When you build a house you want to be wise about the kind of contractors you hire, the kinds of materials you use, the research you do… and you’ll want to be wise in choosing the location to build the home. This last one can be extremely important…
For example, a few years ago a Chicago family was forced to pay a company $65,000 that had bought THEIR home in a tax sale. You see, the builder made a mistake and built their home on the wrong lot. (lot 38 instead of lot 39) and the family ended up paying taxes on the wrong property. And so their home (built on the other property) was sold at a tax sale for unpaid taxes on the land the house was built on. They apparently had to pay the company (who’d bought their property at tax sale) $65,000 to keep their house. All because their house was built in the wrong place.
This sort of thing happens all across the nation. I’ve read of such incidents taking place in Hawaii, California, Rhode Island, etc. One contractor in Florida built a $680,000 custom house on the wrong lot which prompted The Daytona Beach News-Journal to interview the executive officer of the local Home Builders Association who said - wrongful building like that - was 'rare,' but not unique. She said "… since I've been working here for the past18 years. I can think of 10 (homes in this County that were built on the wrong property)"
So, it’s always wise to be sure HOW … and WHERE you build. And our text today tells us: “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs was talking about building our LIVES on wisdom. In fact, the entire book of Proverbs is dedicated to teaching us how to be wise in how we live our lives. For example, years ago, Proverbs saved me from making a terrible mistake.
ILLUS: At the last church I served there was a young man named Bill. Now Bill was a pleasant and friendly, trust-worthy looking fellow. But he was as crooked as a dog’s hind-leg. I was later told that Bill would often steal things… and sell it to somebody; and then he’d sell it to another person; and then to another person… and so on. He was a crook... but I didn’t know that. As far as I knew, he was just another Christian attending church.
One day, Bill came up to me and explained that he had a new job in Dayton and that he needed to buy a car. He asked if I’d co-sign with him so he could get his car. I said, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” “What do you mean you can’t do that” he asked. “You’re a Christian… and I’m a Christian. Christians ought to help each other out shouldn’t they!” (he was trying to shame me into doing what he wanted). And I said: “I’d love to help you, but the Bible says I can’t do that. I can’t co-sign.” “WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT!” He demanded.
Well it says it in Proverbs – several times. Places like Proverbs 6:1-5 where we’re told “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor - have given your pledge for a stranger (co-signed), …. save yourself, … go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” Essentially: Be afraid. Be very afraid – do not co-sign!!!
Proverbs 11:15 puts it bluntly: “Whoever puts up security for a stranger (co-signs) will surely suffer harm...”
Do you know what Bill would have done if I’d co-signed for him? He’d have taken the car… and NEVER MADE a payment. When you co-sign for someone you’re saying – if they can’t/won’t pay, I will! He would have owned the car, and I’d have owned the payments. Now I wasn’t smart enough to know that at the time! All I knew was that God said “don’t do that! Don’t co-sign.” The WISDOM of Proverbs saved me from buying a car I’d never own. I’ll co-sign for my immediate family… but not for anyone else! The wisdom of God's Word protected me from making an unwise decision.
Now, if I want to be wise… where do I start? Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." And Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"
So, to be wise I need to learn to… fear the LORD. Whoa! Wait a minute! I’ve got to fear God? That’s doesn’t sound right! In fact, many people who rebel at that idea. They will say "That’s just the Old Testament - I’m a New Testament Christian and I don’t have to fear God." In fact, it’s become popular (these days) to replace the word FEAR with RESPECT. Many people will say that we really shouldn’t FEAR GOD and that these passages really mean we ought to RESPECT GOD.
Well, there’s a couple problems with that. FIRST - no respectable translation ever translates this word as “Respect” - because that’s not what the word means. And SECONDLY 1 Peter 2:17 tells Christians: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear (the Greek word is “phobos” from which we get our word: “phobia”) God. The word is NOT respect… it’s fear. And there’s a good reason for that.
ILLUS: At the first congregation, I discovered that one of our Deacons was a notorious adulterer (slept around). I consulted with 2 of our Elders and convinced them that they couldn’t ignore. So one of the Elders and I sat down with that Deacon and I apologized if I was wrong… but we had 2 witnesses. The deacon just shrugged and flippantly said “well, I’ll just resign.” There was something in his attitude that angered me and (without even thinking) I told him “You don’t get to resign… you’re fired.” As you can imagine, that didn't make real popular with him. But about a month later, the church board put him back in as a deacon. He hadn’t repented so why would they do that? Well, I’ve longed suspected that he threatened to sue them if they didn't fix it. And if that was true - they FEARED THE MAN... but they only RESPECTED God. And their fear of him caused them to do the unthinkable.
Someone once noted: “It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man." (John Witherspoon). If you fear God you’ll do what is right no matter WHO threatens you.
So FEAR of God is where we START. That’s the BEGINNING of wisdom. But you want to mature to the point where you do what you do because you love God. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18
ILLUS: For example – over here we have an electric socket. I LOVE electric sockets. You can plug all kinds of things into these things. Fans/ microwaves/ refrigerators/ computers. These things are wonderful! They even have these down at the hospital, and they plug lifesaving devices into them. I LOVE THESE THINGS.
Now (holding up a table knife) THIS is a table knife. What would happen if I put this into the socket? That's right - I would light up like a Christmas tree. I’ve never done that because I’m pretty sure what would happen if I did. It can be dangerous! But I’m NOT AFRAID of the electric socket, I just have the wisdom to realize it can be dangerous.
Now, a child doesn’t have that kind of wisdom, and they might insist on putting pins and other things in that socket. If that happens, you might have to put the FEAR of God into them. And eventually they’ll obey you because they’ll FEAR you. But as they grow more mature they won’t be afraid anymore… they’ll just be smart enough to NOT do that!
So, that’s the BEGINNING of wisdom: to FEAR God. But now, how do I know if I’m following God’s wisdom? James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Here’s the point… if you’re jealous or selfish; if you boast a lot, and you don’t tell the truth very much, then you’re not following the wisdom of God. Instead you’re unspiritual… and you’ll be following demons.
“BUT THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
ILLUS: There are times when church-goers will not show that kind of wisdom on the internet. They'll not be peacable, gentle, open to reason, etc. Folks like that show that their "wisdom" is often unspiritual and DEMONIC. Their behavior can often shame the Jesus who died for them, all because they abandoned the wisdom from above because politics (or some other higher priority).
So, how am I going to get that God's kind of wisdom? Well, Proverbs says that, in order to get wisdom, you have to REALLY want it. “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.” Proverbs 4:7-8
You have to WANT wisdom. It has to be more than a hobby… it has to be a passion. Do you remember the story of Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived)? How did he get so wise? Well he pleaded with God for wisdom and “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29). God GAVE WISDOM to Solomon.
And that same promise is available to us: James 1:5 tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
But how does God give us HIS wisdom? Well, sometimes God puts a thought in our minds. Psalm 51:6 declares: “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” I'm convinced God does that for me while I'm preparing sermons and I'm struggling with a way to
Then, in Proverbs, we’re repeatedly told if we want wisdom we should talk to people we trust. Proverbs 19:20 says “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” And Proverbs 15:22 declares “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
So, sometimes God will just plant an idea in our minds, and many times we can get wisdom by talking to people we trust and get their advice. But the best source of wisdom… is Scripture. Because the heart is deceitful, there will be times that what we think won’t be God’s thinking; and there will be times when the people you ask advice of will be wrong. BUT THE BIBLE WILL NEVER BE WRONG!
Jesus said: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a WISE man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) LISTEN TO JESUS and you’ll be wise.
And LISTEN TO SCRIPTURE… because Jesus believed in Scripture. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness He didn't say "I tell you this" or "I tell you that." The first three words He said each time the devil tried temping was "IT IS WRITTEN.” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). In fact, Jesus quoted the Old Testament as His authority several times.He rebuked those who wanted to put the traditions of men above it. (Matthew 15:3-9).He declared that the law, the prophets, psalms spoke of Him and His resurrection. (Luke 24:44-47). And Jesus spoke of numerous Old Testament people and places as being real - because they were real. He believed in Adam and Eve, Abel, Noah, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, Elijah, Naaman, Isaiah, Lot’s wife, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. (adapted from an article by George Faull). If Jesus trusted the Old Testament writings… we can too. Thus, the more we know of God’s Word the wiser we’ll be, because we’ll be building our lives on the wisdom of Jesus.
Now, that brings me to my last point – there is one piece of wisdom that you cannot survive without. Do you know what that wisdom is? IT’S JESUS! In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we read: “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us WISDOM from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
One person wrote put it this way: A man may go to heaven without health, or wealth; without great fame, or a great name; Without learning, or earnings; without culture, without beauty; without friends and even without wisdom. You can go to heaven without 10,000 valuable things, but you’ll NEVER go to heaven without Jesus.
If you DON’T get Jesus - you won’t get heaven – and that would not be wise! You can have the wisdom of Solomon and all the learning of the ages, but you’ll still not go to heaven, if you don’t have Jesus.
But, if you follow Jesus, you’ll go where He went.
INVITATION
