Wisdom and the Better Things in Life

Intro

Text - Proverbs 11.23, 27

Proverbs 11:23 NKJV

23 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Proverbs 11:27 NKJV

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

Background

Analysis of the book of Proverbs

Proverbs of Solomon - Prov 10-29

Proverbs 10:1 NKJV

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

Collections of king Hezekiah - Prov 25-29

Proverbs 25:1 NKJV

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

Word of Agur = Prov 30

Proverbs 30:1 NKJV

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

Words of King Lemuel - Prov 31

Proverbs 31:1 NKJV

1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

Main Idea

Wisdom teaches and guides us into seeking the good things in life

good - Heb TOV, also translated “better”

wisdom itself is “better” than anything else

Proverbs 8:1 NKJV

1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?

Wisdom has better profits

Proverbs 3:14 NKJV

14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.

Proverbs 8:19 NKJV

19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.

Wisdom helps us make “better choices” in life

Better choices lead to better conditions

Example -

Mary chose the good part - Luke 10.42

Luke 10:42 NKJV

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

the believers compassion on Paul’s condition - Heb 10.34

Hebrews 10:34 NKJV

34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

Better things in Proverbs

Little is Better

Proverbs 15:16–17 NKJV

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Not all riches bring happiness in life - some riches bring more evil than good

Proverbs 17:1 NKJV

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

“little” or having nothing is not good by itself

Proverbs 16:8 NKJV

8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

little is only better if it is the result of righteousness

Proverbs 19:1 NKJV

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Poverty is better if it comes with integrity

Proverbs 28:6 NKJV

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Proverbs 19:22 NKJV

22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

godliness and contentment is great gain

1 Timothy 6:6–10 NKJV

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Humility is Better

Humble company

Proverbs 16:19 NKJV

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Humble disposition

Proverbs 25:6–7 NKJV

6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; 7 For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

Jesus’ parable of the ambitious guest

Luke 14:7–11 NKJV

7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Self-Control is Better

Proverbs 16:32 NKJV

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

wisdom teaches us self-control, especially in times of provocation

Proverbs 19:11 NKJV

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

Proverbs 14:29 NKJV

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

James 1:19–20 NKJV

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Better places - quiet places

Proverbs 21:9 NKJV

9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

same in Prov 25.24

quiet places

Proverbs 21:19 NKJV

19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.

wisdom values solitude

Openness is better

Proverbs 27:5 NKJV

5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.

Proverbs 28:23 NKJV

23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.

openness is genuine care

Proverbs 27:6 NKJV

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

It is better to have friends

Proverbs 27:10 NKJV

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

wisdom teaches us the value of friends

Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

NOT translation reads -

Proverbs 18:24 NLT

24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Conclusion

If -

you make enemies of those who love you

you live in a chaotic place

you have much, but have no peace of mind

You need to revaluate your choices in life

Choose wisely -

not all riches are worth possessing

not all careers are worth pursuing

not all friendship are worth having

True wisdom leads to peace and is produces the righteousness of God

James 3:17–18 NKJV

17 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. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.