Words of Wisdom

Title: 23andme

Text: 1st Kings 3:9 10:14,21-22 Ecclesiastes 2:8-12; 12:13 Matthew 7:24-27

D.T Wisdom is the beginning, not the end

Introduction: Today we continue our series “23andme” where we look at the list of names who make up Jesus' ancestors and family listed in Matthew chapter 1. The point of this series is to reveal how the ancestors of Jesus would begin to lay the foundation of Jesus' kingdom on earth. The name in Jesus geneology we will be looking at today is Solomon. The story of Solomon will introduce to us a truth which will become foundational in the gospel of Jesus. What is Solomon most well known for? His Wisdom. This wisdom made him better at everything he did, marriage being an exception. Fortunately Solomon didn’t keep this wisdom to himself, he wrote it down in his wisdom books proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. His most well known book is probably Proverbs? It’s a book with an immense amount of wisdom, though if not viewed correctly it can be discouraging. A “Proverb” is a wise and trustworthy saying or teaching. A proverb is not a promise. Teachings, not matter how wise, can be ignored and disregarded. This sometimes happens with Proverbs. We do our best to teach them ourselves, but they are ignored. Proverbs 22:6 being an example. This is why Proverbs isn’t named promises.

The second most famous of Solomon’s works is probably Ecclesiastes, it’s a close race between this and proverbs. We are going to spend most of our time in Ecclesiastes. However before we get to our Scripture, let’s briefly talk about Solomon himself.

When speaking about Solomon there is always an obstacle which can prove challenging unless it is first addressed. What is this obstacle? Let me illustrate it for you.

Solomon was a king Solomon was the king of Israel who succeeded David as king. Whom among you is a king or queen? (Households don’t count)

Solomon was the wisest to ever live 1st Kings 3:9-12 tells us this.

1 Kings 3:9–12 ESV

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

How many can honestly say you’d ask for wisdom if God acted like a Genie and promised to grant you a wish? Who can claim to be the wisest person to ever live?

Solomon was rich This is what 1st Kings 10:14

1 Kings 10:14 ESV

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

1 Kings 10:21–22 ESV

All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

How many of you can say you have a fleet of ships that bring you riches from around the world? In today's time Solomon would have his own private jet with his own hanger. He could have his Lunch flown in from San Francisco, and his dinner flown in from Paris. The passage says he brought in 666 talents of gold per year. This equals out to be approximately 25 tons in today's measurements. Does anyone in this room have 25 tons of gold?

Solomon was not in the 99 percent right? He was in the 1 percent, the uber wealthy. Solomon would have been elite among the 1 percent. Solomon would have lived a life none of us will ever likely experience. This means that Solomon may not be the most relatable person in the bible. We like relatable people. We often find we can more easily trust people who are relatable. Solomon however might be more relatable than you think. If you drove a car here this morning, you are in the upper 18 percent of the world. Globally speaking, we are rich in America. Solomon is probably the biblical character who comes the closest to living a American lifestyle, not having to want for much. However if that isn’t enough to convince you Solomon is more relatable than you think, than please at least realize this. Though we may not be able to relate to Solomon, we can certainly trust him! Why? First and foremost because he’s said to be the wisest person to ever live. Second, we can trust him because of his experience as one who lived that 1 percent lifestyle. Solomon's experience with such a lifestyle is found in the book of Ecclesiastes.

READ Ecclesiastes 2:8-12

Ecclesiastes 2:8–12 ESV

I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

Solomon was the type of person a materialistic person could get behind. A person who spared no expense in life.However, Solomon's evaluation of this style tells us that it leaves us unfulfilled. Solomon says that his life in the 1% was all vanity, chasing after the wind. This is why we can trust Solomon. He had the stuff so many people long to have in life, and Solomon repeatedly tells us. Material possessions will not bring you happiness or fulfillment.

Do you think Solomon hated his riches? I seriously doubt it. However you don’t have to hate something to not find fulfilling. Sometimes things you really like won’t be fulfilling. It would be inaccurate I believe to suggest Solomon hated the riches of which he did not deprive himself. However he makes it clear, you can’t hang your hat on these things

Solomon spends the entire book of Ecclesiastes convincing us that nothing earthly will bring us fulfillment. Solomon lists all the things in life humanity hopes to find fulfillment in, and he promptly tells us it’s vanity, a chasing in the wind.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 12 Solomon offers his conclusion on the matter. His conclusion is summed up in one sentence.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

According to Solomon, a man who had all the wealth the world could offer, the only thing which can bring us fulfillment is fearing God and keeping his commandments. We can count on this as being wisdom.

But doesn’t fearing God seem like a bad thing? Doesn’t it seem like that would inhibit spiritual growth, rather than creating growth? 1st John 4:18 tells us perfect love casts out all fear. So why would the wisdom of Solomon tell us the fear of God is fundamental in our fulfillment?

I did a word study on how the word “fear” is used in each passage. The Hebrew word for “fear” in Ecclesiastes 12:13 is Yare (yaw-ray) The most common usage of this word is one of reverence rather than fright. This is a good type of fear, one we should seek. In 1st John 4:18 the Greek word for fear is “Phobos” (fob-os) This word describes alarm, fright, and terror. This is the type of fear we wish to expel.

ILLUSTRATION: Two years ago we took a trip to Destin Florida. While on the beach in Destin I experienced both types of these particular fears. I experienced Yare with the ocean.I love the ocean, however I also fear the ocean. This fear of the ocean just increases my fascination. The nature of its unrelenting power makes me like the ocean more. However towards the end of the trip, the jellyfish were starting to wash on shore. It’s at this point I experienced Phobos. I don’t like Jellyfish, I was leary of them, feared their string, and I wanted to do everything I could to avoid them

If wisdom means we have a healthy reverence based fear of God, does that mean we forsake our old lives and live like monks? Contemplating what it means to revere God and keep his commandments? If you want to do that, you can. However I think Solomon had something else in mind.

Jesus speaks of the wise and the foolish in his parable of the flood. In Jesus' story, does the wise man sit upon the rock and contemplate the existence of rock? No. The wiseman built his house upon the rock. This is what Solomon wants us to do with this wisdom. We should build our lives on this truth. Our households need to be built upon the fear of God and keeping of his commandments. This truth must also be the backbone of our careers. This truth must be the backbone of all of our relationships. This truth must be the foundation we build our lives upon. Solomon further elaborates on this wisdom in Proverbs. In Proverbs 1:7 Solomon says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding. This reverence of God and his purposes must be the start, the beginning, or the foundation. When the rain and floods come, the house stands firm.

In our culture today we have a backwards understanding of wisdom. We believe that wisdom is something you won’t really obtain until the end of your life. When you are wise and advanced in years. However wisdom according to Solomon must be found much earlier. Wisdom must be the foundation. Wisdom must be the beginning, not the end.

What does this mean? Stop waiting on age and experience to give you wisdom. Do not treat wisdom passively. Actively pursue wisdom. Make it your foundation, and do this daily. Keep God’s commands by giving your life and all to Jesus Christ.