Sometimes I think to myself...why does everything happen to me? Am I the only one who feels alone and deserted?
Why is everyone one around me able to mow and trim their lawn and I can't get my equipment to run? Lord! we need your help!
I must confess that, in life, sometimes I’m the pigeon...and sometimes I’m the statue. It's OK to laugh – surveys have found that humor can relieve stress and contribute to a person's overall well-being.
Very frequently I feel stupid - devoid of all Wisdom.
The dictionary defines Wisdom as the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight.
Synonyms
1. sense, understanding. 2. enlightenment
Antonyms
1. stupidity. 2. ignorance
INTRODUCTION:
Talk about having no wisdom – the other evening my wife gave me a small dessert that was wrapped in plastic and in a plastic-like container. I read the instructions – that I was to take off the outer wrapper and place it on a microwaveable plate and heat it for a period of time. The problem was that I misread the time. I thought it said 5 minutes when actually it said 50 seconds.
I went into the living room and after about a few minutes I saw smoke coming from the kitchen. There was so much smoke billowing from the door of the microwave that you couldn't even see it. What I don't understand is why the smoke detector didn't go off. The battery is fine because it went off hours later when someone else was cooking. It could be that there was so much smoke that the detector couldn't breathe – who knows.
I wasn't very wise about the whole event. If I had given it any thought at all, I would have known that 5 minutes for such a small item didn't make sense. Oh Well! Lesson learned!
Too, I guess I'd better check my own internal battery. Not the smartest thing I've ever done.
Solomon is considered the wisest man who ever lived:
In 1 Kings 3:7-14 we read Solomon's Prayer:
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
God’s Answer
It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
Proverbs 8:10-11 says:
My instruction is far more valuable than silver or gold. For the value of wisdom is far above rubies; nothing can be compared with it.
Some of you may recall a TV program Let's Make A Deal that featured prizes behind door number 1, door number 2 and door number 3. If you guessed the right door, you received a nice featured prize. If you chose the wrong door, you got Zonked.
For the sake of this message – Behind door number 1 is a wheel barrow full of gold – as much as you can imagine. Behind door number 2 is an opportunity to gain wisdom. You can only open one door. Which would you choose? (Here's a not-so-subtle hint: Go for wisdom).
According to Proverbs, the value of wisdom is far greater than a wheelbarrow full of gold or rubies or hundreds of dollar bills. If that seems odd to you, you're not alone.
Just ask a few people this question, "What is the one thing you wish you had more of in life?" More often than not the answer will be "money," If you're older, you might include “time.” And what is time anyway? Have you ever heard the expression “Time is money?” More than likely, you won't hear the answer "wisdom."
By the way, if time is money...
does that mean an ATM is A Time Machine?
Why does the author of Proverbs place such a high value on wisdom? In part, because wisdom is more important than wealth. While money can get you more and better stuff, wisdom enriches every area of your life that money can't buy.
In addition, wisdom is a worthy pursuit because God desires that you to seek it. It is important to note that there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is what school taught us – facts, details, information, trivia and such. We can have a whole lot of knowledge and still be unwise.
- Wisdom is knowing what to do with our knowledge.
- Wisdom is knowing the right decision to make when the choices aren't clear. According to the Bible, the pursuit of wisdom should be the greatest pursuit, next to a relationship with Christ.
- Biblical wisdom is the path to understanding the human condition, the path to understanding life, and the path to understanding God.
The greater the wisdom – the greater our opportunity for living life to its fullest!
At this point, the choice between dollars and wisdom probably seems like a no brainer. Of course we want wisdom. But how do we get it?
- DESIRE: Acquiring wisdom begins with desire. We must want to become wise. Sounds simple enough, but many people are perfectly content to seek immediate rewards rather than the lasting benefits of wisdom. They'd rather grab all the cash they can hold rather than cultivate wisdom they can't even see. However, they are missing out on an important truth: Riches can not make a person wise, but wisdom can make a person rich. However, just desiring wisdom isn't enough.
- SACRIFICE: Gaining wisdom comes with a sacrifice. That sacrifice includes a desire for study. A solid foundation of knowledge of God's Word can go a long way toward growing wisdom.
- STUDY: However, what should we study? The Bible, primarily. It is packed with wise advice and teachings on wisdom (especially in the book of Proverbs). Guess how many chapters there are in Proverbs? 31. That means if you read a chapter a day you would read Proverbs 12 times in a year. May 1st read chapter 1, May 2nd read chapter 2 and so on.
The more we get to know God's Word, the more wisdom we'll gain in spiritual matters. Our study time should include: Bible commentaries (which are Bible scholar's interpretation of the Scripture), Bible dictionaries, word studies, and biographies of great Christian writers such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, C.S. Lewis and other sources such as MoodyRadio.org out of Chicago and Intervarsity Press. Don't forget the Internet, our church library, and Bible book stores for valuable resources.
The pastor, Anna our librarian, or Judy can provide you with suggestions and guidance for growth tools. If the dishes are dirty, don't wait for someone else to do them for you. Clean up your own messes. It is my responsibility to grow spiritually.
Soak up as much wisdom as possible from such people who have already examined the many aspects of faith. Their wisdom can be just as valuable in your life as well. “As a man thinks in his heart – so is he”. We become what we think about.
Anyone interested in developing a personal library to help with spiritual growth might consider two wonderful books: “Listening To the Giants” by Warren Wiersby and “Profitable Bible Study” by Wilbur Smith.
- (Desire, Sacrifice, Study) and fourthly DIALOGUE: After study comes "dialogue." Talk with pastors, individuals who have been there and other committed believers. Their wisdom can be just as valuable in your life as well.
By bouncing ideas off other people, we can discover new insights into God's Word and the nature of God.
One of the most helpful studies a Christian can do is learning “How To Communicate.” Real and solid communication with another individual doesn't happen in a vacuum. It is a learned art. There are many wonderful books on learning how to communicate. It would be helpful to do a WEB search “Christian Books on Communication.”
- Avoid developing the personality of a rubber fish. Monotone speaking puts people to sleep.
- Be natural, not contrived to “be spiritual.”
- Avoid being an “answer man” for everyone's problems.
- Be a good listener. Remember, you don't have to have all the answers. Make sure you properly understood what the person said by repeating back to them what you think you heard them say. They will appreciate it and will feel like their words meant something.
- EXPERIENCES: After dialogue comes life experiences. Live deliberately with your eyes open to what God is doing in your life as well as the life of others. Much wisdom comes through life experiences.
If we approach each day with a desire to learn and understand, we'll have plenty of opportunities to develop wisdom.
- PRAYER: As we read the Bible and the works of great Christian writers, ask God to reveal new truths that we haven't previously known. You will be amazed at the surprising truths that come by merely asking God for more wisdom.
- PATIENCE: Finally, be patient. Scripture tells us that Tribulation develops patience. Patience takes time to develop. Don't be in a hurry. It doesn't happen overnight. While we may be able to cram for a test in school at the last minute, there is no such thing in the spiritual realm. Wisdom takes time to develop.
CONCLUSION:
Make up your mind to get wisdom, to seek understanding and apply what God reveals to you. God has a great plan for your life, but only through His wisdom. The rewards are great as we seek to live a full, rich life of faith in Him. No one can do it for you. It is your journey to enjoy.
Gaining WISDOM is a source for HAPPINESS.
- Proverbs 3:13 – Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.
- Proverbs 2:6 – The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
PRAYER
Wisdom – The Lord is our Source!
So, give your servant an understanding heart that is able to recognize the difference between good and evil.
