--"Acquiring Wisdom for Dummies"
#4 in walking in wisdom series
OPEN: So for the past several weeks now we've been talking about walking in wisdom. I've kind of camped on this concept for awhile because, well -- it seemed the wise thing to do. It flows out of Eph. 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Last week we looked at using our time wisely. We said that there is something far more important than knowing what time it is -- it is knowing how wisely you are using your time. Today we want to take a little detour and explore "what if I am committed to doing the wise thing, but I don't know what the wise thing is"? What if you're at the point and your saying, "I really do want to do the wise thing -- willing to quit pretending -- willing to quit playing games -- I'm willing to quit deceiving myself -- I'm ready -- and I want to walk in wisdom -- but I really don't know if the decisions that I am making in my relationships -- my job -- my family --my finances, my personal life are really wise. How do I know If I am really walking in wisdom? How do I begin to make wise decisions?"
There are lot of things can cause a kind of a fog in our decision making process when it comes to making wise decisions, isn't there? Our emotions, "I'm in love" or making a purchase "No money down, no payments for 12 months -- you deserve this today!" Our emotions can make making wise decisions very difficult can't they? Negative emotions can make it difficult to make a wise decision. When you are really angry about something -- jealous -- resentful -- bitter over something. Sometime our negative emotions can cause to abandon wisdom and make some very foolish choices. How do make wise decisions whether the emotions are positive or negative? How does a person acquire wisdom? That's what we want to focus on today. -- So I'm going to tell everybody how to acquire wisdom during the next 30 minutes - - this is such a huge topic -- all we can do right now is address some of the fundamentals involved.
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
This is the question that everyone living on the earth would wish that God had asked them. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have God come to you in a dream and say, "Look, whatever you want, I'll give it to you, just ask."
Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
Here I am young and inexperienced and You've placed me in as a king.
Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
In other words, what he is saying is I already have so much, I have all the position, power, & possessions, I have all the honor, I have all the rank, I have all the authority. I have more than a man could ever want. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?
Honestly admit that you don't know: what you pretend to know, what people think you should know.
Now what's going on? He's placed into a situation where he knows that he doesn't know what he needs to know and he's not afraid to confess it. He says Lord, I'm only a child -- I don't know how to carry out my duties. Basically he's saying, "Lord I've got this huge responsibility and quite honestly, I don't know what to do. I feel like a dummy." He's saying, "Lord can you show a dummy like me how to be wise?" Have you been there? Have you been in situations where people are expecting you to have the right answers? -- to come up with the correct path to follow and you haven't got a clue?
Solomon is saying three things:
1. -- I don't want to pretend that I know more than I really know
2. -- I don't want to pretend that I know what people are expecting me to know.
3. -- I don't want to pretend.
OK -- so here's my question: Do you think that Solomon could have bluffed his way through this? Do you think he could have pulled that off? If he would have said to himself, "I know I'm a dummy -- I haven't got a clue how to run a kingdom -- but I'm not going to let anyone know I don't know. After all, I'm the king -- who is going to question me? I'll just talk with authority, I chop off a few heads so people won't question my judgments. I'll raise my voice -- stomp my feet -- when someone is waiting for me to make a decision I scrunch my face up to make it look like I'm thinking very deeply. I'll convince people I am a wise person." I think he probably could have pulled it off.
I mean, there probably would have been moments when those who were closely around him would have seen him make a decision and think within themselves, "Boy that was dumb" But they wouldn't question him, because he was the king -- and they wanted to live. So Solomon could have gone his entire lifetime bluffing it -- playing the game. Pretending that he knew more than he really did. But what happens is one of the most critical moments of his entire life -- he admits he doesn't know what to do. Now here's what I want us to catch:
Solomon was more concerned about the reality of who he was and what he knew, than the image he could have successfully broadcasted to those around him. He choose honesty and abandoned casting an image. He abandons pride and chooses humility.
If you are going to walk in wisdom, you have to totally abandon casting a false intellectual image that you know something when it is obvious to everyone else that you don't. - Life is much harder when you try to live behind a facade of wisdom. When you try to convince people that you are really wise -- you have to start living up to that. You have to try to live up to the image that you are crafting for people. And the problem is people start asking questions, that they expect you to be able to answer. You set that bar way up here and you're working all the time. Isn't it just easier to live in reality?
Look what Paul says in 1 Cor. 2:1-5 - When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Paul was a great intellectual. He was highly educated. He was recognized as a leader. He trained with the best. He was seasoned and experienced. Yet he says, "I don't know anything -- except the one that really matters. I know Jesus - I could have argued people into the kingdom -- but then their faith would rest upon my wisdom and my philosophies. The wisdom of the world is foolish in God's eyes. If arguing people into the kingdom, worked -the cross wouldn't have been necessary.
Now, we would all like to claim that we have wisdom. That's true isn't it? When we talk, we normally talk in a way that portrays that we actually know what we're talking about. But for some people even if they don't know what they talking about, they talk as if they are experts or have particular insight on a topic but in reality they don't really have a clue. They are either just making things up or flying by the seat of their pants, or they are simply repeating some little tidbit they've picked up on the topic and are laying in on the table to make it seem like they know what they are talking about. That's part of what makes communication with some people so very difficult. If no matter what you say, the other person feels as if they have to trump everything that you say -- it becomes a very difficult thing to talk to them.
Why is it so difficult for us to admit -- that in many areas of our lives we are basically dummies. I've always wondered about people who buy the books -- "Learning ... for dummies" You all are familiar with this series of books, aren't you? The publishers have a series of instructional books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers on topics outside their sphere of knowledge. Right now they have over 1500 titles. I've always wondered, "Do they try to hide it in the middle of several other books when they are checking out?" Do they say to the cashier, "I'm only buying this one for a friend"? or "Could you put the dummy book in a plain brown paper bag?" Nobody wants someone else to think of them as a person who doesn't know. Ill of how many people want to impress me about how much they know about an area that is totally out of control in their life - & they've recognized that they need help or else they wouldn't be asking for counsel -- but they still want to impress me with how much they know on the topic. They want to project that image that they really do know what their doing. Why can't we just admit -- "I'm really a dummy when it comes to the area of finances." "I'm really a dummy when it comes to the area of relationships." "I'm really a dummy when it comes to be a great husband or wife."
Here's what Solomon models:
Wise people know when they don't know
and
they are not afraid to go to people who do know.
They don't deceive themselves, they don't pretend that they know, they don't pretend that they are smarter than they are. They don't try to impress people with arguments and personal points of view that just cloud up the situation. Wise people know when they reach the end of their knowledge. Wise people know when they don't know. And they are courageous enough to say, "I'm in charge and I haven't got a clue." Wise people know they have a limited amount of knowledge, therefore they have to be honest when they are put into a situation where they don't know, - they defer to someone else. They confess their limitations and they trust someone else. Wise people seek wise council. -- that's what makes them wise.
You see it isn't just a question of knowledge. Solomon had grown up in the king's palace. He'd watched his father carefully. He knew how kingdom decisions were made. He knew how kingdom business was transacted. He had information. But he knew he didn't know how to use all that information. It isn't just a question of having information. It isn't just a question of position. It's a question of wisdom. God is pleased when Solomon acknowledges this. Notice verse 10: "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this." The Message offers this paraphrase: "God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response." If you want to make God happy, ask Him for wisdom.
So when God uses Solomon to pen a portion of His Word, this is what Solomon writes:
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. (Prov. 4:5-9) See what he's saying? At all costs, get wisdom. Work at hard at it. Though it costs you all you have -- get wise. Get biblical counsel -- listen to what other people say- totally abandon saying, "I know what's best for me! I know what I'm doing!" Don't settle for that. Totally abandon casting an image that you already know.
Understand the Source of True Wisdom:
What I want us all to do at this point is to turn to a classic chapter in the Bible on wisdom. Job chapter 28 -- I want to read through the entire chapter with you.
(--too long of a passage for the screen - -)
"The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) the first part of the chapter, it talks about mining for precious metal and how men will go to incredible lengths to find wealth. They take it out of the earth and they go deeply into the ground and they go through all kinds of things to try to find wealth. But in verse 12 it says, "And where shall wisdom be found? Where does man go to get wisdom when he needs it? And where is the place of understanding? Man doesn't know its price and neither is it found in the land of the living. It's not available, it isn't for sale and it doesn't have a price. The depth says, It's not in me. Down deep in the earth he's not going to find it. And the sea says, It's not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price of it. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it. And you can't exchange it for jewels or fine gold. It's above the price of rubies. The topaz of Cush (Ethiopia) shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Where do you get wisdom? And where do you get understanding? It's hidden from the eyes of every living thing.
True wisdom, the supernatural wisdom needed to understand the trials of life is not available in the world around us. Destruction and death have heard about it. They've not found it. And then verse 23, "God understands its way and He alone knows its place." So, if you want wisdom...who do you go to? You go to God. God is the source of true wisdom. People will say, "I want my life to go a new direction -- I want to quit pretending -- I want to stop faking it -- I want to fix my family -- my finances -- my relationships." - and they will pursue answers in ever form imaginable, but not submit themselves to the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord? It means recognition and reverence that leads to submission. People will pursue human philosophies, and the world's wisdom -- their own ideas -- and go round and round and round the block, - and what they are really doing is trying to prove over and over again that their own wisdom right. And for so many people it's all about pride -- and they never really experience transformation. Some people will just not let go -- their families will be destroyed, their relationships destroyed, their finances ruined and they will still insist they have wisdom. What they are saying is "I've mined the wealth of my knowledge and understanding and I've come up with the right answer -- even though my life is falling apart." Dig as deep as you want folks, we won't find wisdom in our own minds or the systems or philosophies of the world. Job couldn't find it on this earth -- neither could Solomon.
"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." (Prov. 2:1-6)
When Solomon speaks about wisdom in these verses he uses the same language that Job uses. He talks about seeking it like silver or for hidden treasure. Silver and hidden treasure are underneath the ground. They require digging. The fact that the treasures are hidden implies that it is not on top of the ground, obvious to the casual eye. Why would God not make wisdom available for anyone to pick up too easily? It's too valuable. He doesn't want folks to pick it up who don't intend on using it. He has placed wisdom as a hidden treasure underneath the ground for those who really want it. Just like people who truly desire to find gold don't mind digging and working to find it, wisdom is only to be found by people who value it enough to search for it.
Recognize There Is A Difference Between Earthly Wisdom And Godly Wisdom.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. (1 Cor.3: 18-19)
Notice the first words here -- "don't deceive yourself" That's the issue, isn't it? We deceive ourselves into thinking that we know more than we really do. Because we are so concerned about the image we want others to believe about us, we begin to believe that image. The Corinthian church was a mess, they knew nothing about unity and oneness, they argued, they had moral issues in the congregation, they were taking each other to court, they were ignoring the poor, they were arguing over who was in charge -- and they at the same time proclaiming themselves to be very wise and congratulating themselves over how great they were. -- The Corinthian church was struggling over the issue of wisdom. The reason they had so many problems going on in the church is that so many of its people were still depending upon the wisdom of the world -- the wisdom of their own minds instead of submitting themselves to the wisdom of God.
Let me tell you something folks,
You Won't Solve Spiritual Problems Using Human Wisdom.
If the world and anything to offer -- the best of its citizens wouldn't have crucified the Lord. Our confidence better be in the Word of God and not man's opinions. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:13-16) James in verse 13 asks a question that calls for examination. What kind of wisdom do you have? You say you're wise? You say you have understanding? Then let's find out. Wisdom can and will be demonstrated in a person's life. Anyone can claim to have wisdom -- and most people are wise at least in their own eyes. James says, "Let's check it out." You say you have understanding? You say you have the wisdom? -- let's look at your life -- because wisdom will be evidenced in your life. How is wisdom evidenced in a person's life? How do we show that we have wisdom?
James says there are three qualities that will be shown in the life of a wise person.
* Good Behavior: Let him show it by his good life by your excellent life style, by your attractive action. In other words, if you have the wisdom of God, it's going to come out in the way you live.
* Good Works: by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom
* Good Attitudes: But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
If you claim to "know" or be wise apart from that you might have wisdom but it is sophomoric wisdom. sophomore. "Sophomore" comes from two Greek words: sophos, from which we get the word "sophist," meaning wise, and moros from which we get the word "moron," meaning fool. In other words, a sophomore is a "a wise fool" (present company of second year high school students excluded). A sophomore is a person who has just enough knowledge to be dangerous. They don't have enough education to realize how much they don't know. But the main point I want us to catch is that James is making a distinction between worldly wisdom and
godly wisdom. It's always been that way.
Embrace the Wisdom of God Revealed In Jesus Christ.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." (1 Cor. 1:18-19)
- When Paul was in Athens (the wisdom capital of the world) addressing the Epicureans on Mars Hill, when he came to the place in his story where he referred to the resurrection of Jesus and they said, "What's this? Get out of here. What's this babbler talking about? Resurrection; foolishness, ridiculous," and they rejected Paul's message when he came to the cross and the resurrection. - when man attempts to elevate his own wisdom he is attempting to lower God's wisdom. - God's wisdom makes man look foolish because it conflicts with his own ideas. Ill - - when bathtubs were first introduced, that the scientists were warning about the use of bathtubs, how dangerous they were to the health? And the men of science actually had many cities in the United States form ordinances forbidding bathtubs in houses. They thought people are going to get all kinds of chronic illnesses when they start taking baths. There were cities that actually outlawed the use of bathtubs because the scientists warned them about the dangers that could come to man because of their use. The wisdom of man. God says his wisdom not only contradicts it but it will frustrate it - he'll reveal it for what it really is -- foolishness. Not only that, he says he will destroy it.
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? To show that human ideas will perish he asks three questions:
* Where are all the smart people that have all the answers? * Where is the advancement that is supposed to have taken place because of man's wisdom?more peace? Less crime? Less immorality? - we are more educated but not more moral. - We have more means of helping each other but are no less selfish. - we have more means of communicating -- but we don't understand each other any better. - we have more physchology and still more crime and more war. - Humanity's basic nature has not changed in spite of the man's wisdom
- we've only revealed the depth of our foolishness.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
- the height of man's foolish is that in spite of his wisdom he still could not know or understand God.
- all the world can be divided into three categories: believer, atheist, or agnostic - in Latin the word agnostic is "ignoramus" - man's wisdom has made us all "ignoramuses" We have in the Bible the revelation of God through Jesus Christ, which is not man reaching out for God, but God reaching down for man. The infinite, it starts with the infinite base reaching to the finite. Thus, God is not found or discovered by man's pursuit and wisdom knew not God. God is discovered by the revelation of Himself to man,
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
The Jews demanded a sign - the Messiah was to come to earth - and when He comes, they say He will come with great signs of power and majesty and bring a golden age upon the earth. Greeks look for wisdom - - proof through human wisdom. -- Paul arguing at Athens - underlying it all "I want proof" God gave proof -- proof of his love by sending Jesus to pay the penalty we deserved - Christ Crucified is stumbling block to everyone - the cross doesn't conform to anyone's preconceived ideas of God - when God touches a person's heart all the wisdom of the world melts away. You'll discover that Jesus Christ brings to your heart and life...
ƒnƒnƒnƒnƒnƒnƒxƒndeliverance from the sin and restlessness of their souls.
ƒnƒnƒnƒnƒnƒnƒxƒnthe knowledge of God and the infilling of love, joy, and peace.
ƒxƒnthe guidance and direction of God as they walk through the trials of life day by day
ƒxƒnperfect assurance of living eternally with God.
ƒxƒnthe greatest purpose and meaning in life possible
Close: Memory Verses:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Prov. 3:5-7)
