Wisdom and Folly
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
“A friend speaking to a man who just accepted Christ: “I hear you gave up all your pleasures.” The now Christian man replied, “No! no, the fact is I found my pleasures, I have up my follies.”
Christianity is not a loosing of fun and excitement, rather it is the gaining of it.
Wisdom from God leads us to life that is more abundant, more free, more fun and exciting.
no longer have to worry and strive for earthly pleasure or accolade
Solomon makes several contrasts here between a wise man and a fool
The wise man is one who follows God’s wisdom, follows His plan and purpose
The fool…well that becomes self-evident
To expose a Fool (1-3)
To expose a Fool (1-3)
Matt 5:22“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
to call someone a fool is to say that the person has rejected Christ. Thus the harsh penalty for it.
Solomon not being mean with his words here only trying to teach
A Biblical Fool
ethical sense, more than lack of intelligence
act without counsel, hot tempered, indolent, easily led astray, ruin is his end
“Deliberate sinner who persists in evil, lying, slandering, and enjoying mischief like as a sport.”
N.T. one who opposes truth
A little is all it takes
one foolish action is remembered far greater than a wise and honorable action
Right and left
not political
right - strength, left - ineptitude
what your heart focus’ one will direct your action
A fool makes himself known
“A pastor entered a tavern where a man, wishing to embarrass him, rose and suddenly called out quite loudly, “Es gibt keinen Gott” (“There is no God”). The pastor went to him, calmly laid his hand on his shoulder, and said, “Friend, what you have said is not at all new. The Bible said that more than 2,000 years ago.” The man replied, “I never knew that the Bible made such a statement.” The pastor informed him, “Psalm 14, verse 1, tells us, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” But there is a great difference between that fool and you. He was quite modest and said it only in his heart; he didn’t go about yelling it out in taverns.”
see destruction and folly around them
next several proverbs on leadership help to show how a fool makes himself known vs a wise leader.
Wisdom in Leadership (4-11)
Wisdom in Leadership (4-11)
In midst of controversy with leadership
retain your composure
appointments made in error
not always the best people chosen
friends, family, and political
without seeking God’s wisdom, the wrong people will be in high places and cause much destruction
Traps set
A fool sets a trap for his foes
but they ensnare him
digging a pit
breaking into a house
but even honest work can cause injury
Key is wisdom
“Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.”
Success in what you do
depends on the wisdom you use
Godly wisdom guides us to do well, no matter what our task, to give God the glory for it.
A Fool’s Words (12-15)
A Fool’s Words (12-15)
Heinrich Heine: “A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.”
A leading economic expert, Professor Irving Fisher of Yale, had this to say about the bright future of the stock market and the American economy: “Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.”
His statement was spoken in early October 1929, just a couple of weeks before the stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression.
Many words used to hide foolishness
don’t know the directions, so I’ll speak so yo think I know, when I’m just as lost as you are
A fool speaks, so to hide his foolishness
one who tries to justify denying Christ, even thou the evidence is astounding
The Wisdom Needed (16-20)
The Wisdom Needed (16-20)
These last 4 verses, cover wisdom’s call to be used
Experience (wisdom) should be followed
young princes party in wealth and new found freedom
Nobility of wisdom teaches a time and purpose for everything
through laziness and sloth-ness, a house will fall
It is good to enjoy and be merry
its good to celebrate hard work
but remember your fortunes come from God
your success comes from God, he is to be honored
Remember “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”
Be careful what you say
in your secret world or in the open, your words will be made known
There is no secrecy
secrecy is a lie!
If we follow the wisdom of god, when we follow his will for our lives,
there is no secrets to worry about
no political agenda to be sought after
Conclusion
Conclusion
God wants you to follow him
use the wisdom he will give you
James “you only have to ask and God will give it in abundance”
He wants the best for you, because he loves you