Just Keeping it Real (Part 3)

You Better Get an Understanding

Introduction

As we continue this “Just Keeping it Real” series of messages, “You Are Going to Run Out of Time;” “You are Going Somewhere;” and now, “You Better Get an Understanding,” I feel the need to say that these are not some random thoughts thrown together, but a burden that has been laid upon my heart for a long time.

I am convinced that the time of Christ’s return is near, so necessity and urgency is laid upon me to sound the trumpet as it were and let the people know that it’s getting late in the evening and the sun is almost gone down. I know it may not appear that way to most, but neither did the Great Flood in Noah’s day.

If you think about it, the primary reason that this Covid-19 pandemic has caused such great concern and fear is that you could die from it. Meaning, you could run out of time sooner than you think.

As frightening as the nearness of death may be for most people, for a Christian it is an opportunity to bring awareness and perspective to life. People purchase life and burial insurance and create estate plans for their possessions, which is a wise thing to do. This shows an awareness that your time is going to run out.

Although these instruments may bless those listed as beneficiaries or heirs, they do nothing for the benefactor. Wisdom says the most important priority is to make plans for your soul.

In Matthew 16:26, Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” The obvious and only answer is “nothing.” Amen, somebody. You better get an understanding. Just keeping it real.

One the most valuable lessons my dad ever taught me, and my brother was this. He said, “What’s important in life is not the big things that you do or wealth you may acquire, or even the places you’ve been; rather, it’s the small things that you understand.” It has helped my discernment and taught me to value the things in life that are so often taken for granted.

With that as an introduction, today we want to try and bring things into clearer focus appealing to Proverbs 4:5-7 with an emphasis on v.7.

Text

“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Wisdom

The knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time. The consistency of making the right choice is an indication of maturity and development. The prerequisite for “wisdom” is the fear of the Lord: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7)

Understanding

Perceptive insight with the ability to judge. God-given perception of the nature and meaning of things, resulting in sound judgment and decision-making; in particular, the ability to discern spiritual truth and to apply it to human disposition and conduct.

Nothing compares with it:

Ø Proverbs 3:13-15, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. (14) For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”

However, the world has a profoundly different message. The allurement of the world is fame and fortune, but God calls a person to wisdom and understanding. Without naming names, far too many of the people our children and sometimes we ourselves select as role models who are ungodly individuals.

They may be good at their craft, but their lifestyles are deplorable; and, if left to themselves, our children will adopt not only the celebrity’s skills but their attitudes and lifestyles as well.

We stress to our children to get an education, which is the right thing, because a good education will help them earn a living. However, more important than learning how to earn a living, is learning how to live.

Given the state of affairs concerning of children, we seem to care more about our children’s knowledge of:

Ø Math rather than mercy,

Ø Geography rather than grace,

Ø Science rather than salvation,

Ø Happiness rather than holiness,

Ø Computers rather than compassion,

Ø Languages rather than love,

Ø Rights than rather righteousness,

Ø Justice rather than judgment,

Ø Image rather than integrity, and

Insurance rather than assurance

People, we know that we cannot be with our children always, so part of our responsibility in rearing them is to help them make wise choices, including behavior, mentors/role models, friends, and money.

Knowing that they will make mistakes just as we did, we try to teach them to admit their mistakes, learn from them, and avoid making the same mistake again.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 9:9-10 – “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

V.5-7,

Solomon, who is the author of this portion of Proverbs, is speaking from experience. In I Kings 3:5-9, wisdom and understanding are what Solomon requested of the Lord when he was anointed king.

In v.10-12, of this same passage, we learn that Solomon’s request pleased the Lord, and the Lord granted his request—making him the wisest man to ever live. But where does one obtain wisdom and understanding? How do you recognize it when you see it?

To these questions the psalmist in Psalm 110:10 said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

Job had this to say about wisdom and understanding, Job asked:

Job 28:12, 28 – “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? (28) And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

On his way to glory, Moses said to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Ø “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (20) That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:”

I heard Paul say in I Corinthians 1:21-24:

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, I continue to hammer this nail, because so many people do not have a healthy fear of God.

God is real, and His wrath is real. And, every man, woman, boy, and girl is going to have to stand before Him one day—either forgiven or condemned. Amen somebody. You better get an understanding. Just keeping it real.

I do not want to see anyone perish but perish you will if you reject God’s gift of salvation, which is Jesus Christ. Amen, somebody. You better get an understanding. Just keeping it real.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he believeth not on the name of the only begotten Son of God. Amen, somebody. You better get an understanding. Just keeping it real.

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and three days later He rose from the dead with all power in heaven and earth in His hands.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Amen, somebody. You better get an understanding. Just keeping it real.