“In all Your Getting, Get Understanding”

Message Text:

Message Subject:“In all Your Getting, Get Understanding”

Understanding—No Time for

“How is it, my dear,” inquired a schoolmistress of a little girl, “that you do not understand this simple thing?” “I do not know, indeed,” she answered, with a perplexed look; “but I sometimes think I have so many things to learn that I have not the time to understand.”

Alas! there may be much hearing, much reading, much attendance at public services, and very small result, and all because the word was not the subject of thought, and was never embraced by the understanding. What is not understood is like meat undigested, more likely to be injurious than nourishing.

 C. H. Spurgeon, Feathers for Arrows (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1870), 250.

Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and may be fully as dangerous.

One may say that experience is your best teacher, however I am also in agreement with A.W. Tozier, “Truth that is not experienced is no better then error, and may be fully as dangerous.” Also, We should see that one of the greatest foes of the Christian is religious complacency. The man who believes that he has “arrived” will not go any further; and the present neat habit of quoting a text to prove we have arrived may be a dangerous one if in truth we have no actual inward experience of the text.

It is suffice to say, the solution to live out an inwardly experienced that is of truth and avoid religious complacency it is “In all Your Getting, Get Understanding.”

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. ( NKJV)

Chapter four reveals the following:

This is, The Wise Path of Life: Obey Your Parents’ Instructions, 4:1-27. 1. Listen to your parents’ wise advice (vv. 1-9). 2. Pursue the right path in life (vv. 10-19). 3. Keep on the straight, righteous path (vv. 20-27).

1. Listen to your parents’ wise advice (vv. 1-9).

2. Pursue the right path in life (vv. 10-19).

If we adhere to this in our tender years, you will have no problems in your continuous spiritual walk

3. Keep on the straight, righteous path (vv. 20-27).

(3) Salvation, Understanding of

I don’t understand electricity, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to sit around in the dark till I do. I don’t understand the thermodynamics of internal combustion and the hydraulics of an automatic transmission either, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to stay in one place until I do. The truth is that I don’t understand a great deal of the things that are part of my everyday life, but I make them a part of my life anyway.

The same is true of salvation. No one will fully understand how God could become man, how he could die, how his death could be the basis for our forgiveness, how he could give you and me a new life, and all of the other aspects of salvation. But only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity just because he didn’t understand it.

Jesus opens minds to understand: True understanding of the Scriptures, so that one understands how all of redemptive history fits together, is a gift of God. ()

His coming found them believing and unbelieving, startled and joyful and afraid all at once (24:34, 36, 41). Emotionally, they were thoroughly confused.

Jesus shared with the disciples who were present:

two great statement (explanations) of the Christian Faith: (1) Jesus is risen (v.36-43) (2) all Scripture must be filled (v.44-49)

Jesus is risen (v.36-43)

all Scripture must be filled (v.44-49)

During the centuries since, God’s people have often found themselves again in the same state of uncertainty in which they were at the start of that memorable evening. For many Christians, today is such a time, and they are feeling similar doubts about the role and objectives of the church.

Many today are in a state of uncertainty: What are we supposed to be going? What are we meant to be doing? What are we about? What are we for?

Understanding, Lack of

Some of us are like Christopher Columbus when it comes to our understanding:

He didn’t know where he was going.

He didn’t know where he was when he got there.

He didn’t know where he had been when he returned.

In circumstances like these our course needs to be set once more according to the same four guiding lights given to the disciples back then...

Having brought coherence into human life, and Christ into the human heart, the word of salvation now brings a plan and a purpose before Christ’s people. Jesus gave us the direction we are expected to go:

Four guiding lights: Jesus gave a biblical theology (24:46), an evangelistic program (24:47), an apostolic authority (24:48), and a spiritual dynamic (24:49).

(NKJV)

46Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48And you are witnesses of these things.

49“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”