Got Wisdom? Series

“GOT WISDOM?” James 1:5-8

FBCF – 9/18/22

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Video

Did you pay attention to all of the benefits of wisdom?

- We are blessed when we find it

- It is more profitable that silver & brings better returns than gold

- More precious than rubies

- There’s nothing that compares to it

- Brings long life & riches & honor

- Its way are pleasant & peaceful

- It’s a tree of life if you grab it & hold fast to it

Sounds to me like this is something so good that we need to go hard after it as much as we can.

Proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. Walked up to the muscular philosopher – "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge."

Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. Led young man through the streets, to the sea, & chest deep into water. Then asked, "What do you want?"

"Knowledge, O wise Socrates," said the young man with a smile.

Socrates put his strong hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under. 30 sec later Socrates let him up. "What do you want?" he asked again.

"Wisdom," the young man sputtered, "O great and wise Socrates."

Socrates shoved him under again. 30 sec, 35, 40. Socrates let him up. Young man gasping. "What do you want, young man?"

Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful..."

Socrates jammed him under again. 40 sec passed. 50. "What do you want?"

"Air!" the young man cried. "I need air!"

"When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge."

When we want & need wisdom, we can get it from God.

EXPLANATION – James 1:5-8

Remember that the letter of James is an immensely practical book. It’s got an real life “I ain’t playing” feel to it as James addresses real life issues in the life of every Christ-follower. Tony Evans: “James is the in-your-face, no-holds-barred apostle. He says in essence, ‘If you’re going to be a Christian, be a real one.’ This book thus explains what practical Christianity looks like. It’s about living out your faith in everyday situations w/ everyday people, & doing it victoriously.” (The Tony Evans Study Bible, p. 1470)

To be able to do that – to live our your faith in everyday situations w/ everyday people – we’ve got to have wisdom b/c those situations & those people can be challenging.

- For some of you, your situations & your people are family members

- For some of you, your situations & your people are coworkers

- For some of you, your situation is financial

- For some of you, your situation is health-related

- For some of you, your situation is church-related – you’re in a leadership position, a LG leader, a deacon, a committee member & you need God’s wisdom in those areas

- For some of you, your situation is a sin issue, an addiction, a pattern of behavior that is causing difficulty for you & for others in your life.

The reality for ALL of us here today is this: We need wisdom. Not the world’s wisdom, but God’s wisdom.

- He’s the creator of wisdom

- He’s the source of wisdom

- He’s the Spirit of wisdom

Listen to these verses:

- 1 Kings 4:29 – “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore”

- Proverbs 2:6 – “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”

- Ecclesiastes 9:18 – “Wisdom is better than weapons of war…”

- Jeremiah 10:12 – “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, & by his understanding stretched out the heavens.”

- Ephesians 1:16-17 – “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him…”

This wisdom that God gives to His children enables us to live under His dominion & control in every area of our lives. It’s not just information & knowledge, though that’s important. Wisdom is the God-given ability to take the information & knowledge that He gives to us & apply it to our lives. If you lack knowledge, go to the classroom. If you lack wisdom, go to your prayer room.

APPLICATION – Wisdom for life is available to every Christ-follower.

WHY WE NEED WISDOM – We don’t need wisdom b/c we are dumb. We need wisdom b/c we are desperate. We simply need wisdom. 3 reasons why we need it: