Proverbs Part II: The Call of Wisdom
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There once was a shepherd who had 100 sheep. He loved his sheep and cared for his sheep well. He led them to a field filled with grass and clean water. He told the sheep, “Stay here in this field and you will have all the grass you could ever eat and all the clean water you could ever drink. Some of the sheep stayed in the field while others went in search of greener grass and cleaner water. “Come back!” the shepherd called. Quickly he went after the sheep and brought them back to the field. “Do not wander off where I cannot see you. Danger lies beyond the field.” Again the sheep continued to wander off. The shepherd decided he would build a fence to protect the sheep and keep them safe, since they would not listen to the sound of his voice. Again the sheep continued to wander off, squeezing through the gaps in the fence. The shepherd brought them back to the field and warned them a second time, “Do not wander off where I cannot see you. Danger lies beyond the field.” Again the sheep continued to wander off. This time the shepherd built a wall of stone free of gaps so that the sheep could not wander off. Even still one of the sheep refused to listen to their shepherd and while he was building the stone wall he wandered off in search of greener grass and cleaner waters. The sheep went over the hills and into a canyon. With no direction and no guidance the sheep quickly became lost. The sheep thought to himself, “Surely I must find directions or I will die!”. So the sheep wandered and searched for a sense of direction. He listened to the voice of the crow, and to the voice of the fox, and to the voice of the boar, but not gave him the direction he needed. With every new voice the sheep became more and more lost. “There is no greener grass or cleaner water here where I have roamed”, said the sheep. “There is only roots and sand. Surely if I had heard the voice of my shepherd I would be resting in eating green grass and drinking fresh water rather than wandering here in this wilderness!” The shepherd realizing the sheep had wandered off began to call, “Sheep! Sheep! Come home! Why have you wandered when I have given you green grass and fresh water to satisfy you? Can you provide more in your wandering than what I have given you here in safety?”. But the sheep could not hear the call of his shepherd and had not listened to his voice in a long time. Even if the sheep had heard his shepherd’s call he would not have recognized it.
Can you hear the call of wisdom in your life?
Some of you have been wandering for so long you have forgotten what the call of wisdom sounds like. Just like the sheep you have wandered and have been looking for direction in places that cannot provide it.
When is the right time to listen to Wisdom’s call?
Every time
Wisdom is Responsive
I think of wisdom as a fire drill. I should get out of the building every time I hear it. There might not be a fire, but the fire alarm is warning me about potential danger. Wisdom serves in the same role. I may not be in danger every time I hear wisdom’s call, but I can be sure that by listening to it I will be safe from situations that might put me in danger.
How do you respond when things go bad?
Where we turn in difficult times says a lot about who we are. It is really easy for us to turn to folly or foolishness because a lot of times it is easier. It is easy to be angry but it is hard to forgive. It is easy to give into temptation but it is hard to live in purity.
There is no excuse for living foolishly
Wisdom has made herself heard
20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares. 21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates: 22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?
We can choose to live a life of foolishness or a life of wisdom
23 If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. 24 Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, 25 since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, 26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. 28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord, 30 were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, 31 they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. 32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”
Wisdom is Preventative
You can avoid destruction and heartache by paying close attention to Wisdom’s guardrails
Wisdom requires close attention
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
Wisdom Prevents falling into danger
Many of the times we fall are caused by situations we have put ourselves in. We have all asked ourselves the questions, “How did I let it get this bad? How could I do this? How did we get here?” and truthfully it is because we have ignored the warnings. Unfortunately there have been several times in my life when I have had to ask myself this question. Sin is constantly pushing and pushing to get what it wants, and if you give it an inch it will take a mile.
A preventative life of wisdom requires that we starve foolish living. If you feed it then it will grow. We have a choice when we are tempted. Do not simply say no to foolish living but say yes to wisdom and process of sanctification.
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Don’t settle for foolishness. Instead choose to answer Wisdom’s call
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity 8 so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight you. 11 Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you. 12 It will rescue you from the way of evil— from anyone who says perverse things, 13 from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, 14 from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion, 15 whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious. 16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a wayward woman with her flattering talk, 17 who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. 19 None return who go to her; none reach the paths of life.
What are some of the things wisdom does to protect us from danger?
Gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding
stores up success
is a shield
guards the path
gives understanding in righteousness, justice, and integrity
protects
enters the heart and brings delight
watches over you
guard you
rescue you from the way of evil
rescue you
What are some of the things foolishness does to put us in danger?
lacks wisdom, knowledge and understanding
stores up failure
attacks the path
gives unrighteousness, injustice, and lies
delivers you to evil
leads to perverse speech
leads to darkness
leads to doing evil and celebrating perversion
crooked
devious
flatters you with foolish talk
forgets about God
sinks down to death
leads to destruction
Wisdom is Rewarding
20 So follow the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous ripped out of it.
I can develop in Wisdom by
Listening to Wisdom’s call
Looking for Wisdom’s guardrails
Learning Wisdom’s instructions
Eight habits to help grow in wisdom
Eight habits to help grow in wisdom
Self Examination: See where you are at and see what areas you need to grow in. Maybe recruit someone you trust and that knows you well to give you some places you could grow in. Think about your interactions with others, how you handle conflicts, everything you do. Think about all these things with a humble heart and willingness to grow.
Accountability: Find people that you can trust, maybe a mentor or peer, who can help you stick to your goals and further the process of sanctification. Find someone who you can share your struggles and frustrations with. Someone who will point you to Jesus and stand by your side as you follow Christ
Examine Scripture: God speaks to us through His Word. Knowing the Lord is the first step in growing in wisdom. His Word has the power to make even the biggest fool into a student of wisdom. It shows how we can have a relationship with God and how to live a life of godliness and obedience to Him.
Prayer: This is how we speak to God. We grow in wisdom as we grow in our relationship with God. Having a consistent prayer life is helpful in acquiring wisdom in times of adversity. Go to God for guidance and direction in conflict and you will find Him to be the source of all wisdom.
Praise: This is how we can connect with God through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It reminds us that God is king and we are His servants. He is worthy of all our worship and praise. It is an active display of surrender and an offering of ourselves to the Lord. Praise helps us to have a right understanding of God and bleeds into everything we do.
Conforming Internally (Integrity): It is important that we adjust our behaviors along the way. The things we think about, the things we look at, the things we do when we think nobody is watching all impact our journey in growing in wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do in a situation and doing it, while integrity is doing what is right even when nobody is watching.
Conforming Externally (Stewardship): If integrity is about our internal behaviors and actions, stewardship is what we do with the things we possess. All our money, time, and talents belong to God. Being a good steward and being wise means thinking about how you can use those gifts for the Kingdom of God. What would it look like if you stewarded all you have been given in order to grow in wisdom and grow in your walk with Christ?
Faithfulness: Responding with obedience to the call of wisdom on your life is where the rubber meets the road. Wisdom goes from being head knowledge and information to becoming concrete obedience and a living out of your faith. It is not enough to just be full of knowledge. A faith in Christ that does not express itself in the way you live your life is a dead faith. Likewise, wisdom that lives between your ears but not in your heart, hands, and feet is dead wisdom.
What do I do if I have ignored the call of wisdom in my life?
Good news for fools: God offers redemption for lost sheep
The Good Shepherd is Calling
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
We can trust in the Lord. His direction and wisdom is good for our souls. His redemption transforms our foolish hearts for all eternity. We don’t have to search in the world for purpose or direction. He gives wisdom freely and generously.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.