Grace on Display: Modeling Wisdom

Intro: The picture of a Model

Models of wisdom array their life with the knowledge of God’s will. (v. 9)

One goal and two instruments.

Touch on the potentiality of the statement:

Wise man v. a foolish man

Pro. 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

Pro. 9:9-10 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

The instruments are wisdom and spiritual understanding.

EX: Putting the world together story

Models of wisdom accentuate their life through obedience (v. 10a)

The purpose of this knowledge is to be the guiding principle behind your lifestyle!

The quality of the lifestyle is to be worthy of the Lord.

The goal of the lifestyle is to be pleasing unto the Lord.

EX: That don’t impress me much country song

Models of wisdom accessorize their life with authentic attributes (vs. 10b-13)

Paul gives four defining attributes of a pleasing life to the Lord:

This list is not from first to last, bit it is the whole of the matter.

There is an attribute that is immediately followed by a location in which the attribute exists:

being fruitful IN all good works

increasing IN the knowledge of God

strengthened with all might INTO all perseverance and longsuffering with joyfulness

giving thanks unto the Father IN light

EX: the story of the little orphan girl who learned 5 words for her adopted parents

Conclusion: The vanity of models