Wisdom …
What comes to mind when you hear the term? How attractive is the idea of wisdom to you? If you were to be offered gold or wisdom which would you choose?
There is a reason why Pr 16:16 says “How much better to get wisdom than gold….” and it’s important to understand, why.
This Sunday we’ll be studying Proverbs 30:24-28 but I thought I’d give you a little appetizer on the subject of “Exceeding Wisdom” and why it is so important?
In short, it has so much to do with what the WILL OF GOD for our lives.
The Bible says, “See then that you walk circumspectly (Vs. 15 NLT reads, “So be careful how you live …”) not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph 5:15-17)
Being careful how you live your life has to do with being wise and experiencing God’s will! The opposite is true with a “fool” and of course it’s not God’s will to be a fool. The book of Proverbs describes a fool in the following way.
#1 A fool is a “BLOCKHEAD!” It’s the word “kaceel” in Hebrew used 49 times in Proverbs and one of which is found in Pr. 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.” It’s a person who does not listen. They are not teachable. It’s why you’ve heard that counseling is with 2% of the people and is 98% ineffective.
#2 A fool is morally and intellectually intoxicated to the extent that they say, “There is NO GOD!” The word used is “Nabal” and it’s found in Pr 17:24 which reads “A fool says in his heart that there is no God!”
#3 A fool does not have fear unless there is a FALL.Pr. 14:16 “A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self confident.” The fool is someone who experiences a lot of unnecessary PAIN and CRISIS.
Here’s the picture that starts to come into focus that distinguishes between a wise person and a foolish person ….
A wise person utilizes the faculties that God has given them: namely, to listen, to learn, to think and to make good choices based on sound judgment and Biblical principle and the moral-revealed-will-of-God! While on the other hand, a fool totally mismanages the capabilities that God has given them. They are inattentive. They are a wanderer. There is an absence of consideration in their choices. This is why an unwise person and an immature person does not make the connection between their choices and their consequences. While on the other hand the Bible says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel …” Pr. 1:5
Proverbs 30:24-28 tells us that there is WISDOM to learn from FOUR SMALL CREATURES: the Ant, the Coney, the Locust and the Lizard!
Sound strange? Check it out!
#1 The wisdom of the ANT is to make the best and most responsible decisions TODAY that leads to the best possible situation, tomorrow.
#2 The Wisdom of the CONEY (a small feeble animal) is to know one’s weakness and therefore depend upon what is greater than oneself for safety and security.
#3 The Wisdom of the LOCUST is to get along with others and to realize there is strength in numbers.
#4 The wisdom of the LIZARD/ Spider is to have a quiet and patient perseverance thriving where you are at!
See you Sunday!
Can’t wait till tomorrow
I needed to hear that. So clear. So wonderful. So HELPFUL! God Bless you.
Thank you so much for the wonderful bible teaching on wisdom this morning. It was the best message I have ever heard on the subject. God bless you so much!
an hear the words-
Despise not the small things!
1. WHAT CAN THESE SMALL THINGS TEACH ME? – Teach me a man or woman of the 21st century?
Why we have more wisdom, more “knowledge” than anyone ever!
Our access to that knowledge is enormous. We can download volumes of data.
I think the lizard is saying – HOLD ON TO WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!GRASP WHERE HE HAS PLACED YOU AND HOLD TIGHT PROVERBS 30:28
“The lizard skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.”
Most lizards are amazing creature. God created many of them with suction cups on his hands and feet so they can walk up walls, crawl across ceilings, even enter the kings palace, a place he did not deserve to be in, a place he did not belong.
Now how in the world does that relate to us as Christians?
I see a two fold response here.
First of all God has given each of us certain gifts to be used in the body of Christ. Now you can choose to use them, or not to use them. If you don’t use them you will become stagnant.
If you use them like the lizard here does, who lets nothing get in his way, climbing over obstacles, walking on walls and ceilings, you too will forge ahead for the kingdom of God, going and doing things you never dreamed of.
But I think the primary thought here is holding onto the precious promises that God has given each of us.
He has forgiven us our sins, cleansed us from all unrighteousness, has adopted us into His family, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, He will never leave us or forsake us, has made us into His masterpiece, prepared the work for us and us for the work, in physical death we will enter into His presence, we will spend eternity with the Lord, we will rule and reign with Him in the kingdom age, we will enter into the new Jerusalem where the curse will be completely removed and we will spend eternity with our God.
Now of course this is just a brief summation of some of the promises that God has give to us.
We can find out the rest in the Word of God- our Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. [B.I.B.L.E.]
From Genesis through the book of Revelation.
The lesson the lizard is showing me is that I need to HOLD ON TO WHAT GOD HAS GIVE ME!HOLD ON TIGHT. DON’T LET IT SLIP AWAY.
I hear Him say to me through the Lizard- Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.
These lessons that God has given to me from nature.
The ant showed me that I need to prepare for eternity.
Once that decision is made, the rock badger showed me that my only security, my only defense against the enemy is when I stand upon the rock, when I hide ourselves in Jesus.
The locusts then shows me the far reaching effects that unity can bring upon a community, far more effective than working by myself.
And lastly, the lizard showed me that I need to cultivate those gifts that God has given me and hold onto His precious promises, for as I do, I will find myself in the kings palace – THE KING OF KINGS AN LORD OF LORD’S!
As Peter admonishes us in I Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hopethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Never forget that! Be like one of these small things- finish the work God has given me.