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Life Hacks: Week 2

Life Hacks: Week 2

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 What is a life hack? 

  • A strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more effective way.
  •   A practical and simple way to make life better.

  We are talking about wisdom.

  • Wisdom is to see as God sees.
  •   Remember all the nuances of wisdom: spiritual, eternal, emotional, and relational.

 

Key passages this week:

Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 15:31–33 (NIV) 31Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. 32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. 33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NIV) 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

The focus:

James 3:13–18 (NIV) 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

1 Peter 5:5–8 (NIV) 5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Notice two kinds of wisdom: Worldly, demonic wisdom versus Godly wisdom.

  •  Demonic wisdom has pieces of wisdom in it.
    •  It may work to get you what you think you want—it feeds selfish ambition, and jealousy for what someone else has and you don’t.
  •  Godly wisdom seeks what God says we need and what He wants for us.

So what does humility look like in everyday life? Love. 

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NIV) 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  1. It considers others, brings thins into the perspective, and cares about how something affects others.
  2. It listens rather than talks. It is curious about how the other person feels and thinks.
  3. Humility serves rather than expects or commands.
  4. Humility forgives because we know we need forgiveness.
  5. Humility follows and submits. The test of true humility is to follow even when you don’t agree. (I am not talking about salvation issues.)
  6. Humility invites correction and seeks direction. (I don’t know it all.)
  7. Humility admits wrongs.
  8. Humility acknowledges others rather than seeks glory for self.

 

Life Hack Ideas to Practice

  •   Confront your prejudices (preconceived opinion that are not based on reason or actual experience): Spend some face- to-face time with someone you tend to struggle with.
  •   Ask about listening: Ask two people close to you how well you listen and how you can improve.
  •   Intentionally put others first by serving them before yourself.
  •   Spend some time on your knees before God, asking for humility. (Which is a scary prayer.)
  •   Compliment others: Encourage others who do something better than you.
  •   Admit something: Admit your faults to someone you’ve wronged, and admit you don’t know.
  •   Be honest about struggles you have.
  •   Which one do you struggle with the most?

Questions to discuss in Life Groups or with your family and friends:

Passages to consider: Proverbs 11:2, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4; James 4:6-12; or select one from the sermon.

  •  Discuss what you heard in the sermon. Share what was meaningful to you.
  1. How would you describe humility?a) Talk about the elements of humility shared in the sermon.
  2. What makes humility such a key in following Jesus?
  3. Think of someone who has been a model of humility to you or someone who has been negative example of pride. What can you learn from them?
  4. What helps you nurture humility in your attitude and actions?a) Try to identify what could be a humility-killer in your life.
  5. Which “life hack” or element of humility are you going to practice? Share your plan.