Proverbs part VI: The Wisdom of Authority
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What is wisdom?
Why is wisdom important?
Where can we get wisdom?
What do we do with wisdom once we have it?
What happens when we are not content with wisdom?
Today’s Question: How does wisdom effect how we live in society?
One of the best examples of how to live in a society is in the stories of the exile. There came a time in Israel’s history when, because of their sin, Israel was conquered by the Babylonians and deported to Babylon. The temple was destroyed and Judah was displaced. The question arose, how are God’s people supposed to act in a country that is not their own?
4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5 ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 ‘Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 7 ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’
Authority is one of those things that people get really sensitive about. We here in America live in the land of the free. As Christians we believe that God has set us free through the life death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Freedom is very important to us. But what we find in Scripture is that Christ has set us free from sin to become slaves to doing what is right. Where once we were traitorous and rebellious towards His authority God has set us free to serve Him faithfully. Authority isn’t a bad thing. God is a God of order and structure. He delegates to others and puts people in places of authority.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Why do you think it would be wise to obey authority?
What are the dangers of disobeying authority?
What do we do when authority contradicts wisdom and justice?
During this time period Daniel was pulled from his homeland with his friends and forced to serve in the king’s palace. He had differing views from the king but he never used his position to hurt the king. Instead he sought the welfare of Babylon and served the king faithfully. Daniel walked in wisdom and even became one of the kings chief wisemen. A man of his position in Babylon could have assassinated the king or used their influence to lead a rebellion but these weren’t on Daniel’s mind. He was concerned with living in wisdom. That doesn’t mean that Daniel did everything the king asked without thinking and praying through it first. There were several times Daniel had to refuse the kings orders because it contradicted the call God had on his life. The king told him to eat food sacrificed to idols so David requested to eat vegetables instead. The king commanded Daniels friends to bow down and worship an idol and they refused leading to them being thrown into the fiery furnace. The king told Daniel he was not allowed to pray to God but Daniel did anyway causing him to be thrown into the lions’ den. Notice Daniel didn’t disobey the king based off of whether or not he felt like obeying the king that day. He didn’t say no because it was convenient. He only refused the king when it would compromise his integrity and relationship with God.
Obeying authority does not mean overlooking injustice. As Christians who are called to wisdom we are called to stand and fight for justice. We are also called to obey authority and listen to the leaders God has put over us.
In every aspect of our lives, our homes our jobs, are effected by living under authority in Wisdom
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
Wives submit to husbands and husbands submit to wives. Children submit to parents. Slaves submit to their masters. In every aspect of life their are people in authority over us. In those relationships we are called to act, not as people pleasers who want recognition and only act when we are being watched, but serving as unto the Lord and for His glory. When a teacher gives us an assignment we do it as unto the Lord. When our parents tell us to clean our rooms we do it as unto the Lord. When our coach tells us to do another set we do it as unto the Lord. When the state tells us not to drive over a certain speed or to pay taxes we do it as unto the Lord. In every aspect of society and authority we obey as unto the Lord for the purpose of giving glory to the Lord. If our teachers, our coaches, our parents, our government tells us to do something that dishonors the Lord then don’t do it. But in all things work hard and bring glory to God.
How do we show wisdom while living in society?
We show wisdom in our Financial Relationships
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, 2 you have been snared by the words of your mouth trapped by the words from your mouth. 3 Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. 4 Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. 5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
For Christians living in wisdom, our word is bond. When we make a promise we should always keep it. Here the author of Proverbs gives a warning regarding our promises. The Bible time and time again applauds people that are generous with what God has given to them. It is important to share with others and to give freely and generously without expecting anything in return. In an effort to be generous it is easy to make a promise that you cannot keep. When we make ourselves financially liable to people we find that we are vulnerable for people to take advantage of us but also we not capable of ensuring your own financial stability.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. 15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.
Scott’s Tots
Michael Scott realizes he cannot keep a promise he made to a group of underprivileged children ten years ago: that he would pay for their college tuition provided they graduate high school. He reluctantly visits their high school with Erin to break the bad news. Michael's promise encouraged the students to excel academically, and they greet Michael with standing applause, cheering, and a song they had put together to thank him. When Michael addresses them, he congratulates everyone for being able to graduate from high school, before admitting that he does not have the money to pay for college. Everyone is upset, and Michael fruitlessly attempts to calm them by offering them laptop batteries.
We show wisdom in our Work Ethic
6 Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler, 8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. 9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, 11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
For Christians living in wisdom, we are called to work hard. Don’t be lazy or a slacker. Proverbs gives ants as a great example. Ants are some of the hardest working animals in the world.
Watch ant video
Ants are extremely hard workers. They are diligent in what they do.
We as Christians have a lot to work for. We have a job to do as Christians.
We have been tasked with making disciples.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We have been tasked with Building up the Body
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
We have tasked with Honoring God in Everything we do
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What would it look like in our lives if we diligently worked to achieve these three goals?
We show wisdom in our Integrity
12 A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, 13 winking his eyes, signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers. 14 He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble. 15 Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.
What is integrity?
Wise people are not con-men and deceivers. Wisdom gives us pure motives: to do what is right. A wise person doesn’t seek personal gain or an advantage over others. They don’t plot the misfortune of others or scheme about dishonesty. A wise person does what is right simply because it is the right thing to do.
Martin Luther King Jr. a man who worked hard to do what was right even though it cost him his life once said, “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always right to do right.” If you are wondering when the right time is to live in wisdom and integrity that time is now. Society desperately needs people who know what is right and are willing to do it. Who are willing to do what is right even behind closed doors.
How do we show wisdom in submitting to authority?
We answer the call of authority from the Holy Spirit
Show circles of authority
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
This is what it looks like to be obedient to the Holy Spirit in our communities. What are some of the ones that stick out to you?
Love without hypocrisy
Hate what is evil and hold onto what is good
Love one another as brothers and sisters
Honor one another
Be diligent in serving the Lord
Rejoice in hope
Be patient in affliction
Be persistent in prayer
Be generous to others
Be hospitable
Bless your persecutors instead of cursing them
Rejoice and weep with others
Live in harmony instead of dissonance
Be humble and associate with the lowly and needy
Don’t be wise in your own estimation
Don’t repay evil with evil
Give careful thought to your witness
Do whatever it takes in your control to live at peace with others
Don’t be vengeful towards others but instead be kind and generous.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good
We answer the call of authority from human leaders
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Think about the context Paul is writing to. These Roman Christians are living under an abusive and wicked government. The Roman empire was being led by men like Nero and Domitian, two of the most evil and tyrannical leaders in history. On top of that the Roman empire was strongly apposed to Christianity. if anyone had cause to fear their government it was the believers living there in Rome. Yet Paul says that even though these men are wicked God has put them in place to keep order and to punish wrongdoing. Paul encourages them saying they have nothing to fear if they are doing what is right. Pay taxes, show respect to leaders, love one another knowing that you obey the laws of the land when you do all things through love. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord. We do what is right because it is the right thing to do. We love others because it is the right thing to do. We stand against injustice and sin because it is the right thing to do. We do all these things because God has authority over all because He is the author of it all. He is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He has loved us and set us free to serve our communities in wisdom and love.