Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
Wisdom | Kim Miller
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Greeting And Worship Gratitude
SPEAKER_01Greeting in Jesus' name. It is good to be together. Has been a blessing to um just a good worship service this morning, Joe. Thank you for leading and Carlos. Thank you for that devotional life. We can prom we have a God that we can depend on.
Why Wisdom Matters Today
SPEAKER_01And uh this morning, the sermon title is Wisdom. And it has to do with God, obviously. God is wisdom. That's where wisdom comes from.
What Does Wisdom Look Like
SPEAKER_01I'd like to do something a little bit fun this morning with you guys. I'd like to have your feedback. When you think of wisdom, if I would get you up here to draw a picture, what kind of picture would you draw? Or uh let's do a little bit of like, is wisdom slow or fast?
SPEAKER_00I don't know if there's a right or wrong answer. What do you think?
unknownSlow.
SPEAKER_00Slow. Is it sweet or bitter? Sweet, soft or hard? It can be both. It can be both, right?
SPEAKER_01Is it uh is it uh friendly or is it quiet?
SPEAKER_00Talkative?
SPEAKER_01Just helps us to get a little bit of perspective on wisdom. Um so what I don't what would you draw? What picture would you draw if you'd come up here and draw a picture for us? I don't know if there's a right or wrong answer for this, but I'm just kind of curious. What what would I kind of know how I've well I looked it up a little bit too, but you know, we think of a wise owl. I don't know where that totally comes from, but what would you what would you draw?
SPEAKER_02And it's just this old tree or this tree that grows with the white that is growing up all the way, it goes all the way through his life to grow little man. And I just think of that tree as wisdom. She didn't wisdom talk that companions in his life that it was always there, it's always sure, and study around here.
SPEAKER_01So you're picturing uh wisdom as it's something that's solid, it doesn't come fast necessarily, it takes time, right? Takes time. Anyone else?
SPEAKER_02I'm afraid I would draw a picture of me, like second grader for game one school. That's not a very nice thing to say. Well, I said I drew a picture of horse and you thought it was the first thing that I came to mind is that that was still wisdom.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Not a complete picture.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Anyone else? I'm not gonna drag this on, but if anyone else has anything to say, go ahead.
Proverbs Images Of Wisdom
SPEAKER_01We see uh the Bible has a few metaphors, uh metaphors of wisdom. It's uh in in wit uh in Proverbs, uh we have the we'll just call it the lady of lady wisdom. Um it's a it's pictured as a woman, and then it also has lady folly in Proverbs, where it guards against the adulterous woman, uh, that type of woman. Proverbs also, we're gonna be uh in Proverbs quite a bit today. Proverbs is full of just full of wisdom. Uh, I love Proverbs. And um in Proverbs 3, it pictures it as a tree of life. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, those who hold her fast will be blessed. In other words, if we use wisdom, if we embrace wisdom, we'll be blessed. And that blessed can mean a few different things, but later on we might uh talk a little bit more about that. Uh in Proverbs 8:11, it's called, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with it. It's also pictured in in Proverbs, some of the Hebrew meanings when we talk about wisdom is like it's a skill. So when you when I picture um, I have to think I used to do be into woodworking, but uh, when I would see maybe a beautiful stairway, or maybe there's a uh some kind of elegant, just very detailed piece of wood or furniture. You look at that and there's like there was a craftsman behind that. Somewhere there was a craftsman. And usually that doesn't happen in the first five years where a person can craft something, or maybe it's a a huge building with an old building with maybe some big collar uh columns and corbals made out of stone. I'm just amazed at some of the pictures you see out of stone. And somewhere there was that craftsman behind that, and that's what the picture is of wisdom in Proverbs. It's a it's a skill of life. It's a skill of life. So in Proverbs 8:30, wisdom is described as being right beside God during creation, acting as a skilled master builder who brought order, beauty, and architect to the universe. Here it's picturing God as that master craftsman when he created the earth. Proverbs 3.13 says, now we're talking a little bit, uh keeping on with wisdom. This is not necessarily a metaphor, but what is wisdom? Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding. So in other words, it says blessed. It's like happy is he, or you know, he's blessed. The beginning, Proverbs 4 7, the beginning of wisdom is this get wisdom. Well, you're that's common sense. The beginning of wisdom is getting wisdom, but I think there's a meaning behind that. It says, get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Get insight. So what is that insight? Proverbs 10 9 says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Okay, the fear of the Lord, that awe, that reverence of God. That's the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. In other words, getting to know God better is insight. So Proverbs 4.7 was talking about the insight. Let's read that again. The beginning of wisdom is this get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. In other words, wisdom, getting wisdom is getting to know God. Proverbs 8.11 again says, For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Wisdom As Skill And Discernment
SPEAKER_01So we'd like to uh go to um Proverbs 8, and we're gonna read a few verses in there. Proverbs 8, verses 12 through 21. This is more on what is wisdom. Starting in verse 12 of Proverbs 8. I wisdom. Here wisdom is kind of as a noun. It says, I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion, discretion. Here we see wisdom is linked tightly with good judgment, caution, and discretion. Here again, it's bringing out that wisdom, that meaning that we talked about, that craftsman, wisdom, practical skill, and moral insight for daily living, the skill to live a life of excellence, a life of moral excellence. And it also here talks about prudence. And then here, this prudence is talking about being shrewd or cautious, the ability to act with cunning insight, then the discretion is like it talks about having scheming in a positive way. In other words, having a plan. It means devicing good plans for life, having a good plan as we go through life. That's part of wisdom. Verse 13 the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. So we talked about the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So here it's talking about the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. In other words, it hates evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil or evil behavior and perverted speech I hate. So wisdom hates evil, it hates pride, wisdom hates arrogance, it hates speech that speech that's not true is what it's saying here. So we see here love for God and love for sin cannot coexist because it says wisdom hates evil. So the love of God is wisdom. So love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. So true insight cannot coexist with a corrupt heart or a dishonest mouth. Again, here, Proverbs 10:9b says the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. So when we get insight, we get wisdom, and wisdom hates evil. Talk about the fear of the Lord. As we had said, it's a deep respect, awe, and submission to God. It's a fear that causes us to live life in His way. This pride here that I was talking about is literally swelling up. Someone that lifts themselves up and is when they their speech is twisted. It's not not true, it's deceptive. Very, very uh dealing with a person that doesn't speak truth is just hard to work with. Verse 14, I have counsel. This is talking about wisdom, still talking about wisdom. Wisdom is saying, I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength. And now it's going into what uh right the next few verses are going to be talking about kings here. So here it's saying, it's claiming to possess this of sound advice. It says, I have counsel, so it has sound advice and deep insight. I have sound wisdom, I have insight, and I have strength. So it has power. Wisdom has power. So it has insight, it has strength, and it has sound advice. So that's where we see when it comes to rulers. In verse 15, it says, by me kings reign and rulers decree what is just. In other words, kings and rulers that use wisdom, godly wisdom, can carve out what is right. They can tell, they can say what is right. So that is part of wisdom. And then it says in verse 16, by me princes rule, and nobles all who govern justly. Here we see they um wisdom helps rulers govern justly, do what is right, being able to have justice, maintain social order. So we see here kings, princes, and global rulers can only govern justly and issue fair laws if they rely on godly wisdom. Effective, righteous leaders rely completely on godly wisdom rather than their human strategy. And so it's so easy sometimes as we go through life, making decisions on our own, just out of our own wants, our own will, and not having God involved. And that is not wisdom, that is folly. Moving on to verse 17 here in chapter 8 of Proverbs.
The Rewards Wisdom Promises
SPEAKER_01The next few verses here is how wisdom is simply an unmatched reward. When we use wisdom, there's nothing that can match that. Verse 17: I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently. That's the ESV. Find me. The King James Version says, I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me. In other words, seeking wisdom diligently, and it promises, it's it's a reciprocal love. If you love me, if you seek me, I will love you. So wisdom promises to love those who love her and to be easily found by anyone who actively seeks her. So those here we see it says, seeks me early. That implies seeking with intense eagerness, persistent, making wisdom the absolute priority of our life. Verse 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold. It says, My fruit is better than gold, it's unmatched reward, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me and filling their treasuries. Here we see what happens: the rewards of wisdom. Wisdom is offering enduring moral and material wealth and a sec and a secure spiritual inheritance to those who pursue her. Verse 18 pairs riches with righteousness. So we here see here what they're calling riches is having wisdom, knowing it's an eternal perspective here, knowing what is right, wisdom gives us the discretion, and to do right, and that is wisdom. So the riches and honor are with me. And here, verse 18, enduring riches and honor are with me, says wisdom. Wisdom is talking here, enduring wealth and righteousness. Verse 19. While wisdom brings honor and endureth wealth, its fruit is called better than pure gold or choice silver. That's hard to fathom in our human minds that wisdom is better than choice silver or gold. But that's what it says here. Because wisdom is getting to know God, right? Getting to understand, we can't totally understand God, but wisdom is to fear the Lord. Verse 20: Wisdom guides people along righteous tracks, filling the lives and treasuries of its followers with lasting value and stable spiritual heritage. When we follow wisdom, it promises a good inheritance. Isn't that what we want for our children? A good inheritance. And that comes with wisdom. Wisdom. You know, on this earth we want to leave a good inheritance materially for our children. But that's not that's not what he's calling. That's not what wisdom calls wealth here. Wisdom is calling wealth and eternal security, knowing what is right and wrong in decision making as we go through life.
Daily Pursuit And A Serious Warning
SPEAKER_01Proverbs 8, verses 32 through 36. I'm gonna read those now, but these five verses. Verse 32, and now, O sons, O sons, listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways, meaning to hear with the intent of obeying. When he says, Keep my ways, verse 32, hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. This is still wisdom talking. Verse 34 says here, describes her followers as watching daily. It's a daily thing. Using wisdom is daily, pursuing wisdom is a daily, daily thing. It's not just a one time or here and here and now and then, but it takes time. Wisdom takes time, as we had talked. Wisdom is not stumbled upon by accident, it requires conscious, daily anticipation and dedication. It really does. Wisdom, to get wisdom, we need to pursue, pursue wisdom. Wisdom brings true happiness. Here it says when it talks about being, we alluded to this earlier. It says, Blessed is the one who listens to me. Talking about it brings happiness. The people that listen to me, wisdom, use wisdom, are joyful, they're prosperous. Finding wisdom means obtaining life and receiving the favor and pleasure of the Lord. Verse 36 But he who fails to find me injures himself. All who hate me love death. That's a hard verse. But he who fails to find me injures himself. In other words, it's saying it's he who goes against better judgment, basically, that's what it's saying. Is going against me, injures himself. All who hate me love death. So it's a warning of rejection here that if if we do that, then that is what the result is.
Job On Wisdom In Suffering
SPEAKER_01Now I'd like to go to uh there's a few different things. Now we looked at wisdom. Now I'd like to look at wisdom and who God is. I'd like to turn to Job chapter 28. Here, Job, um, I'm gonna start in verse 12. Here, Job is being is receiving uh suffering a lot, and he's been arguing with his friends on why he's suffering. And Job maintains his righteousness. And this is Job speaking here about wisdom. Where does wisdom come from? And it's interesting to hear it from a person that's going through suffering, tremendous suffering, losing loved ones, his his family, losing his family materially, losing his his uh things that he owns. But let's see what Job has to say. Wisdom and who God is. Verse 12. But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, It is not in me. The sea says, it is not in me. Here we see human technology can't uncover wisdom because it says here, man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. It is not found in the it isn't, and here it says also the depths of the ocean, they're like, It's not in me either. So verse 15, it cannot be bought for gold, as we had talked about, it's worth more than gold, so it cannot wisdom cannot be bought by gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of offer, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. The price of wisdom is above pearls. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. In other words, wisdom, the value of wisdom cannot be calculated. It cannot be bought with the finest gold or silver, it cannot be bought with onyx, sapphire, pearls. Material wealth is completely useless in acquiring spiritual insight. And this is what wisdom is, it's spiritual insight. And that's what Job here recognizes. Verse 20 From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, We have heard a rumor of it with our ears. God understands the way to it, and he knows its place, for he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight and a point and apportion the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the light of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it, he established it and searched and searched it out. So here we see wisdom is entirely hidden from the eyes of all living creation. Only God understands the true way to find and possess it. And he demonstrated in his creation when he created. So you could ask, who is wisdom? Is it a person? Is it is it you know part of the trinity? You know, um, we're not gonna do a deep dive into that, but that's a that's a question we can ask. Um, it's an interesting thought. But here it says, God mapped out the wind and the waters and the rain and the and the lightning. So God is the sole source of wisdom. And we it's interesting that here we see how Job, Joe, I had to think of as you were sharing this morning about what life the challenges life brings. You know, wisdom has an effect on what do we do with those challenges? You know, wisdom affects relationships, uh, how we respond, how we respond. Look. Job, how he's responding to his tremendous suffering. And here, let's keep on reading here. In verse 28. And he said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. This is coming from a man that's suffering tremendously. It says, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to turn away from evil is understanding. In other words, Job is saying, I still trust in God. Even after all this suffering, God is still, I still fear God. I still am in awe of the Lord. True wisdom for mankind is defined by a deep fear of the Lord. Human understanding is defined by turning away from evil. In other words, human insight. When we have that insight, we turn away from evil. Job could have turned his back on God, but he decided not to. He decided not to. This was a turning point here in Job and his three friends here after they argued extensively, you know, trying to rationalize Job's suffering. This passage is a good reminder that we as humans cannot fit God. God is too complex for us to figure it out. We can't put God in a neat formula. Job, instead of demanding to know why everything happens, he simply trusted God's sovereign authority and lived faithfully. And that is wisdom. Not the easiest thing to do at times, but that is wisdom. President Abraham Lincoln said this. He admitted to relying on a higher power when he, his own insight, fell short. I thought this was very interesting. He stated, I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day. It drove him on his knees. Abraham Lincoln recognized that life brings challenges that are more than our human minds can understand at times. David's prayer in Psalm 886, verse 11 says, Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name. When we fear God's name, God recognizes that. Let's remember again, as we had talked, Proverbs, what Proverbs 10:9 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Wisdom grows from developing an internal perspective of life.
Wisdom And Who Am I
SPEAKER_01Right now, I'd like to now turn our focus on. So we talked about what is wisdom. Now we talked about what is wisdom and who is God versus God with God. Now we like to see uh talk a little bit about wisdom and who am I. Wisdom and who am I. Wisdom is the ability to use the best means at the best time to accomplish the best end. I'll read that again. Wisdom is the ability for us, talk about us when we use wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use the best means at the best time to accomplish the best end. It's not merely a matter of information or knowledge, but of skillful and practical application of the truth to the ordinary areas of life. In ordinary areas of life, being able to be skillful and practical in our decision making. This is a tough question. If God approached you or myself and offered to grant you one wish, what would it be? He did that to Solomon. And we're gonna turn to that.
Solomon Chooses A Listening Heart
SPEAKER_01Let's turn to 1 Kings chapter 3. Starting in verse 5, we're gonna read 5 through 14. Our answer to this question is very revealing of our values. Very revealing of our values. It illuminates our value system. Starting in verse 5 here, 1 Kings, this is King Solomon when he was a young king. And he admitted he barely knows what he's doing, basically what he is saying here. He felt like he was in over his head at times. And um I'm gonna start reading in verse 5. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what I shall give you. And Solomon said, You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David, my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness, in an uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him his great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. Verse 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David, my father. Although I am but a little child, this is Solomon. He says, I am only a little child compared to being a king. Although I am I am but a little child, I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for a multi for a multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind, or we could say an understanding heart, to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this? Your people, your great people. Verse 10. It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this, and God said to him, Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life, or riches, or the life of your enemies, but I have asked for yourself understanding, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right. Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you have been before you, and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked for, asked both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you all your days. And you will walk in my ways, keeping my statues and my commandments, as your father David walked, and then I will lengthen your days. Here we see Solomon asked for some tools to lead, basically what he was doing. He asked for wisdom. True biblical wisdom is rooted in active obedience, moral clarity, and humility before God. And we see Solomon had this. He came to God, he was very humble when he made this request for more wisdom. As we had talked earlier, again, so I hope I don't feel like I'm just repeating myself, but I want to press this point. Wisdom is skill in the art of living. Wisdom is skill in the art of living, and this was what Solomon was asking for. He saw he had a need. Wisdom is skill in the art of living with each area of life under God's dominion. This wisdom differs greatly from the wisdom of the world. Here we see Solomon was asking for an understanding heart. He wanted a heart that would listen, that he was would be able to hear. A heart, as we know, is the center of decision making. It's our intellect and will, it's not just emotion. So Solomon truly wanted to hear and to obey. He wasn't asking for a high IQ, he was asking for a heart that was continually, that was continually attuned and obedient to the voice of God when he asked for wisdom. He also asked for discernment. And here in the Hebrew meaning here for discernment was to separate, like to be able to distinguish between right and wrong, to perceive the space between things. So biblical discernment is the ability to look at a complex situation and to be able to make a decisive good decision. Solomon humbly states, I do not know how I to go in or out. He recognized his insufficiency here. And I think God recognizes when we come to him like that. When we come in a humble heart, we recognize we're in it over our head, God. We need your wisdom. That happens in life. We're in it over our head. We don't know what to do. There's times in life we just don't know what to do, right? I've been there, and that's when we need God's help. We need his help in discernment, his help giving us wisdom because God is wisdom. But then we also see Solomon recognize God's steadfast love and what he had done for his dad, David, and his mercy. He recognized who God was. He framed his entire prayer around God's past, covenant, faithfulness, God's faithfulness. When we come to God like this, God likes to hear that we trust his faithfulness, that he has been faithful. So we see here because Solomon sought a listening heart to serve others instead of a selfish ambition like long life or wealth. God was pleased to give him wise and a discerning heart. But then he also gave him the honor and the riches. But it came with a it came with, he was like, I'll give you this, but you're gonna need to obey me. You're gonna need to follow my commandments. As we see in the last verse there, he said, If you will walk in my ways, keep my statues and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. Verse 13 I will give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you all your days. So we see Solomon was asking for wisdom here and what God, how God responded to it.
Seeking Wisdom Like Hidden Treasure
SPEAKER_01So the last thing I'd like to um, the last scripture we're gonna be going into is Proverbs 2. And this is wisdom and what I do. Now bring it down to ourselves. We looked at who we are, we are human, God is wisdom, and Solomon recognized that. But now, wisdom and what I do. Before we go into Proverbs 2, I'm gonna read two verses from Proverbs 24. It's talking about how honey, about honey, my son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul. We talked about is honey sweet, uh, is your wisdom sweeter, sweeter bitter? Here it says it's sweet. Know that wisdom is such to your soul if you find it. There will be a future and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 2, starting in verse 1. Here we see this is uh we're gonna read through verse 11, and we see the first four, the first four verses here are the condition of diligently searching. And then the next the next four verses are the reward of when we diligently seek. And then after the last three brings out our protection, what happens if we do this? So verse one in Proverbs 2 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, make your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understand, like Solomon did. Incline your heart to understand. Yes, if you call out for insight, that's what wall, that's what Solomon did. He called out for insight and raise your voice for understanding. If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, in other words, we need to pursue it. It doesn't just come, it says we need to seek for it. If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure. Now here's here's the reward. Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Verse 6: for the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright, he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Verse 9, then you will understand righteousness and judges and justice and equity, equity, every good path. For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you. So this is a promise. We talked, Joe was talking about promises this morning. This is a promise from God. If we seek wisdom, he will answer us, He will, He will be there for us, He will protect us, He will guide us. Wisdom will guide us. So that's my encouragement today for the sermon today is as we go through life, using the skill. I like that. It's a skill. Skill doesn't just happen over a short time, it's a lifelong. Moze, I bet you're still saying, you're still wanting to be more wise. You're very wise, but I think it's a lifelong, is it a lifelong? Yeah, it's a lifelong, it's a journey to becoming wiser. Yeah.
Prayer And Weekly Charge
SPEAKER_01I think we're just gonna close. And um maybe Joe, if you have a doxology or something you want us to leave for us, we'll just rise and I'll have a word of prayer and then we'll consider ourselves dismissed. That's all right. God, we just want to thank you for your goodness. Thank you that you are wisdom, Father. Thank you that you have given us instructions to follow you, and that the promise is if we follow you, if we pursue you, that you will answer us. We thank you so much for your faithfulness, Father. Thank you that you are a rock, you're our refuge, you're a provider. Lord, we thank you so much for the salvation that we can experience. Thank you for each one in this group, Lord. Be with us as we go through this next week. Pray that we could continue to pursue you as we go through life. Ask this in your name. Amen.