The Building Blocks Of Wisdom Series

“THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF WISDOM”

Proverbs 24:3-7

FBCF – 5/19/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Would you rather be a knowledgeable person or a wise person?

Difference between knowledge & wisdom: “Knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, but wisdom is the ability to see people, events, and situations as God sees them. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon’s attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Proverbs.html)

- Parents can read all the books on parenting & families & talk to other parents who seem to be doing it right & still not be wise.

- Husbands & wives can go to all the marriage seminars & retreats & counselors & listen to all the podcasts on marriage you want & still not be wise.

- A pastor can read all the books & talk to all the experts & go to all the conferences about how to preach, how to lead, how to build a church & still not be wise.

Nothing wrong w/ the parenting books, or the experts, or the counselors, or the seminars & retreats. But the real need in all of our lives in EVERY area of our lives is the need for WISDOM – GOD’S WISDOM!

Knowledge is good – helps you fix problems (lawnmower not working – go to YouTube) – get answers (directions to a destination on a trip – Google maps) – help you pass a test (study to get knowledge for your final exams that are coming up).

So, knowledge is good. But wisdom is BEST – It also fixes problems & helps you get answers & gives you what you need when the tests in life come your way.

But it also gives deeper insight into people in your family & in your life. Gives you vision & direction for your family & life. Gives you the faith you need to move forward in every area of your life b/c when you KNOW that God is giving you HIS wisdom – AS HE PROMISES TO DO! – then you have the Spirit-led confidence to step out in faith into unknown territory & see God work in ways you’ve never seen Him work before.

- In your personal life

- In your marriage

- In your family

- In our Church FAMILY

I believe one of the strongest, most powerful promises that we have in Scripture is James 1:5.

- “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (ESV)

- “But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask.” (CEB)

- “If…any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.” (Phillips)

- “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” (NLT)

EXPLANATION – Proverbs 24:3-7

“HomeWork” series – Proverbs

- “An Excellent Woman” last week – Prov 31

- “Purity Principles”

- “Train Up a Child”

- “Money Matters”

- Father’s Day – Dr. Ron Mumbower – marriage & family counselor

But today – “The Building Blocks of Wisdom” – You’ve got to build your house right, your family right, your marriage right, your entire life right. And you need God’s wisdom to do that. Can’t do it w/out His wisdom.

Lincoln Logs – kids’ building blocks, construction toy – actual miniature wooden logs that have square notches cut in them so the child can build a fort or a cabin or some other small building.

Invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Based on an actual hotel in Tokyo, Japan, that was designed by the father. The foundation for that hotel was designed with interlocking log beams which made the structure “earthquake-proof.” It was one of the few buildings still standing after a massive earthquake in 1923.

Frank Lloyd Wright knew the importance of a solid foundation when everything starts shaking. And God knows that even more so when it comes to our lives.

- He knows that things are going to shake.

- He knows that earthquakes are going to come into your life.

- He knows exactly what you need to be able to still be standing after the shaking stops.