IN SEARCH OF WISDOM
PROVERBS 1:1-19
YOU’LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME IF I FEEL A BIT MELANCHOLY ABOUT THE MESSAGE TODAY. THESE ARE VERY SAD SERVICES IN SOME WAYS. EVA AND AMANDA ARE GETTING READY TO LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR LIFE GOALS AND AMBITIONS. THEY WILL BE BACK TO VISIT, PERHAPS HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEIR LIVES NOW WILL LEAD THEM AWAY FROM US.
I REMEMBER AMANDA VISITING WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, SUCH AS JOYCE’S BIRTHDAY, AND I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN EVA AND NANCY FIRST CAME TO FIRST BAPTIST. WE GOAT A PHONE CALL AT THE HOUSE FROM NANCY, ASKING IF SHE COULD COME TO A BIBLE STUDY, AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, EVA AND NANCY DECIDED TO MAKE FIRST BAPTIST THEIR HOME.
AMANDA AND EVA HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR LIVES SINCE THEN. IT’S HARD NOT TO KNOW YOU AMANDA, WHEN YOU HAVE A PROUD GRAND-MOTHER IN THE CONGREGATION. IT’S HARD NOT TO REMEMBER WHEN EVA WASN’T INVOLVED IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES, FROM KID’S CLUB, TO CHRISTMAS CONCERTS, AND SINGING IN CHURCH. MY HOPE, AND YOU MAY CONSIDER THIS AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPIATE IN OUR SERVICE ANY TIME IT IS POSSIBLE.
TODAY THOUGH IS A TIME OF CELEBRATION. YOU HAVE REACHED A SPECIAL TIME IN YOUR LIVES, AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH YOU. I DON’T WANT YOU TO FEEL TOO UNCOMFORTABLE OR UPTIGHT THINKING THAT THIS SERMON IS ADDRESSED SPECIFICALLY TO YOU. THE ONLY REASON TO FEEL THAT WAY IS BECAUSE IT IS. THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM THOUGH IS SOMETHING WE ALL PARTICIPATE IN, SO IT IS A SERMON FOR ALL OF US TODAY.
THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY, HAS FAR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVIL TO HAPPEN THAN EVER BEFORE. JASON CRABB HAS A SONG OUT ENTITLED “WE CAN’T DO THAT ANYMORE.” HE DESCRIBES IN THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE WORLD. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE OUR DOORS UNLOCKED. PEOPLE USED TO RESPECT PROPERTY. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THE PERSON GIVING US A DRINK NOT TO HAVE IT MIXED WITH A DRUG. “YOU CAN’T DO THAT ANYMORE.”
DRUGS TODAY ARE MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN THEY WERE SAY 20 YEARS AGO. TODAY DESIGNER DRUGS ARE THE RAGE, AND PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN THEIR BODIES, NOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO.
LESLIE AND I WERE WATCHING THE NEWS ONE NIGHT AND THEY HAD A REPORT ON THE NEWEST CRAZE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. IT WAS INHALING ALCOHOL.
WHAT PEOPLE WOULD DO IS BUY SOME DRY ICE AND POUR ALCOHOL OVER IT. IT WOULD TURN THE ALCOHOL INTO A VAPOR WHICH YOU WOULD THEN INHALE.
THE DANGER IS THAT THE ALCOHOL WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR BLOOD STREAM AND YOUR BRAIN. WHEN YOU DRINK YOUR BODY CAN MAKE YOU VOMIT IF YOU’VE HAD TOO MUCH. NOT SO WITH THIS METHOD. YOU GET THE FULL DAMAGING DOSAGE OF THE ALCOHOL. WE DON’T KNOW HOW IT WILL EFFECT PEOPLE, BUT THE KIDS ON CAMPUS ARE NOT AFRAID TO TRY IT. THE MAGIC WORD IS JUST ONCE.
THERE ARE MORE INTERNET SCHEMES DESIGNED TO DEFRAUD SENIOR CITIZENS THAN EVER BEFORE. WE COULD GO INTO SOME BUT THAT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TODAY.
WHAT I’M SAYING IS THAT EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL TARGET FOR EVIL TODAY, AND SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE AWARE AND VIGILENT OF SATAN. THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS WISDOM IS THE REALIZATION THAT NOONE IS IMMUNE FROM TEMPTATION AND WE MUST ALWAYS BE ON OUR GUARD.
THIS IS WHY WISDOM IS SO IMPORTANT TODAY. AT SCHOOL YOU ARE INTRODUCED TO A LOT OF FACTS AND KNOWLEDGE, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE WISDOM. THE WORLD TODAY IS AN INFORMATION AGE. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES SUCH AS INTERNET, FACEBOOK, CELL PHONES, ETC. ALLOW US ACCESS TO INFORMATION INSTANTLY. WHAT THEY DO NOT DO, IS GIVE US THE WISDOM ON HOW TO USE THAT INFORMATION.
THE BIBLE CAN DIRECT YOU TO GOD AS THE SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM. THIS IS WHAT MAKES SOLOMON’S WORDS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TODAY. HE IS NOT WRITING TO TEACH YOU WISDOM FOR WISDOM CANNOT BE TAUGHT. HE IS WRITING TO DIRECT YOU TO HIS SOURCE OF WISDOM, AND THAT IS GOD.
SOLOMON, YOU MAY REMEMBER WAS A VERY WISE KING OF ISRAEL. HE WAS DAVID’S SON, AND TO HIM FELL THE TASK OF BUILDING THE TEMPLE THAT DAVID MADE THE PLANS FOR. SOLOMON’S PRAYER WAS NOT FOR RICHES AND WEALTH, NOR WAS IT FOR FAME. RATHER SOLOMON’S PRAYER TO GOD WAS FOR WISDOM AS HE RULED.
1 KINGS 3:8-14:
“8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for— both riches and honor— so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."”
SOLOMON’S WISDOM IS RECORDED IN THE VERY NEXT CHAPTER AS HE DEALS WITH THE TWO PROSTITUTES AND THE BABY. YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT ACCOUNT.
THE FIRST LESSON THAT SOLOMON TEACHES US ABOUT WISDOM IS FOUND IN THE FIRST THREE VERSES. LOOK AT WHAT HE TELLS US ABOUT WISDOM: 1. IT IS FOR UNDERSTANDING WORDS OF INSIGHT
2. ACQUIRING A PRUDENT AND DISCIPLINED LIFE
3. GIVING DISCRETION TO THE YOUNG.
THESE VERSES CONTAIN THE FIRST KEY IN FINDING WISDOM THAT I WISH TO PRESENT TODAY.
THE FIRST KEY TO DISCOVERING WISDOM IS:
MAINTAINING PATIENCE IN THE FACE OF STRESS
SOLOMON’S GOAL IN WRITING PROVERBS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ACQUIRING WISDOM, BUT ALSO DISCIPLINE.
WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY TO ACT IMPULSIVELY AT TIMES. WE MAKE IMPULSE BUYS, OR TRY A DIFFERENT FOOD ON A WHIM.
BUT ACQUIRING WISDOM REQUIRES PATIENCE, AND THINKING THINGS THROUGH. WHEN WE STOP AND THINK, OUR KNOWLEDGE KICKS IN, AND WE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
LET ME ILLUSTRATE WITH AN INTERNET SCHEME THAT IS GOING AROUND NOW. YOU ARE WORKING AWAY ON YOUR COMPUTER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FREEZES. YOU CAN’T GET IT TO FUNCTION AT ALL. YOU RECEIVE A MESSAGE THAT SAYS YOU WERE CAUGHT ON A PORNOGRAHIC SITE, AND YOU NEED TO PAY A $100.00 FINE IN ORDER TO GET YOUR COMPUTER BACK.
THESE SCHEMERS ARE PREYING ON PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT COMPUTERS, AND HOPING THAT IN THE MIDST OF THE CONFUSION PRESENTED, THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT THINK AND PROCEED TO PAY THE FINE.
IF PEOPLE TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK THOUGH, YOU WILL SEE IT AS A SCAM. FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW WHAT SITES YOU GO ON, AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A PORNO SITE, HOW COULD YOU BE FINED. SECOND, THE ONLY PORNOGRAPHIC SITES THAT ARE ILLEGAL ARE SITES INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. IT’S DISGUSTING, BUT NOT ILLEGAL. THIRD, NOBODY CAN HAVE THIS SORT OF ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER WITHOUT YOU GIVING IT TO THEM.
SOLOMON, CAUTIONS US TO TAKE OUR TIME AND HAVE PATIENCE. WHEN WE SHOW PATIENCE IN THE MIDST OF STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, GOD ALLOWS US TO ANALYZE THE SITUATION THROUGH HIS EYES. WE WILL KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND FAIR.
HE REMINDS US THAT OUR PATIENCE WILL HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS. CONSIDER VERSES 4 AND 5. WHEN THE WISE LISTENS, THEY WILL ADD TO THEIR UNDERSTANDING. WHEN THE WISE TAKES TIME AND EXERCISES PATIENCE THEY WILL GAIN DISCERNMENT FOR THE SITUATION.
SOLOMON THEN GOES ON TO HIS SECOND LESSON IN ACQUIRING WISDOM.
PROVERBS 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
WHEN SOLOMON SPEAKS ABOUT THE “FEAR” OF THE LORD, HE IS NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF GOD. HE IS SAYING THAT WE SHOULD RESPECT THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD.
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT SOLOMON SAYS THAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE. WHY IS THE RESPECT FOR THE LORD TO BE THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS AS AN ANSWER. PERHAPS SOLOMON WOULD BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD IF HE HAD SAID THAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF TRUE WISDOM.
SOLOMON’S SECOND KEY TO DISCOVERING WISDOM IS
A PROPER RESPECT FOR THE LORD
THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE ENTERING IS FULL OF EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRY TO EXPLAIN GOD AWAY. IT SEEMS IT IS THE GOAL OF THE WORLD TODAY TO DISCREDIT CHRISTIANITY AT ANY COST. OF ALL THE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD, IT SEEMS THAT CHRISTIANITY IS WHAT IS FOCUSED ON.
A PROPER RESPECT FOR THE LORD THOUGH, CAN LEAD US TO SOME GREAT DISCOVERIES. PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH PROFESSION CAN SEE THE GENIUS OF GOD, IN THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR BODIES. SCIENTISTS LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, WE REALIZE THAT OUR CREATION HAS TO BE MORE THAN JUST CHANCE.
A COUPLE WERE EXCITED YESTERDAY AS THEY BECAME GRAND-PARENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY COUNTED EACH OF THAT CHILD’S FINGERS AND TOES. I’M SURE THAT IN THEIR EYES THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE BEAUTIFUL CHILD. DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY WOULDN’T HIT THE ROOF IF THEY WERE TOLD THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL BABY WAS CREATED JUST BY CHANCE. SURELY SOMEONE GREATER THAN YOU OR I LOOKED DOWN ON THIS FAMILY AND CHOSE TO BLESS THEM WITH THIS CHILD. WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE TO BELIEVE IN?
THE RESPECT OF THE LORD CAN DIRECT YOUR FOCUS TO TRUE KNOWLEDGE. THE BASIC ELEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE IS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU TODAY, IF YOU WILL LISTEN AND FOLLOW HIM.
THE STUDENTS WE HONOR TODAY HAVE SUCH AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME GREAT. YOU CAN BE CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELDS AND THE WORLD CAN ALWAYS USE A GOOD CHRISTIAN LEADER. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AS A CHILD OF GOD.
WISDOM CHALLENGES YOU TODAY TO BE TRUE TO YOUR BELIEFS. DARE TO TAKE THE BIBLICAL APPROACH, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE POPULAR. DARE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR FAITH, OF YOUR GOD. DARE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, AND BE LED BY THE GOD WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR YOU.
MATTHEW 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
SOLOMONS THIRD KEY TO DISCOVERING WISDOM IS:
LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS
NOW THIS IS JUST THE NEWS GRADUATING STUDENTS WANT TO HEAR. I BELIEVE THOUGH THAT THESE VERSES 8-9 ARE SAYING MORE TO US THAN JUST LISTEN.
WE ARE TOLD TO LISTEN TO OUR FATHER’S INSTRUCTION AND NOT TO FORSAKE OUR MOTHER’S TEACHING.
SOLOMON WANTS US TO REMEMBER WHAT OUR PARENTS SAID, WHEN THEY ARE NOT AROUND US TO HELP. I’M SURE EACH OF US CAN SAY “THAT’S JUST WHAT MY FATHER WOULD HAVE SAID” WHEN WE WERE FACED WITH A PARTICULAR SITUATION.
THEIR VOICE FROM WITHIN YOU WILL GUIDE YOU IN QUESTIONABLE SITUATIONS. SHOULD I CHOOSE THE FIRST OPTION OR THE SECOND. “WELL I CAN REMEMBER MY MOTHER SAYING…”
YOUR MEMORIES WILL NOT HINDER YOU, IN FACT VERSE 9 SHOWS HOW THEY WILL BE TREATED BY THE WISE.
PROVERBS 1:9: “They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
I BELIEVE SOLOMON IS TELLING US THAT THERE IS GREAT VALUE IN THE TEACHING WE REMEMBER FROM OUR PARENTS. I WISH ALL PEOPLE COULD SAY THIS BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THERE ARE SOME BAD PARENTS IN THE WORLD TODAY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN YOUR SITUATION THOUGH, SO REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. IT CAN GET YOU OUT OF MANY BAD SITUATIONS AND HELP YOU TO RECOGNIZE GOOD THINGS TO DO.
SOLOMON GOES ON TO HIS FOURTH KEY TO DISCOVERING WISDOM
BE CAREFUL OF THE PEOPLE YOU CHOOSE TO BEFRIEND
SOLOMON WRITES ABOUT THIS ISSUE MORE THAN ANY OTHERS, THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SPEND TIME WITH IT AS WELL.
WHAT HE IS SAYING HERE IS CHOOSE PEOPLE TO BEFRIEND WHO WILL ENHANCE YOUR CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, NOT DISTRACT YOU FROM IT.
THIS IS A HARD LESSON TO LEARN, AS THE PEOPLE WHO CAN DISTRACT US FROM OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, CAN BE THE PEOPLE WE WANT DESPERATELY TO BE AROUND. JUST THINK ABOUT THAT BIG HUNK OF A GUY CHOSE TO ASK YOU OUT TO A HOUSE PARTY. ALL THE POPULAR PEOPLE WILL BE THERE. THEIR PARENTS AREN’T HERE AND WE GOING TO RAID THE MEDECINE CHEST FOR AN M&M PARTY. (AN M&M PARTY IS WHEN THEY TAKE THE MEDICATION THEY FIND, PUT IT IN A BOWL, AND YOU PULL SOME OF IT OUT, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU’RE GETTING.) WHAT DO YOU DO?
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
THIS PASSAGE IS NOT SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE FRIENDSHIPS WITH NON-BELIEVERS. IT IS NOT SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT DEVELOP SIGNIFICANT FRIENDSHIPS WITH NON-BELIEVERS. WHAT IT IS SAYING IS TO STAY AWAY FROM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. IT CAN AND WILL LEAD TO A MOUNTAIN OF PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTIONS. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS A PARTNER FOR YOU? WOULD GOD LEAD YOU TO A PERSON TO HAVE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH, WHO WOULD LEAD YOU AWAY FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? IF THIS IS THE CASE GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP. DO NOT EVEN MEET ON A SOCIAL BASIS, AS THIS WILL GIVE RISE TO TEMPTATION.
THE FIFTH KEY TO WISOM THAT SOLOMON GIVES US IS
A LIFE OF PURPOSE IS A REWARDING LIFE
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT FOR CHRIST. AS YOU STEP OUT IN FAITH, YOUR LIFE MAY MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE ELSES.
SEEK THE WAYS OF THE WISE. CHERISH THE THINGS YOU HAVE DILIGENTLY WORKED FOR. ENJOY THE REWARDS OF LIVING FOR GOD IN A VERY DIFFICULT WORLD. YOU WILL KNOW PEACE, AND COMFORT FROM BEING IN GOD’S WILL.
YOU WILL HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHY GOD HAS LED YOU IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION.
YOU WILL KNOW THE BLESSING OF RELATIONSHIPS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE LOVE OF GOD, AND YOU WILL BE RESPECTED AS A CHILD OF GOD IN THE RELATIONSHIP. YOU WILL NEVER BE PLACED IN A POSITION OF ASKING “IS THIS REALLY RIGHT FOR ME TO DO?”
IT IS NO WONDER THAT SOLOMON CHOSE WISDOM ABOVE ALL ELSE.MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU TODAY AS GRADUATES, IN FACT IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US ALL TODAY.
CHOOSE WISDOM.
