Wise Up O Men Of God! Series

In 1999, State Farm Insurance rated the most dangerous intersections for accidents in the United States. The winner (or better, loser) was the corner of Belt Line Road and Midway Road in Addison, Texas. There were 263 reported crashes at that intersection in the Dallas suburb. That averages out to about five wrecks per week, not counting the unreported fender benders.

Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous intersections. Sometimes we refer to them as “forks in the road.” They are those moments where a choice we make or don’t make sets us on a course that could influence the rest of our journey. Do we stop or go. Turn right or left. Go ahead or turn back. Perhaps you feel like you are at a dangerous intersection right now in your life.

The Bible speaks about a divine resource we can utilize when we come to those intersections. It is called wisdom. There are many times when we will approach one of those intersections and we will realize we have a shortage of wisdom.

We face difficulties in handling the hazards of life and need wisdom

• Finances

• Family

• Relationships

• Education

• Employment

James 1.5-11

Some practical guidelines for when you know you don’t know:

I. A Wise Request (1.5)

Wisdom comes easily to some and not so to others

A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died." Kenny replied, "Well then, just give me my money back." The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already." Kenny said, "OK then, at least give me the donkey." The farmer asked, "What are you going to do with him?" Kenny, "I'm going to raffle him off.” Farmer, "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!" Kenny, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he is dead." A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "What happened with that dead donkey?" Kenny answered, “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898." Farmer, "Didn't anyone complain?" Kenny replied, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back."

A. Wisdom’s Description

1. Seeing things God’s way

2. “The convergence of knowledge and skill which enables a person to make right choices that honor God.” (by Kelly Randolph)

3. Practical use of knowledge that deals with life’s issues.

B. The Source of Wisdom

1. God – Proverbs 1.7

2. Not just knowing Bible – can be knowledgeable and unwise; Need to know how to USE the scripture

C. Asking is Wise Matthew 7.7-11

1. Solomon’s request – 1 Kings 3.9

2. God is please when we ask for the right things

3. Demonstrates that we understand we are inefficient

4. Demonstrates that we want to be more Christ-like

Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy steel magnate of a past generation, once remarked to a group of men that he did not feel the need of prayer. “What is the use of praying?” he asked. “I already have everything I want. What more could I ask for?” One of his hearers remarked: “Perhaps, sir, you might pray for humility.”

II. A Wise Activity (Putting Faith into Action)

A person asked Flip Wilson about his religion and he replied, “I am a Jehovah’s By-Stander.” “I never heard of that, what is it?” Flip answered, “They asked me to be a witness but I didn’t want to get involved.”

A. Correlation of Hearing and Doing

1. Hearing = Obeying

2. Shema – Deuteronomy 6.4

B. Faith Grows When We Act

1. O Ye of Little Faith

2. We need help – Mark 9.24

D.L. Moody once visited an elderly Christian Woman who showed him her well-worn Bible. By many of the passages in the book she had written “T” and “P”. Moody asked her what she meant by the two letters. She explained – Tried and Proved.

C. Avoid Self-Deception – Matthew 7.21-23

1. Not Just Actions (self-centered)

2. It is the Activity of Faith in Knowing Yeshua

III. A Wise Evaluation (1.9-11)

Highs and Lows of Wisdom

A. God’s Ways are Different – Isaiah 55.6-9

B. Wisdom Sees As God Sees

1. Low is seen as High – 1 Peter 5.5-6

a. Have Not’s become haves – Ephesians 2.1-10

b. In Yeshua (Jesus) We Have It All

c. Gain Dignity and Value

Inventor, Samuel Morse was once asked if he had ever encountered situations where he did not know what to do. He responded, “More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed for light and understanding.” The first words sent over Morse’s telegraph – “What hath God wrought.”