Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
May 8, 2022

Profile of a Wise Man
(According to the Book of Proverbs)
by Bryan Gibson
A wise man knows he doesn’t know everything, so he takes advantage of every opportunity to increase in knowledge and wisdom (1:5; 2:1-5; 9:9; 10:8, 14; 18:15; 24:5-6), including what he can gain from the wisdom of others. He understands that “in the multitude of counselors, there is safety” (11:14).
A wise man doesn’t trust his soul to what seems right; he wants to know what is right (16:25). Because he is not wise in his “own eyes,” he is bent and determined to follow, not his own ways, but the ways of the Lord (3:5-7).
A wise man, because he so desperately wants to be right with God, actually loves those who rebuke him (9:8). What they say may hurt for a little while, but wisdom teaches him that “blows that hurt cleanse away evil” (20:30).
A wise man “restrains his lips”, or “spares his words”; he doesn’t say everything on his mind; he doesn’t speak just to be heard, or to impress others (17:27; 29:11; 14:33; 10:19). When he does speak, he uses to tongue to teach (15:7), to rebuke (25:12), to encourage or help others (12:18), and to win souls (11:30). He is especially wise with his words when dealing with angry people—“a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (15:1); “scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath” (29:8).
A wise man is alert to temptations—he “foresees evil and hides himself” (22:3); and he does not overestimate his ability to withstand temptation—he “fears and departs from evil” (14:16).
A wise man shows no partiality in his judgment of others (24:23-25), no matter how large or small the inducement may be—“to show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong” (28:21).
A wise man understands that riches “fly away like an eagle toward heaven”, and so he does “not overwork to be rich” (23:4). He does not squander his money (21:20), but he is generous with it (11:25).
A wise man possesses other qualities closely related to wisdom, qualities which either lead to wisdom or become the byproducts of wisdom: humility (15:33), mercy (14:21), diligence (12:27), self-control (16:32), integrity (28:6), prudence (22:3), and a fear of the Lord (23:17-18).
CONCLUSION:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” (4:7). “My son, be wise and make my heart glad…” (27:11). “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (3:35).

Surrounded by Faithful Christians
by Bryan Gibson
Timothy was a strong Christian, and here is the evidence: “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord…” (1 Timothy 4:17). Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do” (1 Corinthians 16:10). “But I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to send Timothy to you shortly…for I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state” (Philippians 2:19-20).
To whom should we give credit for the kind of man Timothy became? First and foremost, the praise should go to God, something which Paul acknowledged in 2 Timothy 1:3-5. But what about the people God used to help Timothy? Let’s start with his upbringing. Timothy’s father was not a Christian (Acts 16:1), but his mother and grandmother were, and they made sure he knew the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). There were also the good brethren from the area in which he grew up (Acts 16:2). And look at the good influences he had on those preaching journeys, men like Paul and Silas and Luke, not to mention the countless brethren he came in contact with on those same journeys. Throughout his life, Timothy was surrounded by faithful Christians, and together they helped him become the kind of man he was. Could he have been faithful without them? Sure he could, but who thinks he would like to start over without them?
The lesson? Surround yourself with strong, dedicated, faithful Christians. It sure helped Timothy, and it will help us, too.

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.