A Wise Upbringing
Practical Wisdom for an Enduring Walk • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Perhaps a better title would be Life With the Father
Because we see here is a passage all about the relationship between the Father and His children.
Parallels the language of Deuteronomy and the covenant relationship between God and his people.
What this is going to mean for us is that we take possession of wisdom by internalizing God’s law in our heart.
We see this clearly in the most famous Old Testament confession, The Shema: (as we read)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
We have an obligation to give thanks to Him.
4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
We also have the clear expectation of God’s discipline.
5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.
Proverbs 3 mimics the style of covenant blessings and curses that we see in Deuteronomy 28 and 30
One notable aspect of this teaching is the overwhelmingly positive way in which it encourages us to pursue wisdom.
There are carrots and there are sticks involved with discipleship.
Here, its all carrots.
The blessings that come from wisdom.
But if we are to enjoy those benefits, Proverbs carefully instructs us that we need new hearts not just ethical principles.
In God’s economy, begrudging obedience is not truly obedience.
We need hearts that desire to follow God’s commands.
When we cultivate hearts that desire God, what we will find is that our lives will change for the better.
Proverbs 3 shows us life at its best; a full and blessed life.
Proverbs 3 promises us a lot, but we must be clear that it is not an endorsement of or an explanation of the prosperity gospel, which promises a life of health, wealth and temporal blessings to the faithful believer.
This chapter does promise things like “length of days and years of life”, “favor and good success”, and “barns and vats.”
But the Scripture nowhere promotes a gospel of prosperity such as is often taught today.
The prosperity gospel promotes a materialistic outlook that is cold-hearted towards God.
It is dressed up as religion, but it sees God as a means to an end.
The Scripture teaches a different philosophy of life, best exemplified by Paul in Phil. 3:7-11
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Through knowing God we become wise, and through wisdom we experience the life that God gives.
Commit Yourself to the Father’s Ways
Commit Yourself to the Father’s Ways
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
The similarity to the command of Deuteronomy 6 reminds us of the important connection between God’s law and wisdom.
Wisdom isn’t a matter of achievement, but of practice.
Two ways of living have been presented to in Proverbs: Wisdom and Folly.
These correspond to the two choice God lays before us: Life and Death.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
The father reminds us to ask ourselves the question, to whom or what are you listening to?
Examining those influences, what do they bring you practically? (How do they actually work out?)
What is the quality of your whole life? Not just physically or financially; but also spiritually, relationally, emotionally.
Chasing money, success, etc. always costs something.
He teaches us to keep his commands.
This means that we must guard and watch over them carefully. (Occupying our mind with them).
Adam was given the task of working and keeping the garden. While working it involved expanding it, keeping it meant to protect it; to watch over and protect its sanctity.
We must watch our hearts because they demonstrate where our true desires are.
Obedience to God is always a matter of the heart.
The heart has to do with one’s whole way of living, knowing, and feeling—Its our center.
So what is true of the heart is true of the whole man.
A heart devoted to wisdom bears fruit in our lives.
Our thoughts, desires, and actions are all brought together rightly oriented in relationship with God.
So, we must tend to our hearts because they will protect us from the thieves that desire to break in and steal our days and years (these are idols of the heart).
How much money is enough? (a little more) What level of career do I need before I’m successful? (Just a rung higher) These are the ways that idols break in and try to steal the lives that God desires for us.
It comes from putting something (anything) at the center of our lives apart from God:
But, with Christ at the center, we can experience the life that God gives.
A full life (days and years) however long it may be.
And peace, or shalom: a life fitting what God designed us for.
Shalom is not the reward of an obedient life, it is the result of wisdom (living God’s way).
It is the gift that God intends to be enjoyed by us. (Consider creation before the fall)
Idols cannot perfect or even improve us, they only rob us of fully living.
Enslaving us, lying to us, filling us with regrets.
Careers rob us of relaxation and rest. Retirement robs us of purpose. Family never fully satisfies; our children grow up and move on, and our spouses often need as much, if not more, that we seek from them.
R. Kent Hughes: “However you define your shalom, if it is not Christ, then it is an idol, demanding your all but giving nothing.”
They never keep their promises.
They punish failure.
This is the fate of the sinner, as Paul explains in Romans 1:25
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
So stay alert to the condition of your heart, and what you are believing at any given moment.
Give attention to the truth and the gospel of the finished work of Christ that serves as a foundation for a full life; the life of shalom.
Having given attention to the matter of cultivating obedient hearts, we are must then give attention to the matter of cultivating good character.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you:
These two characteristics describe the character of God Himself:
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
These same characteristics should also mark those who know him.
Practically, this means that we should strive to be like Him by adopting the characteristics of steadfast love (mercy) and faithfulness as our own.
This shows most clearly in the compassion that we show towards sinners.
God is steadfast in love and faithful to sinners, and so should we.
Favor and good success in the sight of God and man:
The reward for this integrated life, marked by Christlike character.
This success is comprehensive, having to do with every area of life.
But particularly with our chief work, the spread of the gospel and disciple-making.
When we look like Jesus Christ, we will be more successful evangelists because we are not hindering the message.
But also in every area of our lives. It’s important that we understand what it means to have success according to God’s standard: Peace (Shalom)
Peace isn’t the absence of hardship.
I may never be rich or physically healthy, or blssed in the way that some in the world reckon blessing.
Peace is living with the present knowledge of God’s loving presence and hand of providence over our lives.
Following the way of wisdom means that we will grow into the kind of people which God intends us to be by design.
The wise life is a fitting life. A life well lived.
So how do we get to shalom? God has a clear expectation of us.
Direct Yourself on the Father’s Path
Direct Yourself on the Father’s Path
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
This is one of the most famous and memorable in the Scripture.
Three knowledge metaphors: Trusting, knowing, fearing.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Not an anti-intellectual statement. It is a relational one.
We don’t put our trust in an ethical framework (lex talionis).
We put our trust in a person ( the Lord Jesus Christ).
Christians don’t put their trust in Jesus because he has produced the best and most consistent worldview to convince us. (thought he has)
Ultimately it is because by his work and the revelation of his person, he has proven himself supremely worthy of our trust.
He alone is able to bear the full weight of our reliance. We can put all our chips on Him.
A.W. Tozer: Pseudo-faith always arranges a way out to serve in case God fails it. Real faith knows only one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second way or makeshift substitutes. For true faith, it is either God or total collapse. And not since Adam stood up on the earth has God failed a single man or woman who trusted him.”
These ways of knowing God encourage us to live in concert with His design; to live wisely. (Self-reflection)
Our own understanding is not infallible; its untrustworthy.
That is why wisdom requires trusting in His revealed wisdom.
He can bear our confidence.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.
A natural continuation of trusting the Lord.
Living every day in the light of knowing God (in relationship with Him).
Connecting each moment with the twin sense of God’s immediate presence and of His good designs for our lives.
His way is the best way.
Examining your faith:
Do you let the bible overrule your thinking?
What do you do when the Bible contradicts what you want to be true?
This is the extent to which you lean on your own understanding.
Do you believe that someone somewhere without Jesus will still go to heaven?
This is to say, do we really need Jesus to have peace with God? Or is it enough to be a sincere, well-meaning person?
If your answer is yes, than you probably are one of these people.
What you are really hoping is that Jesus will award you salvation recognizing your personal worth.
Finally, when was the last time you took a risk for Jesus?
When you chose obedience and faithfulness to him over what seemed profitable to you.
When it cost you something socially, financially, or professionally.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
This is a warning against self-reliance or self-assurance.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Be sure of this, the universe will not cooperate with our arrogance or self-centeredness.
Orienting the whole of life to God’s service (emotions, actions, intellect, desires, etc.)
This requires humility.
This means that we must treat sin seriously and turn away from it.
The promise of knowing God; of trusting, knowing, and fearing Him is that we will live a blessed life.
Knowing God and following Him will not let us down.
He gives that which is needful for our continuing in faith and wisdom. (Healing and refreshment)
The more we fear the Lord, the less we will fear men (courage).
The more we depend upon Him, the less we will be dependent on others (independent).
The more we resemble Christ, the less we will be tempted to look like everyone else (individuality).
The more we obey Him, the less we will obey the sinful desires and temptations in the world (freedom).
But to exhibit His character, and walk His paths, we must be ready to put rubber to the road.
Entrust Yourself to the Father’s Love
Entrust Yourself to the Father’s Love
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
We all experience times of plenty and times of hardship.
Because of the sinfulness in our hearts, we often fail in our faithfulness.
In the good times it seems unnecessary to trust God (we’ve got this).
In the bad times it seems impossible to trust God (how can this work out?).
The Scripture reminds us that God is with us in the times of want and plenty for our good.
These promises that God gives to the one who diligently applies His law and walks in humility before Him are not just a matter of one’s internal faith life.
Its meant to be practical; lived out in our lives.
But how?
God gives us wisdom for our times of plenty.
Honor the Lord with your wealth/firstfruits:
This is the first way we demonstrate wisdom in our lives; by acknowledging God as the source of all wealth and the fruit of our labor.
Our first and best.
To honor God means to treat Him as weighty (that’s glory).
Our money and offerings don’t add to him, but they rather enhance/magnify his great name.
When we make offerings to the Lord (time, talent, treasure) we make His name famous in Creation.
This is why we are called to be generous.
Imagine what happens when we use money for self-important things (to make our names great in the world)(nice clothes, fancy cars, big houses, etc.)
We look silly (pretentious, opulent). And its never enough because our possessions possess us.
We tempt others to worship us or become envious of us.
We can’t properly bear the weight of being front and center.
To honor the Lord from your wealth (that’s what is in view here) means that we are directing our wealth toward the service of God.
We can honor the Lord with our wealth by being honorable and generous, but this isn’t exactly the same thing.
If I understand that all I have comes from the Lord, I will be able to give with thanksgiving.
It’s easy to be generous with God in light of how generous He is with us.
His capacity to give infinitely exceeds our capacity to recieve.
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
This isn’t a promise of riches, but of the fullness of life with God (His presence and His providence).
Matthew Henry: “God will bless you with an increas of that which is for use, not for show, for giving away, not for hoarding. Those who do with what they have shall have more to do good with.”
God is also with us for good in times of hardship and pain.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof:
Bad times and hard times give us two possibilities:
Either God loves us or He hates our guts.
God reminds us that He is our heavenly Father “My son”
When we go through times of suffering, it isn’t God’s anger but his love which is on display.
He is reinvesting in us for our good.
If God hated us, He would leave us to our ends.
But suffering is a refining fire, making us ready for heaven.
we shouldn’t presume that life will fit needly in a pattern that we imagine is fitting.
The truth is, we often don’t know or live according to what is truly best for us.
The righteous will suffer in life for many reasons…and we would be foolish to think suffering is evidence of God’s displeasure or abandonment.
As any parent will realize, discipline is not a sign of displeasure, but love.
It comes from a desire to see our children grow into their potential.
So it is with God.
Times of suffering are actually evidence of God’s continuing presence in our lives and his good intentions for our lives.
He doesn’t leave us in our rebellion, but draws near to guide and shape us.
So the wise path for us through suffering is to accept it and wait while He fulfills his purposes for us.
The temptation will aways be for us to grow angry with God because of his discipline or to grow weary of his hand upon us and become despairing.
But we must lean in to His plans for our suffering, so that we may be trained by it.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Jesus set this example for us to follow.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
In suffering, God reveals where our faith truly lies and how truly valuable his providence is.
Conclusion
Conclusion
To know God is to participate in life with Him.
You can’t truly know God from a book.
To walk with God requires that we remove ourselves from the center of our lives, and actively place Him in that place of preeminence.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
When we give the things we cherish back to God in thanksgiving, it demonstrates that we have taken those right steps to put Him in His rightful place.
We may desire many things in the world, some are good and right, and some are wrong and dangerous; but whatever desires you carry with you this morning, let God be the chief desire of your heart.
Only God can truly and fully satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.
God has graciously provided a perfect picture of his desire for life with us in the person and work of His Son Jesus Christ.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Through knowing Jesus Christ, we not only grow in wisdom, but we become the objects of God’s fatherly discipline as He shapes us into our ultimate end, Christlikeness.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Life apart from Jesus Christ is only a half-life.
God intends us to have abundant life in fellowship with Him.
Through Jesus, we have every good thing.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
What he promises to those who place their trust in Him is a path to follow him made clear.
Jesus himself is our good shepherd who leads us into salvation.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
He promises that He will never leave nor forsake us as we follow Him.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
