Wisdom From Solomon About Wisdom Itself

God’s Will for You: Wisdom from Solomon about Wisdom Itself

There is perhaps no stronger theme in Proverbs than Wisdom itself. It starts and ends the book–like two bookends, it encompasses all in between. Let’s look at how Christians are to feel toward wisdom.

1. The Christian Has a True _Decision_ (8:35-36).

A. Failing to attain wisdom leads to terrible _consequences_. (Prov. 8:35-36).

• Proverbs 8:35-36 “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

• Proverbs 1:30-33 “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

With such negative consequences, why do we fail so often? What causes our failure to live wisely at times?

B. Deceitful _Heart_ Syndrome (Jer. 17:9).

• we trust in our own hearts. This means we trust in our experiences, knowledge, and advice from friends rather than God’s truth. We are all pulled this way all the time. It is in our nature to trust our _experiences_ more than God’s Word. The problem is, our experiences are very _limited_ in scope and nature and often do not apply like we think they do.

Proverbs warns us of this:

• Proverbs 3:5-6 was written to help us expel deceitful heart syndrome. It says “

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” The Hebrew word for “lean” means to “depend on” in a way that “makes one stand, strong, or able to carry on.” This same word is used 22 times in the O.T.

C. Attaining wisdom leads to incredible _rewards_.

Prov. 3:16-17Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

• Wisdom brings Long Life

• Wisdom brings wealth

• Wisdom brings honor and success

• Wisdom brings pleasant life experiences

• Wisdom brings peace in relationships

So, how should the Christian feel towards wisdom? Well, firstly, the Christian should feel that wisdom holds incredible _value_.

2. The Christian Has _True_ Wisdom (1 Cor. 2:1-16).

A. What is _Wisdom_?

From the book of Proverbs and 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, we learn something: “Wisdom is many things. The center of wisdom is a belief in God as revealed through his Son Jesus, and the subsequent desire to live a holy and productive life free of unnecessary pain, drama, and distraction.”

B. Proverbs 1:7 Reminds us that Wisdom begins with _Fear_ of God.

What is fear of God?

From D.A. Carson in his book, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God: “The love of God has been…sentimentalized. This process has been going on for some time…. It has not always been so. In generations when almost everyone believed in the justice of God, people sometimes found it difficult to believe in the love of God.”

Someone said regarding the love of God “Now, we take it for granted, assume it, feel entitled to it, enraged if we do not feel we have received enough of it. It is owed to us; it is our right. Simply by existing, we have earned it, and it dare not be withheld from us.”

The Fear of God is the acknowledgment, realization, acceptance, and emotional grasping of God’s holiness and man’s bizarre wickedness. It is the stark realization that there is a problem. Mankind is violent and selfish; crooked and corrupted; ruined and defeated of its own doing and accord. God’s anger is stirred, and his wrath provoked; He is justified in his anger and frustration with mankind’s sinfulness.

The fear of God is not about man’s brokenness–it is acknowledging man’s open rebellion. While it is true that we are broken, and Christ was sent to bind up the brokenhearted–that is all speaking to God’s mercy and grace. The fear of God acknowledges and interfaces with some of man’s and God’s other attributes–namely, man’s wickedness and God’s holiness.

C. Wisdom Embraces Short Term Difficulties (or Challenges) for Long-Term _Benefits_.

• Fearing God is an uncomfortable feeling, but wisdom embraces discomfort at times.

• Wisdom embraces short term sacrifices for long term benefit.

• Wisdom acknowledges difficult truths.

• Wisdom receives instruction and direction.

• Wisdom promotes delayed gratification.

• Wisdom can build things.

So, how should the Christian feel towards wisdom? Well, firstly, the Christian should feel that wisdom holds incredible _value_ (Prov. 8:35-36). Secondly, the Christian should feel an awesome and abiding _fear_ of displeasing God (Prov. 1:7).