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WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING
Proverbs 4:1-9
INTRODUCTION: The Bible teaches the need for learning. Education gives knowledge to a person. Understanding is the ability to discern between what is right and wrong. Wisdom is a gift from God so that a person can apply what he has learned according to the will of God. The Bible warns us of worldly wisdom. (James 3:13-18) “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor. 3:19) Young and old alike need to seek after the wisdom that God provides. Godly wisdom is of more value than rubies or gold. (Pr. 8:11; 16:16)
Someone has said, “The opposite of wisdom is folly, meaning the short-term self-indulgence which marks out the person who doesn't think about long-term priorities and goals but lives on a day-to-day basis, asking, 'What is the most fun thing to do now?"
Jesus is Watching You
Late one night, a burglar broke into a house that he thought was empty. He tiptoed through the living room but suddenly froze in his tracks when he heard a loud voice say, "Jesus is watching you."
Silence returned to the house, so the burglar crept forward again. "Jesus is watching you," the voice boomed again.
The burglar stopped dead again. He was frightened. Frantically, he looked all around. In a dark corner, he spotted a bird cage and in the cage was a parrot. He asked the parrot, "Was that you who said Jesus is watching me?"
"Yes", said the parrot.
The burglar breathed a sigh of relief, then he asked the parrot, "What's your name?"
"Moses," said the bird.
"That's a dumb name for a parrot," sneered the burglar. "Who named you Moses?"
The parrot said, "The same person who named the Doberman Jesus."
I. WISDOM RECEIVED
A. SIGNIFICANCE OF WISDOM. (Pr. 4:7-8)
Solomon wrote that “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.”
The significance of wisdom is stated in Proverbs 8:35-36. “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
B. SOURCE OF WISDOM.
Only the all wise God can impart wisdom. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy (Holy One) is understanding.” (Pr. 9:10)
C. SECURING OF WISDOM.
We may ask; how can we secure wisdom? There are at least six ways we can secure wisdom.
1. Ask God in prayer. (James 1:5)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
2. Feed on the Word of God. (Pr. 2:6; Matt. 4:4; Pr. 6:23)
In Matthew 7 Jesus told the parable of two builders. Jesus said
“whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.”
3. Seek godly council. (Pr. 1:5)
We can seek wisdom from godly people who live according to the teachings of the Bible. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Pr. 13:20)
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:1-3)
4. Learn from life’s experiences.
Life’s experiences are great in teaching those who will learn from them. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” (Pr. 15:31)
5. Fear the Lord. (Pr. 15:33)
The Bible states: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Pr. 9:10) In Proverbs 15:33 we read: “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom.” When a person fears the LORD, he will turn away from sin. “The wise man feareth, and departeth from evil.” (Pr. 14:16) “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogance, and the evil way.” (Pr. 8:13)
6. Receive reproof and correction. (Pr. 3:11)
Reproof and correction come from the LORD. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither be weary of His correction; For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (3:11-12)
II. WISDOM REJECTED
A. REASON FOR REJECTING WISDOM.
1. They despise God’s reproof. (v. 24-25)
The world is full of people who despise God’s reproof. “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” (Pr. 13:13)
2. They hated knowledge. (v. 29)
Knowledge brings responsibility and accountability. The reason people do not read their Bible or come to hear preaching is because they hate the knowledge of God. People who reject wisdom are called foolish in Scripture. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” (1 Cor. 1:18) God speaks through His Word. When we despise the Word of God, we hate the knowledge of God.
3. They had no fear of God. (v. 29)
The reason wisdom is rejected is clearly stated in verse 25 and 30. “They would have none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.” They “did not choose the fear of the LORD.” This describes people today. Many in our churches listen to the Word being preached. Yet, they despise God’s rebuke of their sin. They turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit and choose to have no fear of God. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Pr. 12:15)
B. RESULT IN REJECTING WISDOM.
1. Their coming desolation. (v. 26-27)
Notice the description of their coming judgment: calamity, fear, desolation, destruction, distress and anguish.
2. Their prayers rejected. (v. 28)
The people called upon the LORD but He would not answer. It is a dreadful thought that heaven would become brass. In their desperation they cry out to God. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31) People live as if there is no God until they need Him, then they begin to pray. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” (Pr. 28:9) If you are not willing to hear and heed the council of God today, you can sin away your day of grace. God turned a deaf ear to the prayers of the Israelites because of their sin. Remember, the day of grace ran out during the days of Noah and Lot. You can sin away your day of grace.
3. Their coming destruction.” (v. 31-32)
“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be
filled with their own devices.” We reap what we sow. I believe America is reaping from her past sins today. If you continue in your own way, you too will face destruction. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal. 6:7-8)“He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Pr. 29:1) The Bible says, “Fools make a mock of sin.”
III. WISDOM REWARDED
A. HAPPINESS. (Pr. 3:13)
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” The greatest pursuit of our generation today seems to be for happiness. We have increased in knowledge and wealth, but we are some of the most miserable people on earth.
B. HONOR.
Wisdom promotes those who seek after her. Joseph was a wise man and God promoted him. “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.” Genesis (41:40) Daniel was a wise man who God promoted. “Then the king made Daniel a greatman, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.” (Daniel 2:48)
“The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Pr. 3:35)
Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to a halt, and the repairmen couldn't find the problem. So Ford called Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then threw the switch. The generators whirred to life--but Ford got a bill for $10,000 from Steinmetz.
Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car maker inquired why the bill was so high. Steinmetz's reply: For tinkering with the generators, $10. For knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill.
C. HEAVEN.
We do not earn heaven as a reward for anything we have done but as a gift from God. (Eph. 2:8-9) God’s Word makes us wise unto salvation. The gift of salvation makes heaven a reality for all the redeemed.
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Wisdom seeks the mind of God. When applied to life, it will keep you from evil so you can find favor with God.
2. Worldly wisdom must be rejected. You cannot think biblically if you listen, watch, and believe all the world tells you. You are responsible for what you allow to influence your thinking.
3. Wisdom promotes the believer in righteousness and true holiness. These things will bring blessings now and honor for eternity.
4. If you are lost, hear the council of God today. Turn at His reproof and call upon Him to save you while you have the opportunity.
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