Download 27 Wisdom - Fruitland Community Church

“Wisdom”
The Promise
FCC – July 24, 2006
Text: Proverbs 2
Reference:
Introduction: Turn in your Bibles to Proverbs 2. Today we are continuing to study the
Old Testament looking for ties to Jesus. Last week we looked at an overview of
Solomon’s life. The Scripture says this about Solomon in 1 Chron. 29:25 (NIV) The
Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal
splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.
So, last week we made application on what it would look like to live a life of “Royal
Splendor.” A life of “Royal Splendor” is a life of wisdom…God gave Solomon the
opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted and God would give it to him. Solomon asked
for wisdom. A life of “Royal Splendor” is a life of godly dreams. Solomon carried out
his father David’s dream to build a Temple…he built the Temple and it was the height of
Israel’s glory. A life of “Royal Splendor” is a life of finishing well…because we know
that Solomon didn’t finish well. He got distracted in collecting horses, wives, and wealth
and God became angry with him. Solomon’s story challenges us to live lives of wisdom,
godly dreams, and finishing well.
1 Kings 4: 29 ? says this about Solomon: God gave Solomon wisdom and very great
insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater
than all the wisdom of Egypt. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered
a thousand and five.
This morning we turn to the book of Proverbs. Chapter 1 begins like this (v. 1-6) The
proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to
understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness,
justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the
youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain
guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs is a book about wisdom it’s concern is to help us in our search for wisdom.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get
understanding.” Wisdom is to be sought out above everything regardless of the cost.
Proverbs 8:11 “for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can
compare with her.” If you could choose between a million dollars and Wisdom, which
would you choose? Your answer might reveal a lot about your character.
The Bible says there is nothing more valuable that wisdom. Nothing is equal to it. Why
is it so valuable? Because wisdom causes something to happen: Proverbs 24:5 (NIV) A
wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;” What kind of
power? Genuine power. Tom Holliday says that wisdom gives us…
 The power to change… It has the power to change our lives, to change our way
of thinking. Wisdom is all about change. Romans 12: 1-2 says we change by the
renewing of our mind and learning to think differently.
 The power to lead… Every one of us have to lead some time. I often think “I
need wisdom to make the right decision here.” The wisdom in Proverbs gives you
the power to lead – to lead your family or in the workplace, at school, whatever.
 The power to decide… It saves you from the paralysis of analysis and the fear of
failure. Wise people listen to counsel and look at God’s opinion, to make good
decisions.
 The power to live… Wisdom gives you the power to live in a different kind of
way…our quality of life is often directly related to our ability to make good
decisions. Wisdom allows us to live the abundant life.
Three years ago, we spent time in Proverbs and I preached from Proverbs 1, 3, 4, 8 and
several others. This morning I thought we would come back to Proverbs 2:1-6 (NIV). My
son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to
wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry
aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden
treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
I would like to ask three questions to help us on the path towards wisdom. First…
.
1. Do you accept God’s authority? My son, if you accept my words and store up my
commands within you. If we want wisdom, we have to start by accepting God’s
authority and Word. Let’s reflect? Who do turn when you have a decision and who
carries the most weight in helping you make the decision? Friends? Talk show hosts?
Who has the first and last word in your decision making? Respect for God’s greatness
and submission to His authority is the beginning of wisdom. If you think you can
gain wisdom without starting here, you are fooling yourself. The Bible constantly
refers to fearing the Lord, and respecting His authority as the foundation of a life of
wisdom. The phrase the “Fear of the Lord” is used 11 times in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge
of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27 (NIV) The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the
wicked are cut short.
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV) The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content,
untouched by trouble.
Have you ever put together a new piece of furniture for the home or toy for the kids?
Most guys have this one problem…they want to figure out how to put it together by
themselves. I always hate it when I have extra parts, or it doesn’t quite look like it’s
supposed to. Even though I like to figure it out for myself, the ultimate authority is
the owners manual, whether I like it or not. We do that with wisdom. We’d all like to
figure it out ourselves. But we can’t even put together a toy or entertainment center,
how are we going to figure out life? Life’s too big and God is willing to give us,
through His words, wisdom that we need for living life.
Proverbs 10:8 “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their
faces.”
Wise people accept God and His Word as their first and final authority.
2. Do you ask for God’s help? …and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for
understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden
treasure. We talked earlier about Solomon who had that choice between wisdom and
riches. He was the son of David, and 2nd king of Israel. Solomon was given the
choice at the moment he was going to begin to lead the nation, the genie in the bottle
question that very few people have had the opportunity to answer. God came to
Solomon and said, “Solomon, you’re going to lead this nation. Anything you want
you can have it. What do you want?”
He could have chosen riches. He could have chosen power. He could have chosen
fame. He could have chosen military might. Here was Solomon’s answer. 2
Chronicles 1:10 “Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead this people for who
is able to govern this great people of Yours?” God granted that request and Solomon
became a man so wise that people came from all over the world just to hear his advice
and to get his wisdom. He valued it. He asked for God’s help. And he wrote most of
the Proverbs.
If you want wisdom, I’ve got some great news for you. God wants you to get wisdom
– His wisdom. James 1:5 says If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. God wants to
give you His wisdom. The Bible says to just ask Him. He will gladly tell you. We
think there are some people with more important problems that I have. But that’s not
the issue. The issue is not how big your problem is. The issue is how big is God.
Proverbs 8:17 (NIV) I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Matthew 7: 7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Have you prayed about the decision you are facing? We need to take time to consult
the wisest person in the universe who is more than willing to give us His advice and
His direction and He won’t send you a bill. That’s the good news. He paid for that a
long time ago. He’s willing to show us the right way to go. So consult Him. Ask
Him about that decision. He won’t resent your asking. He’ll gladly tell you. Ask
Him.
Wise people ask for God’s help.
3. Do you apply God’s wisdom? …applying your heart to understanding. Wisdom
has to be applied to our heart’s understanding and to every aspect of our life. For
some in this room, you need more information from God’s Word…for most, we have
enough information, we need more application. We must becoming doers of the Word
and not hearers only…
Let me give you some examples of where we often struggle with applying our hearts
to understanding…
 God’s Word says we are to forgive, but our heart say we aren’t over it yet…it’s
just too hard.
 God’s Word says that we are to reconcile relationships based on Matthew 18,
but our hearts often say, I’m uncomfortable doing that.
 God’s Word says that we are to make every effort to maintain the unity of the
body, but our heart says that we are too hurt to have a conversation with the
person who hurt us.
 God’s Word says that we are to feed the hungry and care for the sick, but our
heart says that we are soooo busy.
 God’s Word says that we are to serve the Lord, but our heart says that we can’t
make a difference.
 God’s Word says that we need to be in Bible study, but our heart says that we
don’t know anybody there.
Proverbs 22:17 (NIV) Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your
heart to what I teach… We are to be doers and well as hears! We need to apply wisdom
to our heart and realize that God’s wisdom trumps our feelings. Wise people apply
wisdom to their hearts understanding.
Conclusion: How does the book of Proverbs apply to Jesus? There are no direct
prophecies, or even types. But it’s no stretch to say that Jesus was a teacher of wisdom.
Mark 1: 21-22 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he
entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he
taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus often taught in Parables. The word ‘Parable’ means ‘proverb.’ Jesus told stories
full of Kingdom wisdom. He was a teacher like no other. He was a teacher of wisdom,
but even more so, Jesus was the very wisdom of God.
1 Cor. 1:30-31 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom
from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let
the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Colossians 2: 1-3 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for
those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be
encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of
understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
John 1: 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount what it took for someone to be wise:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts
them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on
sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash."
How do you answer these three questions today?
 How well do you accept God’s authority
 How well do you ask for God’s help
 How well do you apply God’s wisdom to every area of their heart and life
Let’s pray.