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We’ve been going through the book of Proverbs this summer, and this is the last Sunday we’ll be looking at a new topic. Next week will be a recap & testimony time, so if there is anything you’ve been learning or want to share, next week is your chance. Proverbs contrasts two types of people – the wise with the foolish, and the righteous with the wicked. We’ve been talking about wisdom, which is competency with regards to the complexities of life – knowing the right thing to do when the rules don’t apply. Many of you are facing questions where you can’t just go to the Bible and find the answer – should I stay in this job? What career should I pursue? Should I date or marry this person? Should I send my kid to public school or not? Nowhere is this more crucial than with decision making, which brings up the whole issue of God’s will. Books have been written about this, and I will not try to sum it all up, but I do want to look at what Proverbs has to say about the will of God and decision making.

Here are a few passages that speak to this topic:

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity

Proverbs 12:5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed

Proverbs 16:1-4 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. ² All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. ³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ⁴ The LORD works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.