“Being Wise”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Proverbs 4:1-9
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3 For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. 4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding. 8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
There is a difference, as you know, between saying something and doing it. There is a difference between [sometimes] what we say, what we believe, and what we actually believe. There is a difference between saying we follow Christ and actually following Christ.
New Testament reading: James 3:9-18 (NIV)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
There is a difference between believing in God, that He is out there, somewhere and that God is with us in all things. That His spirit has moved into my life, and I can pull on the Spirit’s guidance and encouragement when times are troubled. We need a working faith, not a theoretical faith. ~D. Moore
The power of the spoken word, one little spark can ignite a forest fire. The reason is that we have been created to be in a relationship with one another, rather than on our own. So, words matter, we need them like we need sustenance. ~D. Moore
James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
Both good and bad words come out of us. James talks about both fresh and salt water. We’re like that, right? Out of us comes both sweet and bitter water. The problem is that if we don’t do something about the state of our heart, the state of our minds with God, then we will misuse the words that we have. ~D. Moore
We have enormous power in our speech. How are we going to use our words wisely? That is the question. ~D. Moore
James talks about building a heart of wisdom, a wise life. Who is wise and understanding among us? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. ~D. Moore
Theme: Today we will look at two questions:
1) What is wisdom?
2) How do we get it?
What is wisdom?
James says wisdom isn’t about what you say, but what you do.
Wisdom is not the amount of knowledge, but about how the knowledge is applied to actual life.
Wisdom is the ability to see and build relationships of all kinds.
It is one thing to know something, it is another thing to see how it fits into our life.
Wise people are peace makers. They are able to overlap relationships, reconcile people to one another and help create peace.
A wise person knows how to confront without being insulting and complimentary without being over the top, and makes the right move at the right time.
Wisdom can be the ability to take a fact or a concept and make it understandable. ~D. Moore
Exodus 31:1-3 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—
Ultimate wisdom – the Bible says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Wisdom is the gift that allows us to stand in awe, and amazement of God. The beginning of wisdom is when your knowledge of God becomes something you can relate to. When God relates to your life that’s the beginning of wisdom. ~D. Moore
As sinners you finally get that we are unable to lead a good life because of our selfishness and sin. And we need a new relationship with God through Christ. That is the beginning of wisdom. ~DM
If you are wise, wisdom will express itself by your good life. Wisdom will make your life beautiful kallos (ancient Greek). ~D. Moore
A wise person takes the truth and makes it become real. Word becomes flesh, so how do we get this wisdom?
How do we get wisdom?
Some wisdom is a gift from God. The ability to paint or sculpt to do art is a gift. The ability to hit a baseball and many other gifts.
The ultimate is to fear the Lord, it is the beginning of wisdom. The wisdom that starts with amazement of God will flow into the rest of your life.
~D. Moore
Wisdom is a gift, you have to seek it; you have to work it out with God, but is still a gift. ~D. Moore
Another way we gain wisdom is suffering.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Wisdom is about being in touch with reality. So here is one truth to build wisdom on: whatever you are that is any good, or different from others, is a gift. We are who we are by God’s grace, and that’s it. ~D. Moore
Wisdom comes from God. God in His wisdom, created the world. He is the source of wisdom; it doesn’t stay in heaven. The Greeks saw there was order in the universe and saw that wisdom build the universe. ~D. Moore
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
This week: Think and pray about the wisdom in the universe and how you fit into living the salvation story. God bless.