Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
October 30, 1988
Proverbs 1:1-7
WISDOM IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
I. Contemporary examples of seeking wisdom.
A. Young pastor, fresh out of seminary, considering doctorate.
1) He won't have to retake entrance tests.
2) Will doctorate make him wise, or over-educated?
B. I went to grade 19.
1) Two-thirds of my life.
2) Am I wise?
C. Americans seek education, not necessarily wisdom.
1) Education leads to upward mobility - more bucks.
a) Jobs formerly requiring high school diploma, now ask
for college degree.
b) Job not more difficult, but degrees make you look
smarter.
II. What is wisdom?
A. Complex answer in Proverbs.
B. Religious.
1) Comes within a relationship with God.
Prov 1:7 -
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
Prov 9:10 -
"The fear of the Lord " ... wisdom."
2) Something to be received as a gift from God. Prov 2:6
a) Wisdom is for anyone who wants it.
b) Wisdom is free, just like foolishness.
Prov 9:4, cf 9:16
c) Fools and idiots are invited by name to its feast.
3) Something to be worked for.
a) Conversion.
1> A turning from having our own way.
Prov 14:12 -
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death."
2> A turning toward the light of God.
Prov 9:4 -
"Whosoever is simple, let him turn in hither:
as for him that wanteth understanding,
she [wisdom, v.1] saith to him, Come eat of
my bread."
b) Discipleship.
1> A person must seek it. Prov 2:1-5
A> Incline ear.
B> Apply heart.
C> Cry after.
D> Lift up voice.
E> Seek as silver, treasure.
2> Just as a person seeks for God. Prov 2:5
4) Wisdom is stored up by God for the those who obey him.
Prov 2:7-9
C. Moral.
1) Kathy Jones illustration:
a) Sunday School party - "Remember how stupid we were?"
1> Algebra not what she is refering to.
2> Decadent lifestyle.
b) Wisdom in Bible is more in obedience of heart,
than understanding of head.
2) The moral demands of wisdom.
a) A turning from evil.
Prov 3:7 -
"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord,
and depart from evil."
b) Devotion to what is good.
1> A person must love wisdom.
A> Like a boy longs for a girl. Prov 8:34 -
"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching
daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of
my doors."
2> It is not for the person who thinks they have
"arrived."
Prov 26:12 -
"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him."
3) The moral results of wisdom:
a) Teachable to the end.
Prov 9:9 -
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be
yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will
increase in learning."
1> We can always grow further in it.
b) Open to God's commands.
Prov 10:8 -
"The wise in heart will receive commandments."
c) Open to God's discipline.
Prov 3:11 -
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord,
neither be weary of his correction: for whom
the Lord loveth he correcteth..."
d) Open to human advice and criticism.
Prov 13:10 (NIV) -
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found
in those who take advice."
III. Summary: Wisdom is a relationship, offered by God and requiring
a commitment of our character.
IV. In the end, wisdom belongs to God.
A. We should not become conceited.
1) What's left to learn? Lots. We've only begun.
B. Receive comfort from knowing God's wisdom is beyond ours.
1) When we cannot understand a tragedy, we can trust Him.
