What can wisdom do?

We are in our third week of our series

Decisions, Decisions: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Choices.

The Bible doesn’t give us definitive answers for every decision we face in life or turn-by-turn directions for our proverbial journeys. You won’t find a verse about where to go to school, whether or not to take a job, or where you should retire. But the Bible does give us wisdom for how to make decisions (big and small) and trustworthy guidance that leads us to God’s ultimate will for our lives. This series explores how we can grow in wisdom by leaning on the power of Scripture.

We have been looking at some wise saying for King Solomon. One of the wise men to every live.

Week one we look at what is the key to wisdom? We learned that that proverbs was written of us to learn, understand, receive instruction and for teaching. All five are great but thats not the end. We must also follow and lesson to God. Thats the key to having biblical wisdom.

Last week we look at who can wisdom call?

Wisdom is available to all who will listen to her voice

Those who listen to wisdom will find the blessings of God’s presence in all they do.

We all have decisions to make every day. God is willing to help us in that pursuit, but we must be willing to listen to his instruction.

When we consider the true worth of wisdom, we long for it before we make any decisions about life. Our decisions must be rooted in God’s wisdom, but when they are, we can confidently move forward in whatever direction we sense God is leading us.

This week we will be looking at what can wisdom do for us.

If you have your bibles please turn to Proverbs 15:20-33. If not you can follow along on the screen in a few moments.

Before we look at today verses. I have a question for you.

How do you normal make a decision?

There are two many ways you could make a decision. First being you could run head first into the best option at the time. Like that impulse buy, quieting your job out of the blue, or moving on a wilma. We all have made decision like this right. We see something we like or really want and go for it. Sometime it works out great and other time. Well....... Not so much. The decision we mades turn out to bite us. We fall flat on our face or it destroys our thing around us.

The there is the other option and that the think through every decision. Weighing out the pro and con, taking time to make the decision. This a lot time is the better option. How do we learn to us wisdom in our decision.

Let’s look at what Proverbs has to say.

Proverbs 15:20–33 CSB

20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense, but a person with understanding walks a straight path. 22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 A person takes joy in giving an answer; and a timely word—how good that is! 24 For the prudent the path of life leads upward, so that he may avoid going down to Sheol. 25 The Lord tears apart the house of the proud, but he protects the widow’s territory. 26 The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil, but pleasant words are pure. 27 The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household, but the one who hates bribes will live. 28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 Bright eyes cheer the heart; good news strengthens the bones. 31 One who listens to life-giving rebukes will be at home among the wise. 32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense. 33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches, and humility comes before honor.

That was a lot of information on wisdom

What can we learn?

We must look for counsel

Things can go bad quick when we try to do it ourself. We can cause loved one to worry about us. Sometime when we do not seek counsel for a decision we can end up look foolish. When everything falls apart. Foolish choice can sometime make us happy for a short time but in the end it will cause problem. Just like we read in verse 22 plans will fail without counsel.

But when we do seek help in make a decision it can and will bring joy in that decision. When we seek counsel it will help is walk a straighter path.

God is willing to give us counsel

But we have to be willing to ask for it. God doesn’t like the wicked in this world. He stay far away as we read this morning. When we pray and ask for His help in a decision he will hear those prayers. Does that mean God would tell us with audioable voice to this or that. Yes he can but most of the time we will not. Most of time it will be that small little voice say this is what you should do. Sometime that voice is hard to hear or we do not want to hear that voice because its not the answer we wanted. Its still there.

We should lesson to Him

The ability to discern the wisdom of God is developed by a consistent practice of listening for him through his Word. Reading the bible praying and just spending time with him.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 CSB

23 “ ‘This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. 24 But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me— that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

Hosea 6:3 CSB

3 Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.

Proverbs 15:32 CSB

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.

Wisdom must be practiced to be experienced.

There is a difference between being wise and having knowledge. We must learn to act based upon what we are learning, especially as it relates to others.

If we are to live as God intends, we must accept the call to practice wisdom in our lives. Our decisions will become clearer the more we practice the wisdom we gain.

As we seek to make decisions about the various things God places in our lives, we must begin with wisdom. The absence of wisdom is a recipe for folly. As we make these decisions, we have to be willing to accept that God is watching how the use of wisdom affects our neighbors, and whether we have used it properly to benefit our community.

As I close this time out today. I would like to ask you one more question.

Are you willing to lesson to God counsel?