precious gift? How did Daniel go about receiving this? Daniel 2:17-23
  6. What was the prime quality of Daniel’s character as revealed in verse 30? Explain how you arrived at this conclusion and why you feel that this quality is an essential factor in obtaining wisdom.
  7. Read 1 Kings 3:7 and compare the attitude of Solomon to that of Daniel. The results of this attitude in Solomon’s life are brought out in 1 Kings 3:11-12. What were these results?
  8. There seems to be an important link between humility and the acquisition of wisdom. Why do you suppose this is so?
  9. In James 3:17 we read a number of attributes that are related to the wisdom that is from Above. Beside each attribute, give an example of how it is a part of godly wisdom. For example:
    Pure — every decision or motivation will be based on pure thoughts and actions.
    Peaceable —
    Gentle —
    Easily entreated —
    Merciful —
    Possessor of good fruits —
    Without partiality —
    Without hypocrisy —
  10. We seek after many things in life. The wisest man gave us some advice in Proverbs 4:7. Paraphrase his counsel.
THEME THOUGHTS
With his very first breath, the newborn infant begins to grope through the maze of existence, seeking to satisfy his need for warmth and food. Every sense seems to be one of desire. But as he grows, the average person soon realizes his complex nature requires more than gratification of physical needs. He becomes aware of a need for love, for security, for acceptance, for inner peace—the principal ingredients that bring fulfillment and direction in life. The search for the satisfaction of all these needs becomes a predominant drive, a quest with only one true solution. That solution is found in God—the only One who can and will meet all of these needs. It is this thought which provides the theme for this quarter. Each lesson should be centered on the fact that God cares for us in every detail of our lives. He has promised to provide our physical needs, but even more importantly, He is concerned with our spiritual needs. With this thought in mind, we begin the series by focusing on the fact that God has provided mercy, thus opening the way for a personal relationship between God and man. Once that relationship has been established through the experience of salvation, the way is open for God to supply the other needs of those who trust in Him. As you study the succeeding lessons, use the Scripture, “All things work together for good to them that love God” Romans 8:28). We must realize that God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. What we see as a need may, in God’s sight, be something which would not prove to be for our good. Accepting that verse as the basis for the quarter will help us see that true happiness is based on God’s control of the circumstances of our lives. We will recognize that as our trust is in Him, our needs truly will be supplied in the manner He knows is best.

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