PROVERBS #1: WISDOM FOR DAILY LIVING
OPENING SCRIPTURE:
“Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will exalt you. Embrace her and she will honor you.” (Proverbs 4:7-8, NLT).
INTRO TO TOPIC: Socrates Wisdom Story
A story is told of a student who went to the philosopher Socrates one day, seeking wisdom. The master took the student to the lakeshore and walked into the water. The student followed his instructor into the water, which got deeper and deeper. Without saying a word, Socrates grabbed the boy by the back of his neck, pushed his head under the water and held it there.
Finally, Socrates let him go. The pupil gasped for air, choked on water, and shouted, “What did you do that for?” Socrates responded: “When you want wisdom as badly as you wanted that last breath, it is then that you shall have it.”
• The point is this – if you want wisdom, it must be sought!
• This is the information age. Google something = 1.6 seconds trillions of pages of info!
• However, we are an ‘instant’, impatient society! If we want wisdom, it comes slowly…
• This month, our church is going on a journey – seeking wisdom together from Proverbs!
PERSONAL STORY:
When we did our family devotions through the Book of Proverbs about 5 years ago:
Prov. 13:24: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Hannah (then about 3 years old) stood on her chair yelling, “Spare the rod!”
Prov. 30:17: “The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.” Tori’s comment when we watched “The Passion” when one of the criminals eyes was plucked out: “He must have given his parents a dirty look.” (years later!).
GOD’S PROMISE:
• “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
• Note the context of this promise – we need wisdom during the storms and trials of life!
• Do you have a problem or issue in your life that needs fixing? We need God’s wisdom!
• We need wisdom to raise our children, handle our finances, have healthy relationships…
THE LIFE OF SOLOMON: Solomon was the son of David, and a King in the nation of Israel.
One night, God appeared to King Solomon in a dream and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (1 Kings 3:5, NLT).
Solomon said, “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in… Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9).
God was pleased with this request: “God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge too vast to be measured. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt… He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs.” (1 Kings 4:29-32).
AN EXAMPLE OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON:
“Now two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him.” (1 Kings 3:17).
• The two women had babies; one of them rolled on top of her baby while he slept and killed him, and switched babies with the other prostitute in the middle of the night.
• “Then the other woman said, "No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." And the first woman said, "No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." (v.22).
• Remember, this was before the days of CSI and DNA sampling!
• How did Solomon deal with this situation?
“24 Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other." 26 Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" But the other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him." 27 So the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.” (1 Kings 3:24-28).
• Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived!
• God is no respecter of persons – if He gave Solomon wisdom, He will give us wisdom!
• We need wisdom in raising our children, making financial choices and more.
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS:
66 books of the Bible = 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament.
OT = 5 Law; 12 History; 5 Wisdom; 5 Major Prophets; 12 Minor Prophets.
Thank God for inspiring Solomon to write down some of his wisdom in the Book of Proverbs!
• This book has been preserved throughout the years.
• Thousands of people have studied it, lived by it, and become successful.
• Proverbs gives us wisdom in the daily choices we make: Where you will be one year from now will be dependent upon the choices you make between now and then!
• Proverbs is different than Forrest Gump mentality: “Life is like a box of chocolates.”
• When you choose to live your life in obedience to the Word, you will be blessed!
ACTUAL PRODUCT WARNINGS:
• On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body.
• On Nytol Sleep Aid: Warning: May cause drowsiness.
• On a blowtorch: Not used for drying hair.
• On a push along lawn mower: Not to be used as a hedge trimmer.
• On a box of fireworks: Do not put in mouth.
• On a toaster: Do not use underwater.
• On a mattress: Do not attempt to swallow.
QUOTE: (Eugene Peterson, from his intro to Proverbs in The Message Bible).
“Wisdom has to do with becoming skillful in honoring our parents and raising our children, handling our money and conducting our sexual lives, going to work and exercising leadership, using words well and treating friends kindly, eating and drinking healthily, cultivating emotions within ourselves, and attitudes towards others that makes for peace. Threaded through all these items is the insistence that the way we think of and respond to God is the most practical thing we can do. In matters of everyday practicality, nothing, absolutely nothing, takes precedence over God. Proverbs concentrates on these concerns more than any other book of the Bible.”
THE INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS:
“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:1-7, NLT).
THE PURPOSE OF PROVERBS:
1. To all people: Teach you wisdom and discipline and how to live right
2. To simple or slow people: Make you smarter
3. To young people: Give knowledge and purpose to your life
4. To people who are wise: You will become even wiser
5. Only a fool will despise wisdom and discipline – so don’t be a fool!
HOW DO WE GET WISDOM?
“Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:3-6).
1. Seek wisdom: We do this by praying and reading the Bible. (Pray Eph. 1:17-18).
2. Fear the Lord: “Golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor. We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, yet he is so just and merciful that he does not oppress us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. People who are truly wise show him reverence.” (Job 37:22-24).
- We need more of a fear of the Lord in the church today!
3. “Whoever walks with the wise will become wise.” (Prov. 13:20).
- You become like the people you hang around with. Fellowship / coffee etc.
- EXAMPLE: Finding Nemo turtles’ talk
CHALLENGE:
1. Seek wisdom all month long.
2. Read a chapter a day from Proverbs.
3. Look for ways to put what you’re reading into practice in your life.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
