Wisdom: Part II
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
“The Right Request”
“Nothing is foolproof
to a talented fool.”
“The early bird may
get the worm,
but
the second mouse gets the cheese.”
“Borrow money from a
pessimist; they don’t expect it back.”
“Experience is
something you don’t get
until just after you need it.”
What
is wisdom? And why do we want it so much and then when we get it we ignore it?
There
are a lot of advantages to being wise. According to Proverbs 3:13-18:
Wisdom has the
potential to bless us with longer lives, wealth, and peace. Ecclesiastes tells us that wisdom is
better than weapons for war. Proverbs says that wisdom will save us from the
ways of the wicked and from the adulterous. If we don’t let it out of sight, we will find that wisdom
keeps us from stumbling and maintains our safety.
But
it does more than that. Wisdom
protects our reputation. In
Matthew Jesus reflects on the ridiculous things that people are saying about he
and John the Baptist. How people think that because John fasted he was
possessed by a demon and because Jesus hung out with sinners he was a
drunkard. Then Jesus says “But
wisdom is proved right by her deeds” or “by her children.” Wisdom bears good fruit and speaks on behalf of one’s reputation.
Wisdom
also facilitates happiness. A
person who works for a wise supervisor enjoys their work. Queen Sheba observed this when visiting
wise King Solomon. She saw how his
wisdom impacted the work environment of all under his authority and care. She also noted how blessed people were
to get to hear Solomon’s wisdom. People
are attracted to the wise.
Another
blessing of wisdom is the impact it has on your relationships. God honored Solomon’s request for
wisdom, and the gift of wisdom helped facilitate peaceful relationships with the
rulers of the countries around him.
Proverbs
4:6 tells us, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and
she will watch over you.”
Before
going on a business trip to Europe, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown
New York City bank and asked for a loan of $5,000. The loan officer requested collateral and the man handed him
the keys to his Rolls-Royce.
The
loan officer then had the car driven into the bank’s underground parking for
safekeeping and gave the owner of it the requested $5,000.
Two
weeks later, the man returned from his trip to Europe and returned to the
bank. He walked up to the loan
officer and asked to settle his account – paying back the $5,000 in principal
and the $15.40 in interest.”
He
then turned to walk out of the bank but was stopped by the loan officer,
“Wait,
sir!” The man turned back. “While you were gone, I found out
you’re a millionaire! Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?”
The owner
of the car smiled, “Where else could I safely park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan
for two weeks and only pay $15.40?
The
Merriam – Webster online dictionary defines wisdom as accumulated philosophic
or scientific learning or knowledge; the ability to discern inner qualities and
relationships or insight; a good sense or judgment; and generally accepted
belief. My theological dictionary
defines wisdom as knowledge of what is good and true; the basis for knowing
what is true or false; and an attribute of God.
But what is wisdom
according to the Bible? How does
Scripture define this wisdom that appears so attractive because of its
benefits?
First we learn that wisdom existed before
the rest of creation. Wisdom
claims in Proverbs 8:22, “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old; I was formed long ago, at the beginning, when the
world came to be.”
Then in the early parts of the Old Testament we learn that wisdom is
knowing how to use our profession and the skills with which God has gifted us
for God’s purposes. It is
knowing how to apply what we have learned for a specific purpose. This is seen
in God’s commission to artisans, seamstresses, stone-workers, wood-carvers, and
metalworkers to apply their skills in the building of the tabernacle and in the
creation of the clothing and tools used by the priests. They are to apply wisdom to using their
gifts to achieve God’s goal.
We read of Joseph
gaining wisdom from God, which enables him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king
of Egypt, so that he can apply his wisdom to preserving the people during a
devastating drought and famine.
In today’s reading we
see how King Solomon asks for wisdom with his royal calling – that he might act
wisely in judging the people and managing his assets.
In Acts we see the
early church delegating people to different types of ministry and doing so by
seeking people who are filled with wisdom and the Spirit to know how to use
their gifts for the benefit of the church.
We also read in Colossians
about how the early church used wisdom to teach about Jesus Christ.
From the life of King Solomon we learn that
wisdom is about having a relationship with the source of wisdom: God. The one who by wisdom laid the
foundations of the earth. We also
learn that wisdom is understanding the world and how it works.
We also find definitions of wisdom in the
book of Proverbs. Here
wisdom is described as knowing and doing what is right, just, and fair – every
good path. It is giving thought to
our ways; a fountain that becomes a rushing stream; a partnership with
prudence, knowledge, and discretion; the feminine aspect of God.
Wisdom is also an outgrowth of
righteousness or obedience to the laws of God. “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom.”
Interestingly, wisdom isn’t just about the
application of head knowledge to life, but it is also about the heart. The
Bible is pretty explicit in stating that wisdom comes from the heart and abides
there. Proverbs 2:10 reads
“for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your
soul,” and 14:33, tells us that wisdom rests in the heart of the
discerning. In many ways wisdom is
when the heart connects with and gives understanding to the knowledge that we
have - so that we might use and
apply it to life.
James chapter 3, verses 17 and 18 presents a beautiful description:
“wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, than peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a
harvest of righteousness.”
God’s wisdom is different from the wisdom of the world.
But
how do we attain wisdom?
In
today’s Bible reading, King David has just passed away and his son Solomon has
claimed the throne. Solomon goes
to seek God’s wisdom by offering sacrifices on the high alter of Gibeon. There he encounters God who asks what
it is that Solomon desires. And
Solomon’s request is striking, because he asks in a manner that is not for
himself, but is for the people.
He recognizes his duty to the people, the tasks that are at hand to act
as judge and manager of what seems like a multitude. He acknowledges his weakneses, his youth, and lack of
experience, and asks God to bless him with wisdom!
In
preparing for today’s sermon I was impressed with the quantity of material in
the Bible about wisdom. I was even
more amazed by the various ways that God has provided for us to attain wisdom. When I started searching the Scripture,
I expected that there would be perhaps one, two, or three ways of attaining
wisdom. But in fact there are
many!!! So, I’ve limited myself to
quickly outlining 12 different ways we can gain wisdom. Ready to take notes?
First, I was reminded over and over and
over again that God is the source of all wisdom. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of
God!” acknowledges Romans
11:33. “For the foolishness of God
is wiser than human wisdom,” claims 1 Corinthians 1:25.
Specifically, the Spirit of God is the source of wisdom. We see this in the life of Moses and
Joshua, who were filled with the spirit of wisdom. We see in Acts that those opposed to the new Christians
could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave the disciple Stephen when
he spoke. And Paul claimed
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words
taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”
So, the first way that we can gain wisdom is by seeking and
fearing or respecting God!
Multiple
times in the Bible we are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy
One is understanding. Specifically
in Isaiah 33:5-6 we read “The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will
fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store
of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this
treasure.”
The second way we can gain wisdom is by
following Solomon’s example and asking for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom,“ according to James 1 verses
5-6a “you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.”
The third way to attain wisdom is not a means by which we have control,
some people are just born with wisdom. Psalm 51:6 gives witness to God teaching wisdom to us, even
while we are still in the womb.
A fourth way is to seek it.
We are admonished in Proverbs to search for it like a hidden
treasure. We are encouraged to be
willing to give up everything for it – to recognize that its value is
great. “Get wisdom, get
understanding” the Proverb speaks, “I love those who love me and those who seek
me find me” wisdom claims. “Turn
your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding,” reads Proverbs
2:2. “Does not wisdom call out? Does
not understanding raise her voice?” announces Proverbs 8:1. Wisdom calls out to us, it is present
for us to grab, if we are willing to make the sacrifices to attain it.
The fifth way is to find someone to teach us wisdom. Moses laid hands on Joshua, he mentored
him, prayed for him, walked beside him, and passed wisdom on to him. Moses himself gained wisdom as part of
his education in Egypt.
A sixth way is by studying the proverbs – a book of wisdom that is
a collection of the teachings of Solomon and other wise men. The book actually starts by stating its
purpose, which is “for the gaining of wisdom.”
A seventh means for gaining wisdom is through obedience to Scripture
and Christian morality. Our
desire to be and act righteously births wisdom within us.
An eighth way is through the practice of humility. -- Our recognition of the limits of our
humanity. The acceptance of the
reality that our days are numbered guides us to have wisdom. To not trust in our own cleverness, but
to be willing to receive the advice of others.
The ninth way some receive wisdom is as a spiritual gift - one of many that is given by the Holy Spirit
for the building up of the church.
A tenth way is through the church where God’s wisdom is revealed. One way it is revealed is through the
psalms, hymns, and songs of the church that proclaim Christ and the wisdom of
God.
An eleventh way is through discipline. Proverbs 29:15 tells us that if parents reprimand or
discipline their children they are helping their children to gain wisdom and
are protecting them from disgrace.
A person who loves wisdom also brings joy to his or her parents.
And a twelfth way - - is
to impart wisdom on others - by
praying that God might bless them with wisdom. In Paul’s letters we often read his prayers for the reader,
asking that God might give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that they
may know Christ better and live in a way that pleases the Lord.
Now I mustn’t go
further without sharing some warnings
in our seeking of wisdom. First, we
need to be aware that there is such a thing as false wisdom and knowledge that
may mislead us. Often this false
wisdom is built on pride and the denial of God. It can also be found in
regulations and rules that create a false humility and are driven by cultural
fads of our time. This
false wisdom is also often driven by envy and selfish ambition and leads to
disorder and evil practice.
The
second warning is to not boast in our own wisdom. In a message to the king of Tyre captured in Ezekiel
28, God explains – “because you
think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against
you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your
beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor.” “Will you then say ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those
who kill you?”
Note:
This is the same king, whom God identified as “the seal of perfection, full of
wisdom and perfect in beauty.” We
learn that his heart became proud on account of this beauty and he corrupted
his own wisdom through pride. Instead
of boasting in ourselves, we are to boast in our relationship with God, a God
who acts with wisdom.
The
third warning is to recognize that God’s definition of wisdom is different from
the world’s definition. As we read
in 1 Corinthians, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this
age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God’s sight.”
With
all that being said, I realize that I have not mentioned the most important
source of wisdom. That is Jesus Christ.
When John the Baptist was commissioned to prepare the way for the
Messiah – he was to turn the disobedient towards wisdom. The prophecy foretold that
“the
Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge
and fear of the LORD – and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.”
From early childhood, Jesus amazed
people by his wisdom and insight.
As 1 Corinthians states “[he] has become for us wisdom from God—that is,
our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” He is the wisdom of God.
So,
we’ve learned that wisdom has many attractive benefits and that it is defined
by our heart and mind working together to use the knowledge and skills we’ve
gained to do justice, to act mercifully, and to walk humbly with our living
God. We’ve also seen that there
are many ways for us to gain wisdom.
And
now that we think we’ve have learned how to gain wisdom, I want to tell you
that none of this matters. In many ways this entire sermon has been
a complete waste of our time.
Because
we don’t have to have wisdom, or at least not in the way in which we have
spoken of it today. – all we really need is God’s grace.
Jesus really is it all!
Wisdom
is acknowledging Jesus Christ as savior of the world – the one who was
crucified and condemned, but who rose to life and calls us to unity and
faith. Jesus is it all! Christ crucified and resurrected – that is
wisdom!
“Worthy is the Lamb,
who was slain,
to receive
power
and wealth
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and praise!”
Amen.
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