Wisdom in Silence
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Looking forward to the coming weeks where will have one service again.
Thank you for coming out this morning.
Today we are continuing our series Social Faith. We are looking at how we live our lives not online on social media but also in society. I didn’t watch the debate last week but heard much about it. I’ve seen a lot shared and some not so great.
As we enter the close of this years election season I think it’s important we maintain our testimony in society so we can have an impact for Jesus with the gospel no matter who wins in November.
Last week we examined the divided kingdom of Christianity when we have or allow for the wrong perception, when we are focused on the wrong kingdom, and when we plant the wrong seeds that produce the wrong fruit.
Today we are going to be in the book of Proverbs chapter 17 and seeing the Wisdom of Silence.
Casey Stengel was a longtime major league baseball manager known for his time with the New York Yankees, whose unique way with the English language became known as "Stengelese." He once said, "I've always heard that it couldn't be done, but sometimes it don't always work." That's typical Stengelese.
Casey held a position on the board of directors for a California bank. According to a story that originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Casey described his duties this way: "There ain't nuthin' to it. You go into the fancy meeting room and you just sit there and never open your yap. As long as you don't say nuthin' they don't know whether you're smart or dumb."
He figured out that by being quit, he was perceived as intelligent or at least not percieved as a fool.
His actions exemplify the verses we are about to read today and teach a valuable lesson to many of us here. What I want us to see is not the wisdom in the statements of Proverbs, but what it is that is behind a person who is able to live this way for the glory of God.
Follow along as I read
Proverbs 17:24-28
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, Nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
PRAY
I. Wisdom is a matter of Focus
I. Wisdom is a matter of Focus
My outline today is different than I typically do. I’m working at growing in my preaching and study and this is a different way of communicating that I’m interested to try and see if it works.
I’ll tell you what I told a man who is helping me with this. if there is a more effective way to communicate the gospel and the truths of Gods Word, I have a responsibility and obligation to do the most I can to learn more about it.
With that said, Wisdom is a matter of Focus.
This first verse shows that a man of understanding is one that has wisdom before him. What does that mean and look like though?
A man of understanding is focused on wisdom and the getting of wisdom
Prov 4:7
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.
The focus of the understanding man is on the getting of wisdom and not on the ends of the earth. Not on the pleasures and luxuries of the world. Not on what the result of wisdom can be, but on wisdom itself.
What is wisdom though? Well there are a couple things we can examine in scripture to understand this.
Prov 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
So the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord. The loving reverence for God through Jesus Christ.
Job 12:12-13
12 With the ancient is wisdom; And in length of days understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding.
Wisdom is found with those who have lived many days on the earth. Wisdom is with God…the ancient and the Him in verse 13 is speaking of God.
Then in James we find godly wisdom defined
James 3:17
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Wisdom from God is pure, peacable, gentle, easy to be intreated (means compliant and easy to work with), merciful, has good fruits (I believe the fruits of the spirit as we mentioned last week), without partiality (unwavering) without hypocrisy (no alterier motive).
Too often we find ourselves roaming the ends of the earth to find wisdom from multiple different sources in we have direct access to source of true wisdom.
A man of understanding is focused on wisdom from God because He nows that Wisdom is a matter of Focus and your focus affects more than just you.
II. Your Focus effects more than just you
II. Your Focus effects more than just you
Prov 17:25-26
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, Nor to strike princes for equity.
These two verses make it apparent you who affect with your focus. The ones who raised you. Teens and kids in the room, remember this.
Prov 20:11
11 Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
You are a reflection of your parents and how they raised you. Your focus, no matter how old you are, will always affect them.
And once you are older and have a family of your own, now you you will impact your spouse and your children.
Your focus in life never stops having an affect on other people. That is true of us today.
As we seek to live out our faith in society we will find the impact we can have for the gospel will be determined by the focus we keep. If we remained focused on God and the mission He has given us then we will have a great impact for Him. If we allow our eyes to roam the ends of the earth looking fro wisdom in all the wrong places, then our impact will be less and our families, friends, churches, and communities will be effected negatively by it.
Now, verse 26 can almost seem as though it is out of place with just a general read through of this passage. And, while I may be wrong in this, obviously I don’t believe i am or i wouldn’t preach it, I believe it fits perfectly.
We must remember the context of Proverbs. The book is written from a father, Solomon, to his son
Prov 1:8
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Solomon is old in age and passing on the wisdom he has gained from God and from life experience to his son.
Here he is speaking on the effects of a a foolish man on his mother and father and then says “Also to punish the just is not good nor to strike princes for equity”
In modern vernacular that means “ It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty”
Why would Solomon give this instruction after saying a mother and father are effected by the foolishness of their child?
I believe, it is an indication that fools are born out of a poor upbringing.
If you were to have known me a decade or so ago the word fool would be a nice way to describe me. My parents did the best they could with what they had to work with. I wasn’t the easiest child or teenager and was quite rebellious.
Because I was unwilling to accept their teaching and wisdom I developed myself into a fool.
If a child is spoiled and given everything they want…they will become a fool.
because of verse 26 I believe that’s what 25 is speaking of. When a father doesn’t teach a child to work, to lead, to love God, and to love others, he will be grieved with the outcome.
When a mother spoils her child by giving him or her everything they ask for and desire, they will be bitter in their hearts as they feel “I gave you everything and this is what you do with it”
Does this mean every child that goes away from the Lord was raised this way, not at all. It does mean that that type of parenting will lead to a negative outcome.
On the other side of that coin is verse 26.
It’s not good to fine an innocent person or beat a person for being honest.
Don’t let your child go unpunished for their actions and also don’t punish them wrongly.
As adults we can apply this to our interactions with others and not get upset with someone who is seeking to do good and is innocent of any wrong doing.
This goes back to perception which is so important as we interact with others on Social Media and even in our lives.
If we re focused on Wisdom and understanding then the effect we have on others will be something that is for their good and for His glory.
That effect we have on others comes from our actions
III. The effect we have on others comes from our actions
III. The effect we have on others comes from our actions
Prov 17:27
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Some believe the more we talk or the more we have to say the more we know. When in most cases, that is not true.
Solomon explains here that those with knowledge and wisdom are ones that will restrain their words and if we have understanding we have an excellent spirit.
Not only is that a reference to the joy that can be had in any situation because of our focus being on Jesus it is also speaking of keeping your cool in various situations.
Many years ago a senior executive of the then Standard Oil Company made a wrong decision that cost the company more than $2 million. John D. Rockefeller was then running the firm. On the day the news leaked out most of the executives of the company were finding various ingenious ways of avoiding Mr. Rockefeller, lest his wrath descend on their heads.
There was one exception, however; he was Edward T. Bedford, a partner in the company. Bedford was scheduled to see Rockefeller that day and he kept the appointment, even though he was prepared to listen to a long harangue against the man who made the error in judgment.
When he entered the office the powerful head of the gigantic Standard Oil empire was bent over his desk busily writing with a pencil on a pad of paper. Bedford stood silently, not wishing to interrupt. After a few minutes Rockefeller looked up.
“Oh, it’s you, Bedford,” he said calmly. “I suppose you’ve heard about our loss?”
Bedford said that he had.
“I’ve been thinking it over,” Rockefeller said, “and before I ask the man in to discuss the matter, I’ve been making some notes.”
Bedford later told the story this way: “Across the top of the page was written, ‘Points in favor of Mr. ________.’ There followed a long list of the man’s virtues, including a brief description of how he had helped the company make the right decision on three separate occasions that had earned many times the cost of his recent error.
“I never forgot that lesson. In later years, whenever I was tempted to rip into anyone, I forced myself first to sit down and thoughtfully compile as long a list of good points as I possibly could. Invariably, by the time I finished my inventory, I would see the matter in its true perspective and keep my temper under control. There is no telling how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of the costliest mistakes any executive can make—losing his temper.
“I commend it to anyone who must deal with people.
A person of understanding is able to keep their cool because they see people not mistakes.
It is their actions that will effect the people around them but they do not let the actions of others effect their own spirit and heart.
This is how a person becomes steadfast and unmoveable, take Daniel for example.
Daniel was a young man who was taken into Babylonian captivity and was being groomed to be in the court with the king. It was during this time he made a decision that each of us should make.
Daniel 1:8
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel purposed in his heart not to change from who he was because of those around him. He chose to stay true to God. He chose to allow his heart to be influenced by the Lord and not the world.
Being a person of understanding, knowledge, and wisdom means purposing in your heart that you will be that person. That sounds quite simplistic however I believe it to be the most important key to living a Christian life.
Don’t wait for someone to tell you to. Don’t wait for everyone to be nice and kind to you. Don’t wait for someone else to take action that will affect you.
Take the action now to purpose in your heart to be a person of wisdom and pursue that with all of your heart.
“But Pastor, I thought we were to pursue Jesus?” Great question.
Remember, the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord. If you are pursuing wisdom, it begins with Jesus and guess what? It ends with jesus.
Our salvation in Jesus Christ gives us access to God the Father and we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit inside of us.
it’s the Holy Spirit of God that works on our hearts and as we yield to Him we will see our actions change. Because your actions come from your heart.
IV. Your actions Come from your heart
IV. Your actions Come from your heart
Remember last weeks when Jesus said
Matt 12:34
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Just as the mouth speaketh out of the heart so do the actions you take.
If you believe that blue is the greatest color you will choose a blue crayon to color with when asked.
If you believe that we should love God and love others you will choose to see people as Jesus saw them and treat them as he treated them.
What your allowing to influence you will determine how you will be acting. If you are allowing the world to have more of a influence over you….The world that’s full of hate and division, the world that is united in its cause against Christ, when you allow that to influence you, you can’t do good. Your actions can’t have a positive impact because your heart is only recieving negative things.
“Pastor, what if I don’t know what to do?”
Great question.
Prov 17:28
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
When you don’t know how to handle something…don’t. Hold you peace. Seek wisdom. Someone said something on facebook you don’t like? What should you do? Hold you peace. Seek after wisdom and gain understanding so that you may respond, if that’s even needed, in such a way that will glorify Christ and provide you the opportunity to witness to the other person.
What about in your home with your children or your spouse? Hold your peace.
I know, this one is tough. “But pastor…she said this or He did this stupid thing.” “My kid back talked me” “My kid didn’t do what I told them to.”
I hear you…I’m not perfect. But I know that as a parent I’m not to provoke my children to anger. I know I want to love my spouse and I want to approach situations with wisdom so instead of opening ym mouth to confirm that I can be foolish…I’m going to keep quite and seek wisdom.
How can we do that? Because Wisdom is a matter of focus. Are you focused on Jesus and allowing His Word to influence your actions or are you focused on your self and how much you need to be right?
That’s an important decision to make. Because your focus affects more than just you.
Time of Response
Time of Response
So…Who will choose to focus on this week? Trump? Biden? CNN? Fox News? NPR? or Jesus?
What will you allow to influence your heart adn determine your actions? Will you find the wisdom in silence or will you seek to prove your foolishness?
As we enter our time of response I’d like to ask you to close your eyes and bow your head.
Maybe you heard this today and recalled a time when you opened your mouth but shouldn’t have. That’s ok…would you ask God to forgive you of that?
Would you purpose in your heart now that you will seek godly wisdom going forward and not your own?
Are you here this morning and don’t know Jesus?
You’ve never trusted Him as your savior?
Maybe you’ve never heard
16 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.
God does love you. Loves you so much He sent Jesus to die for you.
Now you are faced with a decision…will you put your eternal soul in the hands of your wisdom or God’s?
In God’s wisdom he made salvation very easy to obtain.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Your first have to admit your sinner
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
I’m sure each of us could do that.
Next you believe
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Then confess. Confess Jesus as your Savior and call out to Him
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
IF you’d like to do that today I’d like to help.
“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”
Christians…as you live out your faith online and in society…woudl you focus more on the wisdom from God rather than the wisdom of man and learn to show wisdom in silence?
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