It's really weird to think I've been on this earth over 50 years. Some of you will say, “Wow, that's a really long time!” But some of you will say, “That's all?” Once I was working at Christian homes. Some 80-year-old was complaining about feeling old when all the sudden another lady (well on her way to 100) piped up, “Eighty? That's all? You're so young!”
No worries. I'm not having a half-century life crisis! But I want you to think back on your life. Was there ever a pivotal moment in your life, when you had a choice to make, and it felt as if the weight of world rested upon you? I like to call them “choose-your-own-adventure" (life defining, trajectory changing) moments. When I was younger, I binge read every choose-your-own-adventure book I could find. “If you choose ABC turn to page #50. If you choose XYZ turn to page #80.”
By far, one of the most pivotal moments of my life was in August of 1992. In just weeks, I was set to begin a pre-engineering degree. I had a promising future in computers mapped out. At the time, there wasn't anything clearer in mind than to take the same lucrative path into high technology that my friends had taken. One of my best friends began working for Motorola, and was traveling the world.
Toward the end of a week of church camp, we'd been fasting and were instructed to find a place to be alone with God. I spent the first few hours napping under the hot sun! But eventually I read James 1:5-6: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” That morning I believed without doubting. I quite sincerely prayed and was quite open, “Okay Lord, you know the plans I have for myself. But what's your plan? Do you have something better?” Be careful what you pray!
I knew how the story of my life might progress if I chose my own adventure; what I didn't know is what if I let God choose the course of my life! The simple fact that I read James 1:5-6 was providential. What if I hadn't read it that day? What if I hadn't asked God for wisdom? What if I hadn't trusted and believed? Where would I be today?
Have you ever invited God into a pivotal moment of life to give you wisdom? This month we’ll wrap up our Wrestling with God series. This morning we're looking at the Old Testament book of Proverbs. If there is one verse that’s been an anchor verse for me its Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” I believe with all my heart… that If you'll trust God, there isn't any season or circumstance of life, God won't guide you through. But you have to trust him with all your heart, and you have to really be open in your spirit.
You might recall how the Lord gave Solomon more wisdom than he'd given any other man. Proverbs 1:1 begins, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel…” Proverbs is a distillation of the kinds of things God taught Solomon, and God will teach us if we pray and listen. As much as I value the Proverbs, I'd more enthusiastically invite you to read the whole New Testament.
In 1 Corinthians 1:30 the Apostle Paul refers to Jesus as “our wisdom from God." Jesus didn't just have wisdom “from” God; Paul says Jesus “is" the wisdom of God. He is the way, truth, and life. He is the light of the world. As much wisdom as Solomon may have had, he is exceedingly surpassed by Jesus Himself. Anything good that Solomon teaches in Proverbs is infinitely more “exemplified” and “embodied” in in the life of Jesus. Jesus was living, walking, breathing wisdom, love, truth, life, light. Solomon didn't upstage Christ. And I might further suggest that Solomon didn’t surpass the New Testament authors in wisdom either. Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, Peter, James. . . their writings far eclipse that of Solomon.
Still, let us consider Proverbs 1 this morning. Proverbs 1:1-7 begins, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:” What is the purpose of Proverbs? 2 “For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings; 3 for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; 4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man—5 let a wise person listen and increase learning, and let a discerning person obtain guidance—6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
As I read these verses, I began reflecting on the various categories of knowledge we can gain from Scripture. If ever we were to wrestle with God, should it not be for true knowledge? First Solomon speaks of the value of wisdom.
1.The Value of Wisdom (Knowing “What”). Proverbs 17:16 asks, “Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?” We live in a country that values formal education. People think nothing of spending 50, 75, 100k on formal education. I have zero regret about all the money I spent to get a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degree. Without a degree, you don’t know what you don’t know. But with a degree, you begin to know what you don’t know! Your eyes open.
There are idealists who say you don’t need to go to school. You can learn on the internet. You can go to the library, or buy books, self-study. All that is true. But there are so many fields of study. Just to name a few… there is Math, Science, Literature, Social Studies, History, Religion and Philosophy. No one person can master such breadth of knowledge. Proverbs 1:2 is speaking about the value of a young person sitting under the teaching of a sage, being instructed, even indoctrinated. A sage will make sure we don’t miss the really big things we need to know. The biggest being God of course!
I was talking a parent just this week. She was sending her daughter back to college. Her advice to her daughter was to read Proverbs. There are 31 chapters. You can easily read a chapter every day. While you’re acquiring worldly wisdom, make sure you’re also acquiring spiritual wisdom.
I want to talk to some of you who have maybe never read the Bible. Some of the best wisdom you can receive is spiritual wisdom. If in fact we’re spiritual beings, created by a God who is Spirit, we cannot forsake this dimension of life. So many of the Proverbs contain practical instruction. The Proverbs are given for “receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge. This is what faith looks like. This is what righteousness, justice, and integrity look like. This is how you can take care of your body, how to find rest, how to take care of your soul and enjoy peace.
The Proverbs speak at length about how you find happiness. The Proverbs give practical instruction about parenting—fatherhood, motherhood, even childhood! Practical instruction about finding satisfaction in marriage and avoiding the perils of infidelity. Instruction about how to handle conflict, how to respond to hateful or violent people, how to speak well, how to manage your emotions, and control your tongue. How to run a business, manage money, make a living or profit, maintain fairness, develop a solid work ethic, plan well for the future. Here is how to manage your private life and public life. Here is how not to get derailed by enticements of life, your appetites, runaway emotions like anger, how to avoid the vices of alcohol, lust, greed, gluttony, laziness, murderous rage... Not in an entire lifetime could you learn all these things!
2.The Value of Discipline (Knowing “How”). If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a million times: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” So, in Proverbs 1:2 there is a concern for “learning discipline” Proverb 21:3 says, “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 15:32 says, “Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.” James 1:22-25, “22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.” In James 2 the author asks what value faith has if, faith never works. Faith without works is dead! In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commands his disciples not just to teach everything he commanded, but to teach people “to obey” everything commanded.
3. The Value of Understanding (Knowing “Why”). There is knowing “what”, there is knowing “how”, there is also knowing “why”. Proverbs 1:2 mentions an ability for “understanding insightful sayings.” One of the biggest disconnects we have as Christians when it comes to cultural conversations is our inability to explore “why” we believe “what” we believe.
Proverbs 20:5 is a great example of deeper knowledge of WHY. It says, “Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out.” Some of the least productive conversations I’ve had center on “what.” “What” conversations tend to be dogmatic. Here is what I think… oh yeah, well here is what I think. Here is what my creed says… oh yeah, here is what my creed says. There is little value in spewing our talking points—though talking points have a place. The deeper conversation is, “Do you know why I believe this? Do you know why you believe as you think, feel, believe and do?” Or even “we both know what the Bible teaches about ABC and XYZ… but have you considered why this might be the better way, or even God’s way?”
For century upon century, Christians have been granted the higher moral ground on virtually every moral topic. Culture agreed, in principle, with just about everything the Church talked about regarding marriage, gender, sexual morality and immorality, gambling, addiction, alcohol, drugs, pornography. Culture no longer grants an inch of higher moral ground to Christian principles of living. Right along with our defense of faith, we must give a defense “for” and positive commendation “of” Christian living, Christian morality. It may be enough for you to say, “The Bible says it, I believe it…” but I guarantee it’s not enough for the next generation. To believe they will probably need to know now just “what” and “why” but also “how”. In Proverbs there are examples of extended Father-Son conversations exploring the “why” behind dictates of God’s instruction.
4. The Value of Discernment and Discretion (Knowing “When”). Life is full of deceit—you can’t always take things at face value. For example, in laughter the heart might ache, the laughter might be masking great pain. Another example is accepting an invitation to a meal. It can be better to eat bread alone than enjoy a gigantic feast with someone who despises you. Another example is flattery. We all love to be spoken well of. But when words are many, sin is not far behind. When should we trust someone? When should we go along with someone? When should we cooperate, when shouldn’t I…”?
The Proverbs are full of discretionary principles. A great New Testament example of discernment and discretion is the apostle Paul’s statement that everything may very well be “permissible,” but not everything is “beneficial.” When should a person eat meat that’s been sacrificed to an idol, when should a church leader drink wine, or not. There are countless times we find ourselves in circumstances that require a principle to be applied, and for which a narrow letter of the law, or black and white Bible verse might not be found. Do we know how to maintain the Spirit of the Law, and honor the Spirit of Christ, when the letter of the law seems to be silent?
5. The Value of Revelation (Knowing “Who” or the Source). The greatest knowledge alluded to in Proverbs is a fear of God himself. Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 14:27, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.”
Since the Proverbs were written by Solomon, no harm jumping over to Ecclesiastes 12:9-11, “In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11 The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods… The sayings are given by one Shepherd. . . 12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”
The ultimate issue isn’t just “what”, “why”, “how”, “when”… it’s “who”. Who is our source of authority when it comes to knowledge. This is the issue of humility. A person who fears, trusts God as their source will arrive at radically different conclusions than the fool who says in his heart there is no God. A person who fears God will arrive at radically different conclusions than any one political platform’s talking points. The person who fears God will never be of the same mind as those with no fear of God. But here is what is cool—people who fear God—no matter how far apart they might be in the beginning on matters of what, why, how, when… if they stay humble and teachable before God… they will grow toward unity and oneness of mind over time. They may not get all the way there this side of eternity, but they will have begun the journey.
And what is to come of those who absolutely refuse any fear of God?
Proverbs 1:24-33 will prove true, “Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares. 21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates: 22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?
23 If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. 24 Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, 25 since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, 26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. 28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord, 30 were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, 31 they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. 32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.