Benefits Of Wisdom

Benefits of Wisdom

Text: Proverbs 3:1-32

Intro: Apostle Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV),

"Where is the wise?

Where is the scribe?

Where is the disputer of this world?

Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

Being wise in God’s ways, wisdom comes and makes available

a correct application of truth which will honor the Lord and bring

about untold blessings.

"Whether we are wise or foolish matters, not

only for this life, but also for the hereafter."

__Dr. Daniel L. Black

Theme: Saints must live to please God,

maintain personal integrity, and

build wholesome relationships.

I. The Sanctuary of the Soul (Prov. 3:5,6)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

A. Guidance of Biblical wisdom necessary for living

completely in the will of God

1. Acknowledge Him

2. Have a knowledge of Him

B. God then will begin to straighten out our paths.

1. remove obstacles

2. enable one to walk properly in the pathway of life

3. When you have nothing left but God, then you become aware that God is enough.

_______ Maude Royden

4. Can a better sanctuary ever be found?

II. Exercising a Vital Faith (Prov. 3:1-4, 7,8)

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck;

write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

A. For faith to be valid it must be applied to the whole round of life.

1. Consider the main things that lead to life’s best.

2. "My son" tells us who this message is to.

a. not to the world in general

b. to the followers of God

3. God reminds us

a. to not forget His teachings--hide them away in the heart

b. to walk in His ways

4. Obedience brings peace.

a. obedience better than sacrifice ( 1 Sam. 15:22 )

b something refreshing about knowing the

right things have been done

III. Material and Spiritual Blessings (Prov. 3:9,10)

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine

A. O. T. Israelites came under the Mosaic Covenant.

1. Ex. 19:4-6

2. If the nation obeyed then spiritual and physical blessings ensued.

B. No Mosaic Covenant today

1. Wise Christian can expect spiritual blessings

a. as he seeks them

b. Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly

places in Christ:

2. Material needs will be met.

a. Philippians 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according

to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

b. James 4:2-3 (KJV), Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have,

and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have

not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss, [#2560-improperly, wrongly]

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

c. Mk 11:24, Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire,

when ye pray, believe [#4100-have confidence] that ye receive them,

and ye shall have them.

IV. The Discipline of God (3:11,12)

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

A. Immediately the question, "Why?" comes to mind.

1. Why does a loving God seemingly step back and

let negative things into our lives?

2. Job pondered it in the depths of his illness.

3. Jeremiah uttered it in his despondency.

4. Jesus cried out on the cross, "Why..."

B. Heb. 12:6 (The MSG), "It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;

the child he embraces, he also corrects."

1. God’s discipline can help develop our full potential.

2. Illu: The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t

want to do, in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.

_________Tom Landry.

3. Ps. 119:71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

( Still discussing The Wise Disciple & The Benefits of Wisdom )

V. Wisdom is More Precious than Jewels (Prov. 3:13-18)

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.