Proverbs: Wise Words
October 2, 2011
INTRODUCTION
Wisdom learned the hard way.
Never sleep on the job. In Malaysia, a burglar broke into an house and pocketed several hundred dollars in cash before taking a nap. He woke up the next morning when the homeowner returned and called police and placed under arrest to under arrest.
Know where you are going. A motorist in Ohio led police on a high-speed chase before abandoning his car and jumping a fence -- directly into a prison yard. It was a women's prison, so he had to be transferred to a men's facility.
Think before you act. A man in Old Saybrook, CN who burglarized three condos and then called the cops to report that his getaway car had been stolen. When the police pulled up, they saw the felonious fool with a pillowcase full of loot and arrested him.
T.S. All around us we see the examples of people who lacked wisdom. Proverbs calls them fools. And it is easy to see the mark of folly on people's lives. What is the mark for wisdom? What is the mark of wise words? And more importantly how do we begin to cultivate in our lives?
Proverbs talks about Wise Words this way.
Proverbs 25:11 NIV
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
Proverbs 25:11 NLT
New Living Translation
11 Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
Proverbs 25:11 NASB
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
* Such words are like gold: They are inherently and universally valuable and attractive.
* Indeed, they are like apples of gold: Their value and attractiveness has been enhanced through skillful craftsmanship that has molded them into a pleasing form.
* These words are in a setting: They are presented in a way that is perfectly fitted to the circumstances.
* The setting is silver: Although attractive in itself, its very attractiveness enhances its primary purpose--to display the unique beauty of that which it holds.
So how do we pursue these apples of Gold in a silver setting?
Solomon begins his book with specific instructions on how to begin our pursuit of wisdom. The principles in those instructions form the background, the environment for our study of Wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5-18
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
NIV
Four Marks of Seeking WISE WORDS.
I. Trust in the Lord 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
What does it mean to trust the Lord -- Actively placing confidence in his character, his teaching and his commands even when we cannot see the outcome of that decision.
Getting in the Wheel Barrow
Legend has it that Charles Blondin, a French daredevil in the 1860's, asked crowds if they believed he could traverse the falls pushing a wheelbarrow.
Yes. They knew he could. He had crossed Niagara Falls several times and several ways--backwards, blindfolded, on stilts, at night.
But would they volunteer to ride across in the wheelbarrow?
A. The Degree--all your heart.
* to the nth degree,
* nothing held back
* with no escape clause
* with no other possible plan
B. The Stumbling Block--leaning on your own understanding
* Not about God blessing your plans
* But discovering God's plan
C. The Arena--all your ways
* Not pick and choose.
* No buffet of options
* Preference menu
II. Fear the Lord 3:7-8
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
What does it mean to fear the Lord -- To be more concerned about the consequences of failing to please him, to follow him than we are with pleasing ourselves, with convenience, with our ideas or rightness.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools[a] despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Fearing the lord means we are opting for a new performance standard.
A. What makes sense to us
Wise in your own eyes
B. What makes sense to God
Fear God shunning evil
III. Honor the Lord
ILL: What comes to mind when you think of the word honor?
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
In both the old and New Testaments one of the clear signs of your buy-in your commitment to God's truth, to his principles for living your life, giving.
Solomon is writing with a clear understanding of how the Old Testament promises, covenants, agreements worked out in the lives of those who followed God. When he rights this has full understanding of it significance. From the beginning of their birth as a nation, the tithe, giving and offerings have been an evidence of the people in relationship to God.
T.S. Solomon learned that Honoring God with our wealth is
A. A reminder of His commitment to us
Deuteronomy 26
Firstfruits and Tithes
1 When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance . . . 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, "I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." . . . 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, . . . 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;
T.S. Solomon learned that Honoring God with our wealth is
B. A testimony of our commitment to Him
10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. . .
12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then say to the LORD your God: "". . .I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me.
Jesus the embodiment of Wisdom, doesn't do away with this concept. He commends the Widow who gives beyond her means (Mark 12:41-43). He commands that we give to God what is his (Mark 12:17).
One of the surest testimonies of our surrender to God has always been demonstrated in honoring him with our wealth.
Have you removed the gauge of faithfulness in giving from your testimony?
(Serve, devotions, prayer, come to worship)
IV. Surrender to the Lord v. 11
We have an unusual association with the word discipline.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
A. Accept the idea you've been wrong
B. Admit the need to change
C. Adopt the retraining required
SUMMARY
Four Marks of Seeking WISE WORDS.
o Trust the Lord
o Fear the Lord
o Honor the Lord
o Surrender to the Lord
The Promise:
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
NIV
Application:
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Do you need a life over haul? Are you suffering form the consequences of the choices that lacked wisdom? Is there and area of your life out of control, an area that shames your relationship with God?
Have you settled for your wisdom?
If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask.
Relationship
Friendship
Moral life
Finances
Role as a spouse
Role as a parent
Isn't it time to yield, to ask?
