by Duane Maust
Proverbs 9:1-6, Eph 5:15-20, I Kings 3:9
August 16, 2009
The book of Proverbs is a very interesting book. It is a book of a lot of wisdom and helpful sayings for us to listen to today. I don’t know why we don’t preach from it more. Maybe because it jumps around so much. But it has some good jumping to do for us today.
Solomon wrote this unique book. If you notice the “title” on the front of the bulletin today, it is about Solomon’s request for wisdom.
Tell 1 Kings 3 – David’s son – Loved God – Solomon offered sacrifices at Gibeon – God, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Read verse 9
Lord was pleased – not asked for long life – wealth – death of enemy – God– Since you didn’t ask for this stuff – I will give it all to you anyway.
Read the rest of the chapter this week and see how wise Solomon really was.
So how do we get wisdom? We have a lot that are starting school these last weeks. Is that where you get wisdom? Where do you get it from?
You get knowledge at school.
You get wisdom when you learn how to use the knowledge. Wisdom is applied knowledge.
Read Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs are full of good, easy-to-read advise. Read it this week and see what you learn.
Proverbs 9 talks about an industrious woman that knows how to run her house with good foresight. Mrs. Wisdom knew how to pull this party off without a hitch. She was a smart woman.
Read verses 7-10. Listen close to see the difference between a mocker and a wise person.
It was good for me to think about this this past week.
What happens when someone rebukes you? (tries to correct you)
Do you accept instruction?
I can think of a personal experience just recently that it was very difficult for me to take some rebuke that I needed to hear. That can be hard to do. Listen and apply it where it needs to go.
Verse 10 is getting to the Godly wisdom. It is talking about beginning to understand God. I have a ways to go there. We are to strive toward this thinking.
This is a good kind of fear we have toward God. It is a respect-honor kind of fear. This is the starting place to getting to know God. To be in awe of the Lord is the beginning point, the first principle of wisdom.
The Layman Bible commentary points out that the wise man and the righteous man are equated, as if they are one and the same person.
Francis Bacon said, “It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; not what we gain but we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians.”
Read Eph. 5:15-20
These are some verses from the New Testament that sound very much like what we were looking at in Proverbs. Here we are being advised to be filled with the spirit. After Jesus left this earth he has blessed us with the Holy Spirit to help guide us. The Holy Spirit will give us wisdom. Don’t do the “don’t do” in these verses. Do what it is telling you to do in the verses.
Do not walk as the unwise, rather as the wise
Do not be fools, rather know the will of God
Do not be drunk with wine, rather be filled with the Spirit.
People often use alcohol when they are with other people to make it easier to have a good time. But Paul is saying that where there is a gathering of Christians, they should have the Holy Spirit there. They should be swinging with some good songs, and giving thanks for everything.
Well, I added the swinging.
Scott Kircher said, “What wisdom is not:
Wisdom is not knowledge or age or wealth.
What wisdom is
Wisdom is the ability to discern what is true, right, or lasting, and act accordingly; the opposite of foolishness.
How can I gain wisdom for life?
Understand the value of wisdom
Have a healthy fear of the Lord
Seek the counsel of the wise
Learn to be humble in life”
Close with Prayer for wisdom.