Proverbs was written from the perspective of a father giving life advice to his son. The topics cover many things, including friends, money, women, and serving God. Today’s verses advise about marriage and faithfulness by asking the son to enjoy his own wife like a family gets water from their own well, not someone else’s.

1. Read Proverbs 5:15-23. How is the man’s wife described? The other woman?

2. What is the result of the man enjoying his own wife? What are the consequences if he goes somewhere else to get his pleasure? How is the man described who goes out into the streets to look for satisfaction?

3. The things we watch, listen to, and read, as well as other people can become wrong sources of sexual enjoyment. Ask God to give you discipline and wisdom to be faithful to your spouse (even if its a future spouse). If you have an addiction, email justask@rockbridge.cc for help.

The book of Ruth is the love story of Boaz, an Israelite landowner, and Ruth, a foreign widow. Ruth supported herself and her widowed and elderly mother-in-law, Naomi, by scrounging leftovers from Boaz’ grain field. It is also about Christ redeeming us with His love and making us His bride.

1. Read Ruth 3 and Ruth 4:13-17. What is Boaz’ response to Ruth’s strange proposal?

2. How is Boaz similar to Christ? How is Ruth similar to us? How did God take Naomi and Ruth from a state of helpless poverty and loss into joy? How has God brought you into joy?

3. Take some time to thank God for sending Christ as your redeemer and lover of your soul. Thank Him for the ways that He has taken you out of a life of hopelessness and given you the opportunity for joy.

Many of us are convinced that if we just say the right words, then we will be able to convince people to believe in what we say. Paul, however, argues that there is something much more important to consider when we explain the truth.

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and list the words that describe love.

2. What can love accomplish that knowledge cannot? What does love accomplish that faith and good works cannot? Why is it important that love never ends? How does this concept of love look in your life?

3. Keep the list of how love is described. When you interact with people in your life, do your words and attitude match the picture you get from that list?

The English language uses the word “love” to mean many things. We love family, sports, pets, and our favorite restaurant. We can show what we love by investing time and money and telling others about them. The Bible tells us that God is love, and just like we invest in things we love, God invests Himself in us.

1. Read 1 John 4:7-19. How did God demonstrate his love?

2. What motivates God to love us? How do we demonstrate that God is in us? What is not found in perfect love and why?

3. When we are truly in God’s love, we begin to love others as God does. Take some time today to get right with God and ask Him to be the center of your affections.

Love is God’s greatest gift to man. We are first recipients of it through God’s gift of life and through the gift of Jesus. God gave us love so that we can experience his passion for us and return that passion to Him, as well as experience it with one another.

1. Read Song of Solomon 8:4-7. How powerful is love?

2. Why would the author warn women to not stir up love until the right time? What does it mean to have love as strong as death? How did God display this concept of love? What kind of love are we to display?

3. A simple act can build up a fiery love. Try writing a note or buying a piece of candy for a loved one or friend to show your love today.