12. The Man's Wisdom

Introduction

The greatest needs any man has as he traverses through the maze of life, is not wealth, fame or even health, but God’s divine wisdom. - Eldon Martens

The direction of your life determines where you will end up so every step is important!

James 3:13–18 KJV 1900

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Illustration: Where I am from, in the fall, we have orchards full of ripe apples. One of the popular activities at these orchards is corn mazes. The will grow a field of corn and not harvest it. They will leave it up and create a maze by flattening down paths through the corn. I can’t actually remember going through any, although I am sure I may have. It’s almost impossible to discern where you are from ground level. At many of these mazes they will have a tower where your friends can watch you go through the maze and when they have watched you struggle long enough they will direct you where to go so you can escape the maze.

Life can be very similar. At times we feel we have the maze figured out and at times we are so lost and confused. Thankfully, God has given us direction is his Word and the wisdom that we need is not earthly but heavenly!

Proverbs 14:12 KJV 1900

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

****THE KEY TO WISDOM****

Illustration: Learning how to use a pop rivet tool! I didn't know the key, I didn’t know how it worked!

God has given us the key to wisdom and its “asking for it”

James 1:5 KJV 1900

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

I. The Roadblocks to Wisdom

The main roadblock to wisdom is pride.

A. Pride Disgusts God

Proverbs 16:5 KJV 1900

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV 1900

These six things doth the LORD hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

Some think Sin is Sin- All sin is sin enough to damn your soul but all sin is not the same according to God. Some sin he calls an abomination!

Sodomy - Lev 20:13

Pride!

James 4:6 KJV 1900

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Contrast what James says “resist” vs “give grace”

Resist - To Oppose

Illustration: When your favorite football team is trying to march down the field to score a touchdown (that’s the goal), there is a defense trying with all their power to oppose.

Do we really want God playing defense against us?

B. Pride Displays Depravity

All of us are depraved by the very fact that we have a sin nature. Pride is the display of that depravity.

Pride is a manifestation of an independent spirit - independent from God

C. Pride Develops Disunity

Proverbs 13:10 KJV 1900

Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride is at the center of every form of disunity. When we are unwilling to put aside our wants and desires for the greater good of the gospel it is soil where a seed where disunity can germinate

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Are we really crucified? A dead man does not get offended at the slightest thing.

D. Pride Delivers Destruction

Proverbs 15:25 KJV 1900

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: But he will establish the border of the widow.

Proverbs 16:18 KJV 1900

Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Examples:

Pride Produces National Ruin:

Israel turned from God and paid the price - Unfortunately America is on a pride filled path

Pride Produces Domestic Ruin:

How many homes and marriages have been ruined by pride. This is especially true when men seek their own wants and desires over the spiritual needs of their families.

Pride Produces Financial Ruin:

We have such a desire to keep up and out-do those around us that it causes us to make terrible financial decisions!

Pride Produces Spiritual Ruin:

Many people in the Bible had potential that was ruined by pride.

Saul -

1 Samuel 15:23 KJV 1900

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

Song: “When I survey the Wondrous Cross, on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride” - It would be wonderful if we could “pour contempt” (the act of despising) on our pride!!

II. Receiving God’s Provision

Solomon was unique in that his wisdom exceeded that of any man.

1 Kings 3:7–9 KJV 1900

And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

This pleased God who said:

1 Kings 3:12 KJV 1900

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Solomon wrote some helpful advice in Proverbs chapter 3 regarding wisdom

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

A. A Trusting Confidence

“Trust in the Lord”

Illustration: Trust means to simply rest in. When I sit in a chair I don’t constantly ponder its structural integrity, I just sit!

B. A Total Commitment

“…in all thy ways acknowledge him..”

Illustration: In the Military when we were planning maneuvers, we would always have a backup plan.

It’s very easy for us to think of God as some sort of backup plan. He is no such thing, He is the only plan and we must acknowledge him in every situation and every circumstance.

C. A Thrilling Consequence

“and he shall direct thy paths”

He- That’s God

Shall- That’s a Promise

Direct- That’s Wisdom

Conclusion

The lesson is quite simple. We need God’s wisdom and the only way to get it, is to ask and the only thing that will drive us to the place where we will ask is a humble heart!