Your Most Valuable Investment

Read through the responses - Common theme and common need

When you invest, it builds value later

The earlier you begin, the more value you have down the road.

Examples

Big Idea: Invest in Wisdom

You are in a time of your life when you can invest in many things and it will pay massive dividends for you

Make sure that the thing you invest most in is wisdom

What is wisdom?

Hokma - A skill for living well

Wisdom is the ability to thrive in your life because you understand how things really work

And we live in God’s world, so we must live in it God’s way

I am investing in wisdom when:

I start with God (7-12)

7-12 is the center of the chapter, the message is prominent, so we are starting it

The garden - Made to rule

Flourish doing things God’s

I Fear the LORD (10)

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Fear = Devotion

True knowledge starts with knowledge of God

LORD - Personal, not generic

Knowledge of the Holy One

We live in his world

Which means the best life is the life lived his way

Application: What are you devoted to?

If you want to invest in wisdom, it all starts with being devoted to God.

I Follow Correction (7-9)

Proverbs 9:7–9 “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”

How you respond to correction reveals what you have invested in

Your image - Reject it and lash out - Folly

Growth - Accept it and grow - Wisdom

Application: How do I respond when I am corrected or instructed? What would it look like for me to respond in a way that shows that I value wisdom?

I Flourish in Wisdom (11-12)

Proverbs 9:11–12 “For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

Wisdom always benefits

Folly always results in regret

You will live in the fallout of your choice

Application: What are your daily choices building up for you? Regret? Or fulfillment?

Summary: To invest in wisdom and flourish in this life, you have to start with God

If I was investing in wisdom, starting with God, how would I respond to:

That job

That opportunity

That relationship

That decision

Second, I am investing in wisdom when…

I stay on the Path (1-6; 13-18)

We come to a crossroads in life - Choose between wisdom and folly

They are personified here - Both give the same message

“Whoever is simple, let him turn here.” (v. 4, 16)

Obviously, the right choice is to choose wisdom, but as we will see, the easy choice is to choose folly.

I Feast at Wisdom’s Table (1-6)

Proverbs 9:1–6 “Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.””

Intentionality: Wisdom builds a house and prepares a feast (v. 1-2).

Wisdom requires effort and is intentional - It never comes passively.

Invitation: “Come, eat my bread… walk in the way of insight” (v. 3, 5-6).

Wisdom calls to everyone, but you must respond and go to her.

I must choose to follow wisdom—it won’t force itself on me.

Application: Where am I intentionally seeking out wisdom?

Who am I spending time with?

What am I reading?

Who am I following

You are being shaped - The question is: Are you intentional about what you are allowing to shape you?

I Flee from Folly’s Trap (13-18)

Proverbs 9:13–18 “The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”

Deceptive and Loud: Folly “is loud… seductive… and knows nothing” (v. 13).

Folly is the easy, passive choice—it doesn’t require effort.

But it adds no value - “knows nothing”

The loudest voice is seldom the right voice

In fact, the most enticing and loudest voices are often that way because their they have nothing of worth to say

She preys on those who are vulnerable - (14-15)

You are in danger of folly when you passively consume and let the algorithm or the flow of culture decide what you hear

Looks Appealing but Kills: “Stolen water is sweet…” (v. 17-18).

Whereas wisdom set her table, folly stole her food

The world tries to tell you that it is what comes easy that is best

Not so.

Folly looks good in the moment but always leads to regret.

Application: What influences am I allowing to shape me?