M401: Lesson 12; Wisdom in Ministry

Wisdom in Ministry

Key Verse: “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 NKJV

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple see the importance of wisdom in ensuring a successful ministry.

What would you choose?

Success in ministry is not guaranteed. Many begin and eventually fail. Most people in ministry feel under-qualified and under-prepared. Solomon felt this way when as a young man he became king. At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon went to worship at the house of the LORD. There God appeared to him in a dream.

2 Chronicles 1:6–7 (NKJV) “And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?”

As Israel’s new king, God offered Solomon anything he wanted. If God offered you anything you wanted, which one of the following would you choose?

_____ Leisure

_____ Fame

_____ Peace

_____ Wisdom

_____ Prestige

_____ Happiness

_____ Wealth

_____ Knowledge

_____ Money

_____ Popularity

_____ Health

_____ Understanding

_____ Achievement

_____ Favor

_____ Long Life

_____ Discernment

_____ Security

_____ Love

_____ Influence

_____ Friends

_____ Protection

_____ Position

_____ Power

_____ Restoration

King Solomon chose WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.

2 Chronicles 1:9–10 (NKJV) “Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

2 Chronicles 1:11–12 (NKJV) “Then God said to Solomon: ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

Wisdom: The Wise Choice

Wisdom is the ability to make right choices. Wisdom is the ability to respond in the right way. Wisdom involves more than knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to properly use knowledge to make decisions now that will be deemed wise in the future. Wisdom is embracing God’s principles as universal, binding, and non-optional. Wisdom is the ability to see and respond to things from God’s perspective. Wisdom is the ability to see things from the perspective of eternity rather than from the perspective of time. Wisdom guides, sustains, protects, and delivers. Without wisdom, we make foolish decisions and render ourselves fools. Without wisdom, even good things such as love, become distorted, defiled, dominating, and destructive. Wisdom, therefore, is the wise choice.

With wisdom, God will give us every other GOOD and GODLY thing we could need or desire.

Wisdom is the fountain head of every other spiritual and natural blessing from God.

Proverbs 8:12–21 (NKJV) “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, 21 that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.”

Obtaining wisdom must become a PRIORITY in life.

Proverbs 4:7–12 (NKJV) “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” 10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.”

Wisdom is more VALUABLE than any earthly treasure or desire.

Proverbs 3:13–18 (NKJV) “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.”

Proverbs 8:11 (NKJV) “For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”

Wisdom is given by GOD.

Ecclesiastes 7:23 (NKJV) “All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, ‘I will be wise’; but it was far from me.”

Proverbs 2:6 (NKJV) “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”

The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Wisdom begins when we realize that problems are linked to violations of God’s principles.

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 15:33 (NKJV) “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.”

Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

According to Proverbs 2:15, we obtain the fear of the LORD by:

TREASURING God’s commandments.

Inclining our EARS to wisdom.

Inclining our HEARTS to understanding.

CRYING OUT for discernment.

Lifting our VOICE for understanding.

Seek wisdom as SILVER and hidden TREASURE.

God STORES up wisdom from those who are right in His sight.

Proverbs 2:7 (NKJV) “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.”

Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NKJV) “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

There are TWO kinds of wisdom. One is the wisdom from BELOW and the other is the wisdom from ABOVE.

The wisdom from below is EARTHLY­, SENSUAL, and DEMONIC.

James 3:15 (NKJV) “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”

The source of this corrupted wisdom is SATAN.

Ezekiel 28:17 (NKJV) “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.”

The wisdom from below is also known as the wisdom of this WORLD.

1 Corinthians 1:20–21 (NKJV) “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe”

The wisdom from below is rooted in BITTER ENVY and SELF-SEEKING that results in CONFUSION and every EVIL THING.

James 3:14, 16 (NKJV) “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth…16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

Heavenly wisdom is known by good CONDUCT and MEEKNESS.

James 3:13 (NKJV) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

Good conduct refers to good behavior. Meekness refers to a gentle and self-controlled spirit.

Wisdom is more than knowing the principles of wisdom. Wisdom is knowing and applying the principles of wisdom.

The Seven PILLARS of Heavenly Wisdom.

Proverbs 9:1 (NKJV) “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars.”

The seven pillars of wisdom are not listed in the Book of Proverbs. Some believe “seven” to simply be symbolic of perfections. Others have offered various theories. It is possible that the seven pillars of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1 correspond to the seven characteristics of heavenly wisdom listed in James 3:17 (NKJV): “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

PURE: The wisdom from above is untainted by the flesh or worldly wisdom, and it is free from any fault.

PEACEABLE: The wisdom from above is free from a quarrelsome attitude that is determined to win the argument at the expense of the relationship.

GENTLE: Not harsh. The wisdom from above speaks the truth in love—i.e., in a humble, kind, caring, and respectful way.

REASONABLE: “Willing to yield”. Not proud, defiant, stubborn, and controlling. The wisdom from above is willing to hear and listen to the wisdom of Christ displayed in another and then, if necessary, to adjust in the fear of the Lord.

REDEMPTIVE: “Full of mercy and good fruits”. The wisdom from above is evidenced by humble moral character. It understands the weakness of the fallen human nature and is, therefore, slow to demand the full penalty for sin. It is willing to forgive, ease penalty, or even pardon when the fruits of repentance are clearly seen. It is eager to show mercy as it graciously works to redeem and restore.

IMPARTIAL: “Without partiality”. Wisdom is humble, fair, and unbiased toward all. It is committed to what is true, right, and just regardless of the person, situation, or consequences.

SINCERE: “Without hypocrisy”. The wisdom from above displays personal integrity from the heart. It makes itself accountable to the same standard that it imposes upon others. Wisdom does not accommodate a double-standard.

King Solomon shared the wisdom of God in the form of PROVERBS. Their purpose is set forth in Proverbs 1:1-6. They are as follows:

To know WISDOM and INSTRUCTION.

To perceive the WORDS of UNDERSTANDING.

To receive the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­INSTRUCTION of WISDOM, JUSTICE, JUDGMENT, and EQUITY.

To give PRUDENCE to the simple.

To give the young man KNOWLEDGE and DISCRETION.

To understand a PROVERB and an ENIGMA.

To understand WORDS of the wise and their RIDDLES.

Responding correctly and consistently to the REBUKE and CORRECTION of wisdom will make us candidates to receive the SPIRIT of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:20–23 (NKJV) “Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.”

Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV) "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,"

The spirit of wisdom is different than the words of wisdom. The words of wisdom are wise sayings recorded in Scripture regarding specific situations that anyone, even the simple, can learn and apply. The spirit of wisdom unlocks the words of wisdom for every situation (James 1:5). The spirit of wisdom is divine gift of inner intuition of wisdom that enables a person to see God’s perspective on every situation through the lens of eternity. The spirit of wisdom enables a person to properly apply God’s word to specific situations.

Through wisdom a ministry is BUILT, by understanding it is ESTABLISHED, and by knowledge it is abundantly SUPPLIED.

Proverbs 24:3–4 (NKJV) “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

Many begin ministry with good intentions, pure motives, and committed determination. Yet, these alone will not ensure long-lasting success. As we seek to build a ministry that will bear good fruit that remains and glorifies God, we must seek the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge we need.

Ministry brings many CHALLENGES that try our faith and our ability to solve. To respond correctly, we must ASK God for wisdom and BELIEVE without doubting that He will give us what we need.

James 1:2–8 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Jesus is the SOURCE of God’s wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NKJV) “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

Colossians 2:3 (NKJV) “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Luke 11:31 (NKJV) Jesus said, “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.”

Sit at the feet of King Jesus to gain the heavenly wisdom that is greater than that of Solomon.

Christ, The Wisdom of God

Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God through which He has overcome the wisdom of this world. God has cloaked His wisdom in a mystery which the world does not understand. God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, and insignificant things to dethrone the wise of this world. Jesus has become our wisdom. In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom can, therefore, only be found through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

The message of CHRIST CRUCIFIED is the wisdom and power of God in a MYSTERY that renders foolish the wisdom of this world.

1 Corinthians 1:23–25 (NKJV) “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

1 Corinthians 2:7 (NKJV) “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,”

The mystery of God’s wisdom in redemption is contained in the gospel. Believers are stewards of God’s mystery to declare it to world so that those who believe will be saved. (1 Corinthians 4:1)

Ministries must build with wisdom but never stop growing in wisdom. They are always eager to LEARN more and to seek out wise COUNSEL.

Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV) “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”

Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV) “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.:”

Proverbs 13:10 (NKJV) “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.”

As wise MASTER BUILDERS, let us conduct our work in ministry so that we do not lose our REWARD.

1 Corinthians 3:9–16 (NKJV) “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” –Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)