The Advantage of Wisdom pt 2
Ecclesiastes • Sermon • Submitted
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· 16 views7 Advantages Wisdom. Wisdom is better than foolishness. Trusting the Lord through the challenges of life leads to strength of character. This is how believers are renewed to a true image of Jesus Christ - through enduring suffering in a God-honoring way.
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: The Advantage of Wisdom pt 2
Big Idea: Wisdom is better than foolishness. Trusting the Lord through the challenges of life leads to strength of character. This is how believers are renewed to a true image of Jesus Christ - through enduring suffering in a God-honoring way.
The Advantage of Wisdom pt 1 -
When life gives you lemons...
Enjoy the life you’ve been given for this is your lot (; )
Enjoy your family! All time is quality time.
Enjoy your work.
PRAY
PRAY
Let’s now look at 7 Advantages that Wisdom provides. You aren’t going to remember all 7 things. But usually you might remember the last one on the list. Solomon builds to the last one - which is that Wisdom builds CHARACTER. Your character matters, it is who you are, and how you are known.
Good Stories are always about Characters. Binge Viewing on TV - hit hard in 2013 w/ online streaming TV releasing entire season’s worth of episode simultaneously. Prior to that, get on DVD. It is the characters that attract viewers for multiple seasons.
“Character is the second main area of the Christian life—a life that is increasingly Christ-centered and less self-centered, a life that honestly addresses areas of sin and cultivates the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In other words, it involves the life-long process of putting off the old fleshly life and putting on the new spiritual life. And it involves holiness in every part of life.”
Excerpt From: Shane Sanders. “Critical Mass.”
- Advantage 1: Wisdom Provides Stability in Hard Times
- Advantage 1: Wisdom Provides Stability in Hard Times
11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.
12 Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.
The wise man doesn’t rely on natural abilities.
Race is not to the swift.
Battle is not to the warriors.
Bread is not to the wise.
Wealth is not to the discerning.
Favor is not to the men of ability.
TIME AND CHANCE OVERTAKE THEM ALL.
Man does not know his time or chance.
- Ahab
34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.”
- Absalom
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
God is unchangeable. He is reliable. He will not fail. He is dependable. His word will not pass away. Why would we trust in anything or anyone else?
- Advantage 2: Godly Wisdom is Better Than Worldly Strength
- Advantage 2: Godly Wisdom is Better Than Worldly Strength
13 Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.
14 There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.
15 But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.
vs 13 - ‘All this’ that wisdom [fear of the Lord] is better than natural abilities impressed Solomon.
vs 14-16
Small city w/ few men VERSUS great king w/ large seigeworks
Small city had poor wise man that delivered the city by wisdom, but was not remembered. (Layman’s Prayer Revival 18:12)
Wisdom is better than strength.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
But the world despises the poor man. ,
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
- Advantage 3: Wisdom Keeps You From Sin
- Advantage 3: Wisdom Keeps You From Sin
17 The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
1 Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.
Wisdom - though quiet and gentle - is better than weapons of war. BUT, one sinner destroys much good. ‘Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink.’
BUT, one sinner destroys much good. ‘Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink.’
Compare/Contrast - David and Jeroboam:
Jeroboam (prophesied to take part of kingdom from Solomon’s heir). Solomon tries to kill him, Jeroboam flees. Returns later to take throne of north. BUT doesn’t trust God and builds idols and institutes bizarre replica of worship and leads Israel into generations of sin.
- Advantage 4: Wisdom Helps Endure Bad Leadership
- Advantage 4: Wisdom Helps Endure Bad Leadership
2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.
3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—
6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
vs 2 - the right is the place of strength and skill. Wise man [fears the Lord] directs him to the place of advantage, which is humbly bowed before the Creator.
vs 3 - fools will be revealed by their actions
Sometimes rulers can be foolish and sinful. Don’t let this surprise you or throw you off your guard. Don’t expect men to be God.
,
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
- Advantage 5: Wisdom Keeps You From Avoidable Mistakes.
- Advantage 5: Wisdom Keeps You From Avoidable Mistakes.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11 If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Fearing God gives you an advantage in life. Pay attention to what you are doing.
Pay attention to what you are doing.
Controlling the tongue - , - Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
Do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet, etc.
Honor authority ()
- Advantage 6: Wisdom separates you from the fool
- Advantage 6: Wisdom separates you from the fool
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.
The wise man is made evident by his gracious words. ()
2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
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13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The foolish man is shown by his many and arrogant words.( )
(Ex: building basketball goal).
3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.
8 If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.
9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.
11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?
12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.
14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.
15 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?
17 Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.
20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.
3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
(Ex: building basketball goal).
Does not know how to go to a city - No sense - i.e. - Not enough sense to come in out of the rain. (toddler in ant bed)
- Advantage 7: Wisdom Develops Character
- Advantage 7: Wisdom Develops Character
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
20 Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
Compare/Contrast - wise and fool
vs 16 - WOE to the Land of the FOOL
King is a lad - inexperienced, immature ()
Princes feast in the morning - not taking the day seriously, eat for pleasure
vs 17 - BLESSED is the Land of the WISE
King is noble - honorable, mature
Princes eat at the appropriate time and for appropriate reason - for strength and not for drunkenness
vs 18 - 20 - STRONG CHARACTER = WISDOM
The rafters sag and the house leaks - the nation run by lazy leaders is in bad shape. So is the life of the fool. No fear of God leads to very weak character.
Fools pursue the pleasure of this world.
Don’t speak against them! Don’t act like a fool! STAND FIRM
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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.
1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Remember, Church, we are IN the world, not OF the world. Let us let the Word of God renovate our character - individually and corporately - so that we may LOOK LIKE JESUS!!
13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:
Let us, in the fear of the Lord, stand firm in trusting in God’s Word so that the world may also believe that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Col 3:2
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.