“Wisdom From Above For Living Here Below”
Proverbs 2:1-9
January 13, 2002
Introduction
With as crazy as our world is around us, we need every advantage that we can possibly get to help us in life. When times are tough as they are now…our country at war, many people laid off from their jobs, an uncertainty about the future…we need hope for these difficult times. How can we make it through? How can we ride out the storm?
For answers to these questions, we turn to the book of Proverbs. The majority of Proverbs come from Solomon, the son of David and great King of Israel. Solomon was the man who God enabled to have anything he wanted and Solomon asked that God give him wisdom. Listen to what the Bible tells us about Solomon in I Kings 4:29-34, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite – wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.”
Wisdom is a very powerful and at times elusive quality that it seems only a few possess in large amounts. The word wisdom is obviously a main theme throughout the proverbs, occurring 41 times throughout the book. Wisdom has been defined and described in many different ways. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “wisdom” as “understanding of what is true, right, or lasting; common sense; good judgment; learning”. The word that is used for “wisdom” in both the Old and New Testaments carries with it the meaning of having a “skill in living, following God’s design and avoiding moral pitfalls”. The Bible Knowledge Commentary defines wisdom as “being skilled in godly living”.
What we’re talking about this morning is heavenly wisdom. Heavenly wisdom teaches us the skills for godly living. Heavenly wisdom serves as a guide for earthly living. Why is heavenly wisdom so important? Here’s what the Bible says about the importance and value of heavenly wisdom. Proverbs 8:11, “for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” Ecclesiastes 7:11, “Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.”
Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to a halt, and the repairmen couldn’t find the problem. So Ford called Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then threw the switch. The generators whirred to life--but Ford got a bill for $10,000 from Steinmetz. Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car maker inquired why the bill was so high.
Steinmetz’s reply: For tinkering with the generators, $10. For knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill.
This morning we are going to be looking at Proverbs 2:1-9. Let’s read these verses right now. Proverbs 2:1-9, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those who walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.”
The first thing that we see as we peer into this passage of Scripture is:
I. THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM. (vs. 1-5)
Job 28:12, But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” Our text indicates in verses 3 & 4 that to find wisdom that we must, “call out” for it, “cry aloud” for it, “look” for it, and “search” for it. We have to deeply desire to have wisdom and go after it. But the places we will go in the hunt for wisdom. We will scour books, listen to tapes, listen to anyone who sounds remotely wise.
One of our biggest problems is that we look for heavenly wisdom in the wrong places. One place that I particularly like to visit is the Chinese Kitchen at Dillon’s on 30th. Not only do I like the Chinese food that they serve there, but I can get a little dose of wisdom with every meal. You know what I’m talking about, fortune cookies. I thought that I would bring a few fortune cookies with me today in order to see what wisdom can be imparted to us this morning. (Break open and read 2 fortune cookies) Obviously, I’m just joking around. You’re not going to be able to find heavenly wisdom in a fortune cookie.
There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge."
Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, "What do you want?"
"Knowledge, O wise Socrates," said the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. "What do you want?" he asked again.
"Wisdom," the young man sputtered, "O great and wise Socrates."
Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. "What do you want, young man?"
Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful..."
Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. "What do you want?"
"Air!" the young man screeched. "I need air!"
"When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge."
Wisdom is a precious commodity in our world today. Our search for wisdom should be an exhaustive one. Verse 4 says that we should search for wisdom as we would a hidden treasure. That’s how valuable wisdom is! It’s a treasure!
Our search for wisdom, heavenly wisdom, will lead us ultimately to one place: God. We now move on from the search for wisdom to:
II. THE SOURCE OF WISDOM. (vs. 6)
Verse 6 clearly says, “For the Lord gives wisdom”. If you are searching for heavenly wisdom, you should go straight to the heavens, straight to God. 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.”
There are a couple of different ways that God gives us wisdom:
1. God gives us wisdom through His Word.
The Bible is not just a book that’s full of history and stories. It is how God reveals himself to us. It is how God reveals his plans to us. It is how God has revealed his son Jesus to us who were not alive when Jesus lived on the earth. If wisdom is being skilled in godly living, then the Bible is our handbook for how to live. In that very familiar verse of II Timothy 3:16-17, Paul describes the value of God’s Word. II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2. God gives us wisdom through other people.
We know that God uses us and other people to accomplish his plans. It makes sense that God would then use other people to dispense His wisdom. It is very wise to surround yourself with people who you trust and who have a proven track record in their own lives so that you can glean advice from these people.
There are countless times that I have gone to other people for a word of wisdom to help me deal with a situation that I found myself in. People that walked where I walk, lived where I live, struggled as I struggle; these people have helped me to make wise choices.
Wisdom belongs to God and he is the source of it. Our search for wisdom should lead us to God, our source of wisdom.
III. THE SUCCESS FROM WISDOM. (vs. 7a)
A person that possesses wisdom will also possess success in life. Ecclesiastes 7:19, “Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.” Wisdom makes a man so successful that he is more powerful than ten rulers in a city, Solomon the writer of Ecclesiastes says. The beginning of verse 7 says that God holds victory in store for the upright, for those that have wisdom.
As Christians, the Bible tells us that our victory is in Jesus Christ. Our ultimate victory over sin and over death comes courtesy of Jesus and his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead. I find it very interesting that Paul gives Jesus the description of being our wisdom. I Corinthians 1:30, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
Wisdom, being skilled in godly living, as we have defined it was perfectly personified by God’s own Son, Jesus. He showed us what it means to live a godly life. Our victory comes in the form of our redemption and salvation. Wisdom is found when you decide to give your life over Christ and follow Him. It’s the wisest decision that you can make.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend many weeks of camp. Camp is a place where many kids make the decision to become a Christian. There’s something about getting away from the daily grind, getting away from TV and radio and giving your whole self over to God that impacts kids in a great way at camp. One of the greatest blessings that I have had is being able to baptize someone at camp. The very first ministry I had was a summer ministry after my freshman year of college. I attended a week of high school camp and it was the highlight of my summer. We had broken into family groups and I was assigned to lead one. I got to know a girl in my group pretty well and as the week wore on she started opening up to me and asking me a lot questions about becoming a Christian and being baptized. She struggled with the decision. She knew that this is what she wanted to do with her life. She understood exactly what she was getting herself into. Her parents weren’t too excited about the idea. They didn’t really like that she had gone to a church camp and weren’t totally in favor of her attending church with her friend. We telephoned her family one night to ask their permission to baptize their daughter. She pleaded with them over the phone, but they refused to grant their permission. As I remember it, we prayed about this with her. The next day she called home again and this time her parents said it was OK. God had given this girl the wisdom to know what path in life she needed to take, that she needed to give her life to Christ and God also gave her the wisdom in how to convince her parents that this was the right thing for her to do. I baptized her that night in the camp swimming pool. She experienced the victory of redemption that wisdom brings to those who choose to follow Christ.
There is not only success that comes from heavenly wisdom, but finally we see:
IV. THE SHIELD OF WISDOM (vs. 7b-9)
Wisdom not only brings us success in life, but it also serves as a shield and protector over us. Verse 8 describes a benefit of having heavenly wisdom being that God, “guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful.” Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”
I think of how much heartache and pain we could avoid if we would only accept the heavenly wisdom from God. There are so many life lessons that we learn through our mistakes and mess ups. But think of all the negative things that we experience by learning through our mistakes that we could’ve been shielded from had we listened to God in the first place.
As a loving Father, I strongly believe that God wants to shield us from avoidable pitfalls in life. He knows what will happen when we make poor choices and he wants to protect us. As a father, I want to shield Hope from avoidable pitfalls in life. I know what will happen if she makes poor choices. Right now, those poor choices would be sticking her finger in the electrical socket or drinking cleaning supplies out of the cupboard. One thing that Hope has a habit of doing is climbing on the couch and sitting with her back toward us. She is oblivious to the fact that if she leans back that she’ll fall off the couch and hurt herself. We have to run over to the couch and either catch her turn her around the correct. We’re trying to shield her. We’re trying to protect her.
He has warned us. He has given us instructions on how to live, things to embrace and things to avoid. God’s wisdom has been made clear to us if we will only listen. Proverbs 1:20, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;”.
Wisdom protects us from foolishness. Wisdom guards us from going down the wrong course in life. I don’t want to spend too much time on this point because Mike is going to be giving a whole sermon next week on how wisdom protects us, but make certain that wisdom acts as a shield for those who have taken hold of it.
Conclusion
One way that we find hope in the difficult times of life is to acquire wisdom. We’ve looked in Proverbs 2 this morning and have seen:
1. The search for wisdom.
2. The source of wisdom.
3. The success from wisdom.
4. The shield of wisdom.
True wisdom, heavenly wisdom serves as a guide to earthly living. Wisdom is being skilled in living, godly living. Derek Kidner says this about wisdom, “You have to be godly to be wise; and this is not because godliness pays, but because the only wisdom by which you can handle everyday things in conformity with their nature is the wisdom by which they were divinely made and ordered.”
What Kidner is saying is that you have to know God, to have God’s wisdom. Your search for wisdom and hope in this life is really a search for God. He is the one that holds all wisdom that gives all hope that is responsible for all good in this world.
This morning you have the opportunity to make a very wise decision. You can give your life over to God this morning. You can take His Son Jesus as Lord of your life. You can have your sins forgiven and your soul cleansed. I encourage you this morning that if you need to make this decision or need to come forward and place your membership with this congregation, joining this family that you would not hesitate any longer. We invite you to come this morning.
