“Wisdom is Calling... Are You Listening?”
Pst Steve McKinney
TFI Gateway
October 09, 2011
2 Chronicles 1 (NIV) - Solomon Asks for Wisdom
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
This is the ultimate example of seeking first the Kingdom and all things being added
Proverbs 8 (NIV) Wisdom’s Call
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
Wisdom is personified as a woman here as well as in other places in Proverbs
Wisdom comes with Understanding
She is calling out, wanting to be heard
By everyone... Not just a few
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
Simple: an older English term meaning “not so smart”
To be prudent is to be practical
To set your heart on something is to desire it
So we who realize that we are simple and foolish should not be satisfied with that. We must strive for wisdom and understanding
Trustworthy and True – we all need this
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Discerning: means you get it, you figure it out, you understand
All of them are right -- everything divine wisdom offers
You have to choose wisdom over the other things
Over Riches and temporary gain
The best practical example of that is whether or not to take a job or to go to university
But the bigger example is how you spend your time daily for life – do you turn off the TV to spend time in the Word? If not, then you are not discerning.
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Wisdom does not only partner with understanding, but with prudence. You cannot be wise without either of these qualities
Prudence: knows limitation, practical, not proud or arrogant, humble, never overstretches, real, lives within its means, in a spiritual sense: only wants God’s perfect will
The promise is that everyone who truly seeks wisdom and loves wisdom will find it
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
With me: accompanying me.. True riches, honor, wealth and prosperity are the companions of wisdom
Where can you find wisdom? Where she hangs out!
The way of Righteousness & The Path of Justice
You hang out with someone you love. So if you love these things, you are with wisdom and wisdom “bestows” an inheritance in your treasury!
Are you seeing that you had better not be too busy for wisdom?
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
Wisdom existed before the World!
God had Wisdom in mind before He ever created any of this. Wisdom is foundational to everything!
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
More poetic insight as to how foundational and important wisdom is to attain
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
30 Then I was constantly[e] at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
Wisdom hangs out with God!
Wisdom gets excited about God’s work and creation
Wisdom is interested in God’s creation “working well”
In success and in blessing!
Wisdom delights in You and in Me!!!
Wisdom is waiting to work with You!
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Keep my ways
Know and perform the wise ways
You have to be wise, become wise
Don’t “disregard” wisdoms instruction
This is easier said than done
You must conquer many things:
Emotional responses
Worldly views (humanistic wisdom)
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the LORD.
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”
Watch daily at the door of Wisdom
You must seek Wisdom daily, waiting at it’s door
Blessings are a result of Favor from God
God favors those who seek wisdom, understanding, prudence and His presence
When you fail to find wisdom, you not only miss blessings, but you actually harm yourself
Because Wisdom can be found. She is calling YOU!
Proverbs 4 (NIV)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.