Wise Up: Part XLVIX

Introduction

There was once a mom that passed on the following wisdom to her children with life lessons:

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Mom’s Survival Tips

To my kids who have left home and are on their own, I pass on a list of life lessons:

1. Don’t sweat your every mistake or faux pas. They make up for the things you got away with that nobody knows about.

2. Avoid marrying anyone who deliberately flushes the toilet when you’re taking a shower.

3. When someone tells you that what he’s about to say is “for your own good,” expect the worst.

4. The value of a dog is its constant reminder of how much fun it is to be idiotic.

5. If you are lavishly praised, enjoy the taste but don’t swallow it whole.

6. When a politician says, “Let me make something perfectly clear,” remember that he usually won’t.

7. Your children may leave home, but their stuff will be in your attic and basement forever.

8. If someone says, “I know what I mean, but I just can’t put it into words,” he doesn’t know what he means.

9. Two people cannot operate a TV remote control in the same room at the same time.

10. Don’t waste time trying to be your own best friend. You can’t pat yourself on the back, and it’s unsatisfying to cry on your own shoulder. Find a real friend instead

Wisdom is something that is crucial to have if we will live the lives that God has intended for us to live.

In these verses Solomon once again is emphasizing the importance of wisdom in the lives of his children.

So tonight we are going to see Five Items that wisdom entails and how we can grow in wisdom in our own individuals lives.

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The Value of Wisdom (v. 16)

In , there is a very similar statement given:

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Proverbs 3:13–15 KJV 1900

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

You could give a man all the money in the world, but if he has no wisdom, what does he really have? If he doesn’t know how to live, money is pointless.

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Some may look at that and say, “Well, I’d figure life out pretty quick if I had to if I had all that money and no wisdom.” Yeah, but you’d probably be pretty miserable in the process.

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Remember, wisdom is skill for living. Gold and silver won’t teach you how to make decisions. Rubies aren’t going to tell you how you should live your life. If you had to choose between money or wisdom, which one would you choose?

The spiritual me would choose wisdom. But the carnal me would say I want gold and silver. But wisdom is truly greater than gold. Wisdom can teach you how to spend the gold. While gold cannot tell you how to be wise.

Wisdom has so much more to offer than anything that has a price in this world. The value of wisdom.

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The Road of Wisdom (v. 17)

The highway was a road well-traveled and well-maintained back in Bible days. You can imagine that most roads back in these days were probably not the greatest to travel on.

Bumpy, overgrown with shrubs and trees, dangerous, windy.

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The wise road to take would be the highway. You would get where you’re going quicker, and you wouldn’t run into as much danger.

According to verse 17, the way you stay on the highway is to steer clear of evil.

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Proverbs 16:6 KJV 1900

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: And by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Really, this is a simple principle.

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To stay on wisdom’s path one must stay away from sin.

But how many of you would agree that this is easier said than done? Sin is kind of like the deer in Kansas. They try to come up and smack you out of nowhere. Take you off the path.

We need to be vigilant about the luring of sin. We need to take heed to ourselves.

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2 Peter 3:17 KJV 1900

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

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II Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We need to fix our eyes on Christ and not look away. Along the path, many things will try to detour us from doing just that, but we must determine to do right and depart from evil.

And the last part of verse 17 states: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. This path is preserving to those who follow it and commit to it.

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The Enemy of Wisdom (v. 18-19)

Pride is opposed to God and His Word. Pride says, “I know better because I am better.” As we said at the beginning of the text, pride is a false assessment of self.

You will find that those who have fallen into destruction have gotten to that point because of pride. Pride comes before destruction. Since pride is so easy to fall into, verse 19 tells us a better alternative:

Proverbs 16:19 KJV 1900

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Do you realize your associations can cause you to either remain in humility or to grow in your pride?

It is better to make your acquaintances with those who are lowly, or literally poor, than to association yourself with rich people who may make you look good in front of others, but causes you to ooze with pride and be repudiating in the sight of God.

H.A. Ironside said,

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“[Pride] is the sure precursor of a fall, for the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity cannot permit self-exaltation, on the part of a creature, to go unchecked. Far better is it to be little in one’s own eyes, and to find happy fellowship with the lowly, than to share the pursuits and treasures of the proud in spirit.” -H.A. Ironside

Pride in our life will cause us to detour from the highway of wisdom that God wants us on. So in our lives we need to display humility.

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James 4:6 KJV 1900

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

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The Outcome of Wisdom (v. 20)

When we handle something correctly, it produces good. When we trust in God, it brings happiness or blessing to us. When we display wisdom in the practicality of life, it’s outcome brings good results.

This reminds us of how important it is to seek God for wisdom in the daily decisions that need to be made. We never know what things might come up in the day, and it is crucial that we have the mind of God on those matters.

Also, we find an importance of trust. Happiness is the byproduct of faith. When we place our confidence in God it helps us to be reassured of the fact that God is in control and that He will work things together for His good and glory.

The wise man will consistently display trust in the Lord. Goodness and happiness are the outcomes of wisdom displayed.

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The Language of Wisdom (v. 21-24)

To exercise prudence means to exercise caution and discernment in a situation. Those who are wise in heart will display prudence in different scenarios they are faced with.

The second part of this verse deals with speech. The sweetness of lips refers to pleasant words. So we find that the presentation of our words helps to increase learning.

It is important in our instruction to others to speak pleasant words. In the way we present our words that it would promote the listener to learn.

As we’ve noted in our study, it’s not only important the things you say, but also the way you say them. There is speech that promotes a learning spirit within those who listen to us.

Proverbs 16:22 KJV 1900

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: But the instruction of fools is folly.

We have a comparison between what wisdom brings and what folly brings. Instruction in wisdom is a wellspring of life. It is refreshing, life-sustaining, and inexhaustible.

On the other hand you have folly and its instruction which only results in more foolishness. We must ask ourselves the question, is our instruction producing a wellspring of life or is it producing more foolishness?

Proverbs 16:23 KJV 1900

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.

The wise man will have control of his tongue. He teaches his mouth when to speak and when to be quiet. Instead of speaking hurtful words he promotes instruction with his lips.

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James 3:2–3 KJV 1900

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

The spiritually mature person will display self-control when it comes to not speaking his mind. He instead will use his words to instruct others in righteousness.

Proverbs 16:24 KJV 1900

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

The wise man will be delightful to speak to and his words will be sweet, just like a honeycomb. Their speech is enjoyed by those who need encouragement. Their speech is sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

We saw this idea in the last chapter:

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Proverbs 15:23 KJV 1900

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: And a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

There are certain people that we know we can go to in order to find encouragement. We should all strive to be that way in our conversations with others.

People should be able to talk to us and walk away being healed by things we’ve said.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Someone once said,

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I would have you learn this great fact: that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is. If you live that kind of life, you’ll not limp or stumble as you run.

Tonight we’ve seen some important matters regarding living a wise life. May we strive to stay on wisdom’s highway as we keep our focus on the Lord!