Wisdom (Proverbs)

Introduction

If we have not had the pleasure of meeting my name is John Colunga and I have the privilige of serving as lead pastor here at New Day Pasadena

I also have the privilige of bringing this weeks sermon

So if you have your Bibles, please turn to Proverbs 1

If you forgot your Bible please use the one in front of you and if you dont have a Bible at all, please take home the one in front of you as a free gift to you

Set Up/Tension

Difference between a wise saying and a promise

You may have heard the wise saying, dont put all your eggs in one basket

This is wise - implying that it is better to diversify than to put all your hope in one investment

This is wise - implying that it is better to have multiple plans in case something does not go according to plan

The saying does not mean that if you do only have one investment that it will fail

And it does not mean that your first plan or idea will fail

But in general, all the other things equal, it is better to not put all your eggs in one basket

Now, if I make you a promise - My promise is guaranteeing you something

If I promise - invest in this stock and I promise or guarantee you will make 10x your original investment

If I promise - Go with my plan and I promise you it will succeed

But if you do not make 10X your investment

And if my plan does not succeed

Then I have broken my guarantee, I have broken my promise

What we find in Proverbs, is not a collection of promises or guarantees, but a collection of wise sayings

And while these wise sayings are not promises from God, they are wise principles given by God

Solomon

The main author and the majority of the Proverbs are written by King Solomon

And I would agree with you that King Solomon was not perfect

He rebelled against God and he did things disregarding God’s word

At the same time, what we find in 1 Kings 3, is that God asked Solomon what he desired

Almost like having one wish

And Solomon does not use this to ask for power, riches, or fame

Rather, Solomon asked for wisdom - 1 Kings 3:9

9 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?”

God responds - 1 Kings 3:12

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.

And so with the wisdom, discernment, and inspiration of God, Solomon writes these Proverbs

And we should apply them to our life

For today, we are looking specifically at wisdom

The wisdom that we are to strive for, to have, and to apply in our life

And so we are first going to look at the opening of Proverbs - chapter 1:1-7

And then we are going to dig deeper and read chapter 3:13-20

As we look at this text - know and believe that we are reading what God wants us to do concerning wisdom

At this time, If you are able to stand I ask that you do so for the reading of God’s word. I’ll read it out loud and if you will please follow along

Proverbs 1:1-7

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. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 3:13-20

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Pr 3:13–20.

This is the word of the Lord, you may now be seated

Access to all sorts of information - the internet, AI

the information does not make us wise

So what does make us wise and how are to practically be wise?

Point 1 - Wisdom is given freely by God

Solomon writes this so that the people would freely know wisdom and instruction

The question we are asking is the reason why Solomon is writing

How to be wise and how to apply it

Wisdom is not something to be hoarded

Wisdom is to be shared and applied

Wisdom is freely given so that we can have insight and discernment

To be able to take the information and narrow it down

That we can discern the truth

So that we can carry out righteousness, justice, and equity

Only with the wisdom of God can there be righteousness, justice, and equity

righteous - morally good

justice - exact or proper

equity - fair and impartial

Illustration: This is exactly what we want from a judge (Judge Judy)

that the judge distinguishes between what is morally good (law) and bad (unlawful

that the judge gives exact justice, that the punishment fits the crime

that the judge is fair and impartial - he or she doesnt let bias set in

We are all called to increase in our wisdom - let the wise hear and increase in learning

There is no age limit, no book limit, or degree limit to be considered wise

Wisdom means that you know, accept, and believe that you do not everything and that you can still grow

That you share the wisdom with the next generation and their wisdom increases

We are all called to fear the Lord - fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

while wisdom is for everyone, not everyone will have it (there are fools)

To fear the Lord is not to just fear his vengeance but to fear being out of his presence

To fear not being in unity with Him - to fear not following his way

Because only his way is wise

Point 2 - Wisdom leads to blessings and peace from God

Blessing - one who finds wisdom and gains understanding / hold fast to wisdom

God gives wisdom and when you understand wisdom is put into action - blessings follow

It is wise to save a portion of your income for a rainy day

It is wise to invest a portion of your money

But it isnt until you understand why it is important and necessary that you put it into action

And then you hold fast to that understanding and wisdom and you practically live that out the rest of your life

When Solomon asked for wisdom God blessed him also with material things

And in Solomons wisdom he continued to build upon Israel and Israel flourished

Wisdom leads to Peace -

And peace is better than anything else you can desire - silver, gold. jewels,

material things do not satisfy the soul

Has there ever been a time in your life - where you stood up for what was right - and you did not fear the consequences?

Did you not have peace in your soul that in your wisdom and judgement you did the right thing which was righteous, just, and equitable?

Point 3 - Wisdom is following Christ

We have to note that Solomon is writing about wisdom of the mind

In our text, the word wisdom is referred to as she

This is because the Hebrew word used for wisdom is feminine

And more than likely, at the time Solomon is writing this, he is aware of a Messaiah to come

But he does not fully comprehend or understand or know that it is going to be Jesus

And so, Solomon is not writing this symbolically to point to Christ

But rather, as he is writing about wisdom, God is clearly using wisdom to parallel Christ

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom - Blessed is the one who is in Christ

Remember - fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

Humbling ourself before God, submitting to his ways, submitting to his plan

To fear God is to know him and to know that we are not like him

To know that he is righteous, that he is just, that he is equity

To know that we are unrighteous, that we are unjust, that we are not equal to God

And in God’s love, mercy, grace, and compassion - His plan to ensure that His people are one with him

His plan is to bring wisdom to his people

His plan is to make his people righteous, just, equitable

And his plan is Jesus

(gospel presentation)

To fear the Lord is not to just fear God’s vengeance but to fear being out of his presence

to fear God is to fear being out of the presence of Christ

But being in Christ and making him Lord and Savior of your life

You are following Christ who is God and therefore you can know the wisdom of God

You can strive for the wisdom of God

You can model the wisdom of God

All because you are in Christ

Long life is in her - Jesus sustains you and brings eternal life

We do have wisdom to live longer on earth

3 Quick ways:

Treating our bodies like a temple we are called to be careful as to how we treat it

What we put into our bodies

Taking medicine as we should

Physical movement

Living with a purpose extends life

Live to glorify him all that we do, to conform to him, to share him

We wake up with purpose - a reason to live

Following Jesus’ teachings leads to actions that extend life

Love - Loving others rather than hating them

Forgiveness/mercy - not harboring anger and resentment

Humility - there is something new to learn today

Jesus does bring an eternal life

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Timothy 1:16 “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Her ways of peace - Jesus brings peace

Knowing that you have eteranl life that cannot be taken away brings peace

Also, you have peace as you live life following Christ

Everyone can laugh at you, mock you, call you dumb, close minded, - and you can be at peace

Jesus is God - Jesus has always been and has given instruction for us to live

Application

James 1:5–8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

BIblically - To have wisdom you must know God and to know God you must believe and have faith in Jesus

Your faith in Christ leads you to follow God and his commands

His teachings

His ways

This is biblical wisdom - to have faith in Jesus, understand how he wants us to live, and then to be obedient

When you are faced with a question ask yourself What is God honoring and God glorifying?

And if the answer is not abundantly clear to you - James just told us to ask God

God is the giver of wisdom and he will not leave you void

Prayer, Bible Reading, Listening

Prayer - Ask God to show you, to reveal to you, to guide you

Not going to spend too much time here but we have to pray and ask God

Bible Reading - More than likely the answer is right here in the Bible as to how you are to make your decision

Illustration: Bowling (bumpers) - we have some hall of fame bowlers in our congregation and bowlers that can bowl with their eyes closed

They have practiced, they have played, they have learned

You throw the ball down the slick and narrow lane to hit the pins

And if you are good, and you dont mess up, your ball does not go into the gutter

And you learn how to use the directional arrows on the floor and spin on the ball etc.

As you are living life and you grow in God’s word and you grow closer to him and you are obedient to him

Making wise choices becomes more natural

Because you know God’s word and you are praying to God, you can make decisions using the lane and you will hit your pins

But if you come accross a situation, scenario, or question where you are unsure of what God says

You need to focus even harder on the lane

If you seek the answer outside of this lane, gutter ball

You can seek advice from mentors, someone who is discipling, someone you trust

But even then, if their advice and encouragement is outside of what the Word of God says, gutter ball

We need to focus on this lane

God’s word is wisdom

Listen

And then when you work through the answer to that question - wether you like it or not

Be wise and do it

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

God created the heavens and the earth - He is wisdom

Salvation

If you are here today and you do not know the Lord - you have not accepted Jesus Christ in your heart as your Lord and Savior - you are being foolish

You are trusting in your own way and living by your own standards

You are sinning against God and His word - there is a consequence for that

But God has graciously provided a way for you to be forgiven

That Jesus has taken upon your consequence on the cross

And that by your faith and trust in him alone you will be forgiven

You will find wisdom

You will be blessed

You will have peace

Dont delay, put your faith and trust in him today

Lets pray.