Invitation to Wisdom

INTRO: I want you to think with me about the number of decisions or choices you have to make each day. Some are relatively unimportant- where to eat lunch, what to wear, etc. Some are pretty important, but fairly obvious what the decision ought to be: Should I be faithful to my spouse? Should I cheat on my test at school? Right- we may not always make the right decision, but we know what the right thing to do is.

But then there are a lot of decisions that have significant consequences, but the answers are not very clear. There’s no ‘Thou shalt or shalt not’ commandments that address these things directly. These might be decisions about where to go to college, whether you should take one job or another, how do you handle difficult people, or how do you control your anger or your tongue.

These types of decisions are in front of us every day, and I really believe a lot of Christians struggle with them because they are not black and white answers. What we need is the skill to live wisely so we can navigate these seemingly gray areas of life. That’s why I am excited about studying the book of Proverbs because it is a book designed for just this.

The thing about this book though, is that it’s different than most of other books in the bible. So what I want to do first this morning is to give us an overview of this book and explain what you can expect as we go about our study over the next several weeks. And I want you to hear this clearly—not because you need a Bible degree, but because God cares about how you live your ordinary Tuesday.

First, a proverb is a typically a statement of comparison or object lesson, often given in a couplet, that is intended to help the reader or listener choose a wise course of action. We must note that these are not promises, but statements of general wisdom principles - and we’ll see this come out from time to time through our study.

It was common for Eastern kingdoms to collect proverbs and use them as somewhat of an education system for their people. The book of Proverbs was compiled largely by King Solomon (1:1). This is important because, if we understand who Solomon was, we know that he was one of the wisest people to have ever lived.

1 Kings 4:29–34 NASB95

29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. 34 Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

So, learning wisdom from King Solomon is like learning basketball from Michael Jordan. We ought not squander this opportunity. Look with me to the arrangement:

Chapters 1-9 are recorded like a conversation that urges the listener in the endeavor of pursuing wisdom. Think of this like a series of talks parents may have with their child that prepare them for a life where they will have to consistently choose wisely.

Chapters 10-31 are a collection of proverbs or sayings- some learned from others, and some formed through Solomon’s own observations. They are organized in a seemingly random and sometimes repetitive way and can be viewed like a reference book that one can constantly return to.

Now I think this organization is probably because, as a father trying to obey the commands of Deuteronomy 6, you simply take opportunities to teach as they come- and sometimes they come randomly and repetitively. I will compile sermons thematically through these chapters.

Ultimately, what I hope you will see is that God has invited us to wisdom. James 1:5 “5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

I believe that the book of Proverbs has been given so we might pursue this invitation to wisdom. Having overviewed the book, let’s look at the introductory verses of Proverbs 1:1-7

READ/PRAY

Proverbs 1:1–7 NASB95

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

If you have a bulletin, I want to invite you to follow along in the sermon guide as we answer 3 questions about this invitation to wisdom. The first question I want to answer is:

What is the purpose? (2-3)

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Let’s break this down so we know what he’s talking about. The word “wisdom” literally means “skill” like the skill of craftsman or administrators, sailors, warriors, etc. An example can be found in the book of Exodus where God gave wisdom to men to craft the elements of the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3–6 ). Which tells me something important—many of us don’t fail because we don’t love God, but because we don’t yet know how to live wisely in the situations He’s placed us in.

The second part of v. 2 says “instruction” and maybe your bible uses a word like “discipline” there. The idea is one of correction. In particular, we understand that the correction has a moral weight to it, so our skills of life please the Lord. So, the purpose of this book begins with this invitation is to learn the right skills and at the same time to be corrected away from those that are unwise. You can think of them like the lines on the road and guard rails to help us live wisely. Both of these are necessary for us to live a life that honors God.

To know wisdom and instruction, then is underscored by the next couple lines- discernment - knowing right from wrong, good from evil and humble reception of wisdom through instruction.

IOW- the book of proverbs hopes to impart a knowledge that is practical- it affects all of life. It’s moral- it guides in right understanding of God’s values and ways. And it’s relevant - it speaks to the complexities of life that do not have easy answers.

ILL: I was reading an article the other day that suggested that churches only teach churchy things and churchy words. The author stated that churches teach people how to pray and read their bible, but neglect to talk about how we get along with our neighbors, how we deal with difficult bosses or how to choose what car to buy.

But 2 Peter 1:3 says “...that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

I can tell you from my own life—some of the most prayerful moments I’ve had weren’t over obvious sins, but over decisions where I genuinely wanted to honor God and didn’t know which way to go.

CS Lewis says it this way: Before I become a Christian I do not think I fully realized that one's life, after conversion, would inevitably consist in doing most of the same things one had been doing before, one hopes in a new spirit, but still the same things… Conversion [does not] obliterate our human life… (The Weight of Glory)

The book of Proverbs speaks to living out a faith that goes beyond Sunday. So as we go through this book, I pray you will see the practical side of faith as you learn to walk wisely.

Now that we know the purpose, the next question we need to answer is:

Who is the intended audience? (4-6)

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There are 2 types of people that Proverbs targets:

The naive. Some translations say “simple.” Now, I suppose if I were to call you naive or simple this morning, you’d likely be offended. But that is because we tend to associate these words with a slowness of mind. That is not what Solomon is getting at.

The naive or simple refers to one who is still being formed. Most often, this speaks of young people- tweens, teens, and young adults. They still have a lot to learn, and they have not yet figured out whether they are chasing wisdom or folly. The book of proverbs aims to guide these young minds to pursue wisdom. Think of this like a “life skills” book that teaches you how to become a successful adult.

ILL: Young folks, listen to me- This series through Proverbs may one of the most practical, useful teachings you’ll receive. I know that it’s difficult to understand right now, but there are plenty of folks in here who will affirm that It is so much better to learn early than to try to clean up the mess that unwise decisions will leave in their wake.

Likewise, parents of these young folks- I pray you see the opportunities to lead your children through this series. You are the ones God has placed in your child’s life to model Godly wisdom and to guide them and correct them. This series is a great way to connect with your child and talk through some of those gray areas they are wrestling with.

But, of course all of us are not young. The other type of people targeted in Proverbs is the wise. (5) The reality is that there is always room for us to grow. There are new skills to learn, deeper understandings to acquire, and that growth helps us to see God’s wisdom.

ILL: One thing I’ve noticed: The more I learn, the more I realize that I don’t know. The more books I read, the more I study, the more I am aware of my lack of understanding. You nor I will never “arrive”, and when we learn that, we become teachable… and maybe even hungry for the things of God. We receive instruction and apply it instead of assuming we have it all figured out.

Furthermore, when you adopt the mindset that you want to learn and grow in Godly wisdom, you set yourself up to be a better teacher for others. You can say, “Hey, can I share with you what God is teaching me?” You’ll be amazed at how renewing your heart to learn will renew your passion to share about Jesus!

So, this study is for everyone… we are the target audience! (Look at your neighbor and tell them- this study is for you!) And as we learn together, you will prayerfully be able to put into use the wisdom that you acquire.

The last question we must answer this morning is:

Where do we start? (7)

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“Fear of the Lord” is a hotly debated topic. Non-believers accuse Christians of mischaracterizing God through fear. After all, how can you say God is love, and yet fear Him?

These are good questions, but we must understand that fear as describe in Scripture is not intended to be ambiguous nor is it an uncertain terror. Instead, fear of the Lord is grasping God’s identity in relation to our own.

Allow me to give a couple examples:

Fear is seeing the breadth and depth of the ocean and trying to imagine taming or commanding the waves of such a massive body of water.

Fear is standing atop a skyscraper with merely steps separating you from the edge and recognizing the reality of danger and reverence for boundaries.

Fear of the Lord is acknowledging His might and wisdom; His omnipresence and holiness and recognizing our finiteness and frailty.

Fear is looking at the cross of Christ- seeing the holiness and love of God on full display, and enabling us to fear Him rightly through faith.

Solomon says, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This is the theme of all of Proverbs. In a way, we could look at the Proverbs as the practical way of living out the commands of God.

I am reminded of what Oswald Chambers said about the fear of the Lord. He said, "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else." Can you see the wisdom of even this perspective?

Proverbs gives us the skill to live well, and it does so in the context of a God-centered focus, one that we need desperately in our lives. Solomon, who also authored the book of Ecclesiastes, had this to say

In Ecc. 12:13-14

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NASB95

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

And just as the fear of the Lord is where to start, it’s also where it all ends. Therefore, we must acknowledge that to reject the invitation to wisdom is nothing short of foolish. Solomon said, “Fools despise wisdom and instruction”

Do you know why fools reject this? It’s because they have believed a lie- they believe that they are good enough, wise enough, and important enough. The danger for all of us—at any stage of life—is slowly drifting into self-sufficiency… rejecting the wisdom of God, often without even realizing it.

So many people today just talk at one another and refuse to listen. So many prideful people, when offered instruction, flat out reject it.

One of the clearest signs of foolishness in any age is when people stop listening and only speak. But that must not be the case for the church. Our God reigns… He is our wisdom and we must listen to Him! We must pursue Him!

You see, Jesus was not just a wise teacher- He is the wisdom of God for us. Let us not be like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who rejected wisdom that was greater than Solomon. Jesus said to them:

Luke 11:31 NASB95

31 “The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Perhaps this morning, you recognize that you have been foolish- perhaps prideful or even fearful. This morning, I want you to know that Jesus came and died and rose again so that we could be made new… so that the foolishness of our yesterday could be redeemed in His righteous wisdom!

My hope today is that your appetite has been enticed for what God will teach us through this study, and that you will commit yourself to pursue wisdom this year; That you will see each gathering of the church as a divine invitation to come and learn from God so that you may be wise and live a life that honors the Lord.

But before we close our time, let me leave you with a simple application for this week: Take time to read through Proverbs 1 a few times and pray James 1:5 over one ‘gray area’ decision that you have. God is faithful, and I believe that as you pursue wisdom, He will reward you with it.

[PRAY]

Discuss: Share one decision you've had to make recently that felt like a "gray area"—not clearly commanded in Scripture (e.g., a job choice, how to respond to a difficult person, or managing time). How did you navigate it?

Discuss: Where in your life do you most need the "skill" of godly wisdom right now (e.g., relationships, work, anger, speech, finances)? How might pursuing wisdom in that area honor the Lord?

Discuss: Verse 7 warns that "fools despise wisdom and instruction." Where have you seen pride cause you (or others) to reject godly counsel? How can turning to Jesus in repentance renew our hearts to hunger for His wisdom?