Core52 Week 14 - Wisdom
Intro:
• Advice and direction on how to “do life” in the coronavirus age.
o Gloves - no gloves, mask - no mask, 6 feet, etc.
• These are serious questions that could affect our health, even our lives.
• We feel it. You reported it in the 2nd week of our “How are you doing?” survey. Not too much change from the first week.
o We’re still experiencing disruptions to work, income, households.
o We’re holding up but not liking it at all.
o Our greatest need is emotional support so far.
• Put simply, we’re trying to figure out ways to cope and methods to navigate the shape of this strange new world.
• We’ve always wanted to make good choices. We know that how we think directs how we feel which guides our actions.
• Especially now we need to be absolutely sure of the directions we’re taking about life. Who/how we interact. Where we go, how we spend our money, etc.
• So the timing on this week’s Core 52 topic is spot on.
• Wisdom. Being a wise person.
• In modern day terms its more about being smart, coming out on top, being successful.
o Story of guy with a family who stops for gas and owner has an ice cream shop in his station. Gives the dad a “free cone” as he’s leaving. Now dad is stuck: Can’t share one cone with all his kids, can’t eat it in front of them. Drove off with a carload of happy kids, each with their own cone. And one happy station owner.
o Is he wise? Perhaps in the ways of the world and in personal success, but it that truly wisdom?
• Biblical wisdom is built on something entirely different.
• Core 52 verse:
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• In the context of the 1st seven verses of Proverbs we learn about people and their reactions to wisdom.
Proverbs 1:1–7 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• In the Bible, wisdom is more that just good advice or being smart. Wisdom is skillfully applying knowledge and experience to life.
• Proverbs describes three categories that people fall into:
The Wise
Proverbs 1:2–4 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
The Simple
Proverbs 1:4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
Proverbs 7:6–7 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
• Naive, lacking experience and common sense.
• Could go either way in life.
• Most of the proverbs are aimed at the simple.
o Let’s face it, there’s a bit of the simple in most of us. Areas of life where we lack sense or experience.
The Fool
Psalm 53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
• Self-centered, unteachable, morally bankrupt.
Solomon’s Summary
Proverbs 1:5–6 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Clearly, Solomon wants us to pay attention to the proverbs that follow. These are general statements of truth based on our awe, respect and fear of God who defines wisdom and made creation.
• Therefore, knowing God will make us able to skillfully navigate and adapt in our world.
Knowing God in the Flesh
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
• Romans reminds us to go to God for wisdom, but how do we get it?
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
• James tells us that we can expect God to be generous with his wisdom.
• He gave us a model to follow:
1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
• Disciples of Jesus (that’s us), follow the path of Jesus and find, in his commands and instruction, the wise path.
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
• If we want to know how wise we are becoming, we can use this partial list as a guide.
Navigating Life With Skill
• A chapter of Proverbs/day. Make it through the whole book each month. It’s transformative.
