Wisdom

Wisdom, James 1:5-8

Paul Redwine, Northside Christian Church, Sunday, June 22, 2003

CONCLUSION

[ILLUS - JOKE] A man was pulled over by a policeman and asked if he knew he was going too fast.

He said, ‘I’m sorry officer. I had my cruise control on and just forgot the speed limit changed.’ His wife said, ‘Harry, I told you two miles ago that you were speeding.’ Harry gives his wife a dirty look as the officer pulls out his ticket book.

‘By the way, sir, did you know that your left rear signal lense was broken?’ the policeman asks, to which Harry replies, ‘Oh wow, it must have just happened in the mall parking lot we just left.’ His wife again interrupts and says, ‘Harry, how can you sit there and lie to that nice policeman? I told you to fix that three weeks ago!’ Harry gives another look that could kill as the officer starts writing.

The policeman adds, ‘I am going to have to cite you for not wearing your seatbelt, also.’ Harry says, ‘I just unbuckled as you came up to the car so I could get to my driver’s license if you needed it.’ The little lady pipes up, ‘Harry, you know good and well, I tell you all the time that you better buckle up, ’cause YOU NEVER WEAR YOUR SEATBELT!’

Having taken all he can stand Harry turns to his tormentor and says with great exasperation, ‘Woman would you keep your big mouth shut!’

Now the officer looks at and addresses the little lady and asks, ‘does he verbally abuse you like this often, ma’am?’

Says she, ‘Oh no, only when he has had one drink too many.’

[QUOTE] Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.’

Wisdom is something every Christian servant should ask for. This is the focus of today’s message.

[TEXT: 1:1-4]

Review from last week: James -- describes himself as a bondservant of God and Jesus Christ

Various trials in life

We as servants need to be ready for those trials, pass the tests that we receive in life.

The "multi-colored" Trials in life -- more to come!

Assault on Christianity -- Federal money given to Muslim youth camp

Cross in desert covered because it was on Federal property

Woman teacher ordered to cover up her cross necklace when teaching

Muslim curriculum in California, but removal of 10 Commandments in Brown Co., OH

Personal trials in life -- sickness death, stress related to job. . .

Therefore, consider it all joy. . .

But that’s not easy to do!

Some deal with these tests better than others. For those who need more help, they can get it.

Wisdom:

-- Knowledge applied. Knowledge is the "what," whereas wisdom is the "how." It shows us how to get through the multi-colored trials in life

-- Someone has described wisdom as "competent action to master the various problems of life"

-- Proverbs 1:7, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

-- Wisdom helps us get through life!

[Central Thesis] The Servant of God relies on God’s wisdom to get through life

God is the Doctor of Wisdom -- He has all the expertise, He has a great prescription for you

In order to obtain this wisdom, we need to:

I. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DOCTOR, v. 5a

-- Ask now!

-- Diagnosis: Can’t handle trials in life

-- Therefore, ask for a prescription

-- Matthew 7: 7-8 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

-- God wants us to have the tools to be better servants of Him. Therefore, ask in faith, v6a

II. GET TO KNOW THE DOCTOR, v. 5b

-- God is the source of wisdom

The lifeline in Who Wants To Be A Million when you need someone to call on

He’ll always be right!

God is different in that He not only gives you an answer, but the ability to apply things in life.

-- God is Generous -- He doesn’t want to deprive anyone of wisdom

He doesn’t play favorites

-- The great old hymn says, "Our God, our help in ages past / Our hope for years to come / Our shelter from the stormy blast / And our eternal home. // Our God, our help in ages past / Our hope for years to come / Be Thou our guard while troubles last / And our eternal home.

-- He wants to Help Us!

III. TRUST THE DOCTOR, v. 6-8

-- The Recipients of Wisdom: The Faithful; Therefore, trust Him