(Proverbs 1:20-23) The Path to a Wiser Year

INTRODUCTION:

One of the lost doctrines of the church is the doctrine of wisdom seeking.

it is amazing how little we talk about Wisdom in churches.

In fact,

I contend that the church has often been imbalanced on Christian living because they have lacked wisdom.

For many years,

our churches practiced a modern legalism.

EXPLANATION:

If you follow certain rules,

and do the right practices.

Then you were faithfully living the Christian life.

So what we had is a salvation by the Gospel,

but a sanctification by works.

But,

Colossians 2:20–23 ESV

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

And so rightly many churches have sought a more Biblical balanced approach to Christian living.

Running from cultural rules.

Often in modern churches we focus on Scripture-based rules to avoid what I am going to call cultural legalism.

The classic question,

show me the verse for that

>>>> speaks of our desire to avoid cultral legalism.

That is -

Instead of imposing arbitrary and cultural rules,

we ask the question - what verse prohibits me from doing this or that.

Now that sounds more Spiritual.

But may I suggest that is still not the correct answer to legalism.

When we ask - What text prohibits me from doing this or that -

>>>> What we are asking is what law can we follow.

Or more appropriately - how close to foolishness can I get without sinning.

ILLUSTRATION:

I have met so many Christians who search the Scriptures,

while living lives that are mess because they searched for rules and not wisdom.

What we have done by asking that question is >>>>>>>>>>>>

to leave a cultural centered law-keeping,

and instead allow us to love simplicity and foolishness -

(so long as it didn’t break the rules. )

which is still legalism

All we did is change what we are legalistic over.

But remember we are set free from the the Law by Christ.

We are not supposed to be law-keepers,

Not even Scripture based law keepers.

Romans 3:20–21 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

CAVEAT:

Now don’t get me wrong - I am not suggesting we abandon Scripture.

{{{2 Ti 3:16-17 tells us to look to Scripture.}}}

What I am suggesting is that we stop looking for rules,

and we start looking for Wisdom.

Ask the question - What is wise according to Scripture?

As we enter a new Year,

I challenge us to stop looking for laws to keep and instead consider looking for wisdom.

I challenge us to guard our hearts against foolishness, simplicity, and scoffing.

And what better place to understand Godly wisdom, even Gospel Wisdom, then to look to the book of Proverbs.

If we are not to keep rules, and we are to practice wisdom - then

What is Godly wisdom?

Now that questions really covers the whole book of proverbs,

but today may we narrow that questions to Proverbs 1:20-23.

Again - not rule keeping, but what is wisdom.

Proverbs 1:20–23 ESV

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

From this Proverb,

In the New Year,

PROP: We ought to listen to the wisdom of God

Trans: And from this passage we will recognize 3 important truths about living in Godly Wisdom.

First, We should recognize that

(1) Godly Wisdom is an Issue of Life. (Proverbs 1:20-21)

Many people believe Wisdom is rare,

but is that true?

ILLUSTRATION:

Now I understand why people feel that way.

How many of us have made a fool of our selves,

and then realized afterwards.

And so wisdom seems rare.

But this text teaches us -

Wisdom is not rare,

Wise people are rare.

Wisdom is out there if only we would listen to it.

The greatest obstacle to becoming a Wise and Godly person is our deafness to God’s wisdom.

Observe the great picture here in our text -

Proverbs 1:20–21 ESV

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

I love the Imagery of this text.

(a) The Imagery Teaches us Wisdom is Life.

Everyday we wake up, we are making a decision whether to listen or ignore Wisdom.

- The text describes Wisdom like a women crying out to the street.

- And then describes wisdom calling out in the open squares.

EXPLANATION:

The where the ESV translates “markets” can refer to a market, but more appropriately describes an "open meeting place". Like a town square. We today don't always think of the significance of a saying something out loud in a town square - because we don't meet in town squares very often. We meet in coffee shops or restaurants. In the ancient near East many of the legal contract were made in the in a public square. Much of the market sales was done in public squares.

This passage describes the wisdom as a calling out in the public squares.

- The passage then describes wisdom calling out at the entrance to a noisy and bustling street.

ILLUSTRATION:

I think of New York City here where there's hot dog stands and and small vendors and hundreds of people walking by at any given time.

In a day before automobiles most likely the description here would describe a bustling town street with traffic going to and fro.

While Wisdom is crying out to these people who walk by.

– And finally this passage describes wisdom speaking at the entrance of the city gates.

If you understand city gates of the ancient near East, they were often places a meeting in gathering and again market sales.

Local people in the area would come in and out of the city this way ,

but they would also do business this way and essentially everybody at some point during the day often will pass through a city gate.

What is this text teaching us?

That everyone has wisdom speaking out to them.

It is making the point that wisdom is right there before us.

It is making the point that wisdom is not some special knowledge that only the specially trained know.

It is the knowledge that calls out to every single person.

- It cries out to them as they walk down the street.

Or In modern world.

- She is calling out to you while you drive down third Avenue.

- It calls out to them as they buy their groceries in the store.

- He called out to them as they meet their fellow neighbors and friends.

- He called out to them as their signing the legal contracts for buying a house or purchasing insurance.

In other words, in every part of our lives wisdom is shouting out to us to hear it.

So what does this teach us?

That we have a daily need for wisdom.

That our every day decisions are not made apart from a relationship to God,

every day decisions reflect whether we are listening to the wisdom that comes from God or not.

That the only reliable wisdom is God’s word, but our listening to that wisdom of God’s word is reflected in every part of our lives.

In fact I would suggest that –

(b) The Daily Need for Wisdom Should Point Us to God.

Many people have claimed that they don't believe in God because they can't see God.

>>>> Show me God!

What the text says, especially as we consider all the way down to verse 33.

Is that living life is a moral decision to listen to God or not to listen to God.

All the Living proof we need for the reality of a God is to look to our grocery stores, our streets and roads, and or public gatherings.

The wisdom choices and the consequences of the fool, the scoffer, the simple, and the godly reflect the reality of God.

That is perhaps borrowing from the rest of the section going all the way down until we begin chapter 2.

But what it teaches us is that Godly wisdom is all around us and we are choosing to ignore it or to hear it.

Wisdom and the reality of God is not rare, but found in most everyday decisions.

In fact may I say, based on this text –

(c) Rejection of Wisdom is Ultimately a Rejection of God.

If you want to know why foolish people make such foolish decision -

Realize it's not just a lack of wisdom, but is in fact related to a rejection of God.

Taking this principle farther, we can even say this to degrees referring to the believer.

When a Christian makes a foolish decision,

how often is it not reflected in a heart that is failed to listen to the wisdom of Scripture.

In other words their foolishness even as a believer is a symptom of ultimately rejecting God.

In 2019, may we hear the wisdom of God calling out to us.

2ndly, We should recognize

(2) The Insanity of Rejecting Godly Wisdom. (Proverbs 1:22)

May we begin by considering the three types of people found in verse 22.

>>> These are people who are repeatedly referred to in the book of Proverbs and play an important role in understanding our text this morning.

First let's consider the simple – who are the simple?

The simple are people who are often satisfied with life and not willing to listen to reason. They are simple in the sense that they are open-minded.

That is found in the meaning of their title - simple, but also in Prov 9:6,

Proverbs 9:6 ESV

Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

There rejection of God isn't that they hate God per say, but they lack moral discernment.

These people are too naïve to realize they are bound for destruction. They are simple.

I always thought it was ironic that many who reject God treat Christians and though they are naïve and simple.

But who is the one who's truly naïve?

The one who is too naïve to recognize the destruction of sin?

The one who is convinced by unprovable theories that there is no creator who is holy and just?

The text also talks about the scoffer – who is the scoffer?

- The scoffer is a cynical and defiant freethinker.

- They stand ridiculing those who do right hand ironically talk about how their naïve and foolish Christians are.

- They are quick to point out all the hypocrisy and supposing contradictions of Christian;

while ignoring the reality that wisdom reflects God.

While ignoring the reality that creation points us to creator.

While ignoring the reality that wickedness and death in this world point us to a God who judges.

We get frustrated with the simple they ignore wisdom,

but the scoffer is truly the enemy of God and the enemy of Christians.

>>>>These are the ones who mock and attack righteousness and the gospel.

And thirdly the text talks about the fool – who is the fool?

The fool is somebody who has no restraint.

>>> He has no restraint in his words or his choices.

The fool by definition is the one whose mind is closed against the God.

He is one who hates knowledge and hates fearing God because he doesn't get what he wants.

The fool is the self-centered one who only cares about what he can get here and now, and the the end justifies the means.

But wisdom and Proverbs 1:22 shouts out to the simple, the scoffer, and the fool.

Proverbs 1:22 ESV

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

The question “how long” points us to the insanity of rejecting wisdom.

The

(a) Simple. (Prov 9:6)

(b) Scoffer. (Prov 3:34, Ps 1:1-2)

(c) The Fool. (Prov 1:32, Prov 26:11)

>>>>All reject Wisdom which is symptom of their rejection of God.

They are all people who do not listen to wisdom shouting out to them in their everyday lives.

Now,

Can you identify with the temptation of one of these people?

May I challenge you - How long will you love insanity and hate wisdom?

In 2019, may we mindful of our tendency to stop listening to wisdom

and act like the simple, the scoffer, and the fool.

Thirdly, We Should Recognize

(3) The Value of Listening to Godly Wisdom. (Proverbs 1:23)

Remember, I started out by making the point that wisdom is not rare.

>>> Verse 20 and 21 point us to the fact that wisdom is calling out to us in our every day lives.

So if we are not all wise here today.

ILLUSTRATION:

If we can go out to the Walmart

and the coffee shops

and even in our homes

and find mostly simple people, scoffers, and fools.

Then why do so many of us lack wisdom?

The reason that there are so few wise people is not because wisdom is rare.

It is precisely because so few of us listen to wisdom.

That is a great warning for living a wise life in 2019.

>>>>>How few of us listen to wisdom!

Understand, the person who listens to the word of God has far more wisdom than all the world's PhD's combined.

After all,

Doesn't 1 Corinthians 3:19–20 teaches that the world ‘s wisdom is foolish.

Also - 1 Corinthians 1:19 – 20 teaches us that God will destroy the world’s wisdom.

Therefore,

Our text teaches us,

(a) The Value of God’s Reproof.

Proverbs 1:23 ESV

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

You want to be wiser in 2019.

To live lives in a way that harness the wisdom of the gospel.

Then start taking seriously how God's word reproves you! 2 Timothy 3: 16-17.

Then start taking seriously the providential hand of God shaping your heart.

Then take seriously your relationship with your fellow Christians – because they're the ones who are supposed to help you conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:24 – 25.

In other words, start paying attention to sources of wisdom - the places where God gives us knowledge to sanctify us.

And remember - the key to this is listening.

Listen to the wisdom that is calling upon us.

Again, not rule keeping, but to the wisdom of the Gospel.

Living a wiser year in 2019 then last year must start with listening to reproof.

Notice the promise in this text that you will gain wisdom when you listen to the reproof of God.

May I say that reproof in this particular setting is parallel to the idea wisdom.

Proverbs 1:23 ESV

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

We are promised that those who will listen to the wisdom of God also will have the filling of the Holy Spirit.

CAVEAT:

Now to clarify,

in the New Testament we do not continually receive the Holy Spirit. Instead we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

One of the reasons we clarify the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and having the Holy Spirit fill us is because we know that when we are saved by Christ we also receive the Holy Spirit forever.

John 14:16 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

So we never lose the Holy Spirit once we trust in the Gospel, and thus -

Just believing in the gospel will make us wiser.

So if you're a unbeliever who is not trusted in Christ and you want to live a wiser life – then start by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ.

But even for Christians,

the more we listen to God’s rebuke the more filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph 5:18)

((((((((It’s not that we lose it, but that that we submit more of our heart to God’s correction, the more the Holy Spirit helps us gain wisdom and discretion. )))))))))))))))))))

Thus, the more we listen to God’s rebuke and the Gospel, the more we are filled with the Spirit.

>>> A Spirit who convicts the conscience of the believer. (John 16:8)

So,

We need to recognize the

(b) The Value of the filling of the Holy Spirit for Wisdom. (John 16:8)

And finally, we need to recognize -

(c) The Value of God’s Words. (Ps 18:30)

What is more valuable than to know the Words of God?

What wisdom is wiser than God’s words?

And of course the answer is none.

Psalm 18:30 ESV

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

And what is amazing about this verse,

is that if we would listen to the rebuke of God -

Then he promises to give you the Holy Spirit and make his words known to you.

Words here is parallel to rebuke and wisdom.

So how do you become wiser?

It starts with listening to the rebuke of God.

- Listening means more than letting it pass through your ears.

More than filling a pew.

- Listening is hearing it and putting it into action.

Consider, The passage emphasizes listening, but text says - If you turn at my reproof.

May we be purposeful in listening and turning at the correction of God’s Wisdom.

Wisdom that we find in Scripture, in the everyday choices of life, and our Gospel relationships.

CONCLUSION:

So,

What is wisdom?

- May we be careful in what we ask of Scripture and not look for rules.

- May we be mindful to search the Scriptures for Wisdom and careful to avoid simplicity and foolishness.

After-all,

Consider that the Gospel is supposed to make us wise.

Colossians 1:28 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

A Gospel-centered life is a wisdom learning life.

Christianity is about listening and turning at the wisdom of God.

To often,

we ask and proof text Christian living not in Wisdom,

but with rule keeping.

We say - what text prohibits this or that when what we are really saying is -

- don’t give me wisdom, just give me enough rules to get me by. (We think simply)

- don’t beat me with Scripture (We think as scoffers)

- and, only tell me enough to see how close I can get to sin (We think as fools)

To often we approach the Christian life.

ignoring Wisdom and acting like the simple, the scoffer, and the fool.

Col 2:20-23 warns us against law keeping.

- May we instead, ask the question - what is wise?

- May we be quick to listen to the reproof of God

and turn away from foolishness and simplicity.

Which are principally heart attitudes that manifest itself into everyday choices.

In 2019,

- I challenge us to guard hearts from the temptation to ignore the wisdom of God

and

- to live lives that seek to listen and follow Wisdom - which is principally found in Scripture.