The fear of the Lord

intro

Growing up, my dad was known in our house for his wisdom and lectures.

Things my father said.

Four for a dollar is not a good deal if you don’t have a dollar.

If you can’t live of 70% of your income you aren’t ready to live on your own. Give, Save, Pay taxes, live.

Your wanter is out of control. There are two ways to have every thing you want- make more $ or want less stuff. #2 is wise.

In the middle of a 30 plus minute lecture, my brother or I raised our hand and asked if we could just get a spanking and learn our lesson that way...

Wisdom is a treasure from God.

What is a proverb?

Proverbs are general observation on how to succeed at life.

Proverbs are wisdom sayings that will Generally bring success. You will win way more than you lose.

They are not promises.

Proverbs are not laws or rules, though we break them at our own peril.

Proverbs is a subgenre of Wisdom Literature. The Bible Genre of wisdom literature is complete. Proverbs will tell you how to generally succeed in life.

Job and Ecclesiastes tell you how do deal with life when you do the right things and it still goes wrong.

We apply proverbs to learn how to live. We apply Ecclesiastes and Job when things don’t work out. We are always seeking wisdom in fortune and struggle.

What is wisdom and why should we seek it?

Proverbs 1:1-6 “1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

EXP. The premise of this book:

Wisdom leads to virtue and integrity.

A person of virtue and integrity will find success and peace in life.

There for treasure wisdom.

if you apply this book, you will have righteousness, justice, equity, discretion, be smarter, make better decisions. If you just do it.

ILL- Tarbell Course on magic. If you do these, you’d be rich.

WISDOM IS APPLIED KNOWLEDGE. DOING IT. NOT MAKING A PLAN- Working a plan.

Having a plan that you don’t work, isn’t wisdom, it is wasteful.

APP- Solomon is telling us- if you apply these, it will change everything. Your finances will change, habits , relationships, marriage, your friendships, your work. This book can change all of that, only if you do it.

The power of this series will be in the daily reading. One chapter a day for 31 days. (you can start today, since we are covering chapter one here.

Perhaps you will Pick one subject- habits, money, relationship, self discipline

Open your app, listen, apply. Seek wisdom. How different could your life be if you decided to apply biblical wisdom to one area of your life this month. Aggressively.

Where do we begin our wisdom journey?

Proverbs 1:7 “7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

A major theme about wisdom is that wisdom comes from God. It was with him when He made the world.

We will never be wise if we do not understand the main pillar of wisdom: The Fear of the Lord.

Beginning= foundation. If you can’t start with God is God, He designed this world, and his way is the only way- you will always struggle with this life. It won’t make sense.

It will be like putting together ikea furniture without the instructions.

Proverbs 1:29 “29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,”

Wise people do not start with the assumption that they know best and God may or may not have something to add. We submit to God.

We don’t “take it under advisement” when it comes to God.

Fear of the Lord means several things:

Reverence to God- Acknowledging that He is God and we are not God.

Proverbs 3:7 (ESV) 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

The opposite would be to be smart in your own eyes.

2. Humility- He decides right and wrong. He decides purposes and plans. He is God and we seek to apply His knowledge.

Proverbs 15:33 “33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

3. It means knowing Him-

Proverbs 9:10-11 “10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”

This will become clearer next week, but an underlying premise of wisdom is that you know the giver of wisdom intimately.

ILL

How do we apply wisdom?

we apply it to our dreams

Proverbs 30:8-9 “8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

It is ok to live a life of satisfaction without having to be the best. I can enjoy God’s provision.

When I consider a side project or business or get frustrated at my financial picture, I remember this.

we apply it to our self leadership

Proverbs 25:28 “28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”

When I realize that I have no self control in one area, I need to realize that I have no self control in other areas. Having city walls was the ultimate protection. If one or two sections go down, you have no protection. Don’t fool yourself in saying I have protection when you have no walls. We think, I’m ok- I only have one area of life without self control. This is not true. You are a city without walls.

we apply it to our problems

Proverbs 26:11 “11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

if you are continually facing the same problem, realize the problem is you. You keep doing he same thing. You aren’t a victim, You are the dog.

we apply it to our relationships

Proverbs 27:5-6 “5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

we apply it to our work.

Proverbs 28:19 “19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.”

Trades vs. Youtubers. Trades are always in demand. Instead of always looking for an angle or side hustle. Learn a trade and offer value.

we apply it to our money.

Proverbs 10:4 “4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

If you can make (not slack) AND manage (diligent) your money you will be well off.

Proverbs 22:7 “7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

We live in a time when we act like a good borrower is a virtue.

ILL I remember early in my marriage when we were drowning in debt and we made a decision to pay off a ton of debt. In the midst of that plant a great church and put us in position to go all in with what God was calling us too

We APPLY it.

Wisdom is applied knowledge. I know how a table works. You don’t want me building your table. I know how the waterlines and plumbing works in your house, you don’t want me plumbing your house. We only become wise through actually applying the things we know.

APP- Daily devotions. Find them now. This is your Bible reading for April.

CLOSING

Imagine if you decided to be wise. If you decided to seek wisdom with your money. I believe some of you are going to make a life changing decision to manage your money wisely this series. Perhaps you decide to attack your debt and have financial freedom. Perhaps

I believe some of you are going to make some life changing decision this month. You’ve been struggling with self control and you are going to start building some walls. You have neglected a relationship (maybe marriage) and you are going to look for wisdom to apply/ to change. You are going to make a decision to be wise sexually or the way you treat your spouse.