Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Jackson advising his buddies on matters of romance.
Considered more knowledgable due to having already been in a relationship.
“I’m older and wiser.”
OOOOkay.
What was your advice to your friend?
“Girls are crazy, man.”
We can have fun with our teens about their “vast wisdom” but are we any better when it comes to seeking advice and counsel for important matters?
When we need to figure out a financial issue, when we can’t seem navigate a rocky time in a relationship or when job problems are upon us, who do we go to?
Not much different than the teenagers.
Close friends, people we think have skills, the internet, TV talk shows, etc.
Sadly, biblical counsel falls far down the list of trusted sources in our world.
Two quick ways to disaster are to take nobody’s advice and to take everybody’s advice.
Anonymous
What Are We Talking About?
First, a word about wisdom.
What is it?
We must not confuse it with knowledge.
Knowledge is information; wisdom is application.
Knowledge is comprehending facts; wisdom is handling life.
Knowledge is theoretical; wisdom is practical.
Roger Ellsworth
Wisdom is divine truth applied to life.
Thankfully, the Bible also has a lot to say about wisdom.
Time and time again, the biblical writers paint this beautiful image for us, that if we obtain wisdom, we will obtain growth.
Growth for our lives, our businesses, our families, our friendships - growth in every area.
We begin today by discussing a popular misconception people have about fear.
Is the Bible telling us we need to be scared of God?
The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom
The Bible provides us with a starting point.
If we want true wisdom in life, we must begin with the fear of the Lord.
Now, as I said a moment ago, the real question we need to answer is: does God want us to be afraid of Him?
This answer, in part, will be provided by allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.
This concept means that we cannot answer a question like this simply by reading one verse.
Instead, we must look at what the Bible says as a whole to find insight.
Biblical Fear =
faith (no reason to “fear” something we don’t believe in.)
Reverence, awe, profound respect
Loyalty, love
Earliest choice on direction: Adam and Eve in the Garden.
Serpent described as “crafty (Heb.
arum).
Common wisdom word.
Fruit of the tree associated with knowledge.
Adam and Eve thought it would make them wise.
The wrong “person” to listen to!
Should have continued to fear the Lord and all would be well.
The wise person who fears God recognizes that the universe is not slavishly subject to moral rules that yield predictable results, but instead is ultimately in the hands of a loving, just, and purposeful God.
Fear leads us to: knowledge.
The Fear of the Lord Is the Foundation of Knowledge
But this fear of the Lord does not just bring us to a point of increasing in wisdom.
It also lays a foundation of true knowledge.
11973 Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.
To know is not to be wise.
Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it.
To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.
Charles Spurgeon
Foolishness, folly, “fads” in the Message paraphrase.
Heb.
root for trash is “to congeal, thicken, become stupid.”
Fools fill themselves will congealed trash.
By contrast, wisdom seekers who constantly seek God, will fill themselves with Godly teaching.
The Fear of the Lord Will Produce Good Judgment
Today, you may still be wanting some more personal application.
We have talked about the fact that obedience to God is often a result of gaining true knowledge and wisdom.
But what about the day to day work you do?
What other results can the “fear of the Lord” produce?
The Bible says that true knowledge can produce better judgment all around.
When we know God intimately, we can find it easier, at times, to decide certain things.
Let’s take this from a business context.
You are sitting in a meeting with fellow employees when your superior asks you to do “whatever it takes” to close the sale.
Those around you at the table begin thinking of under the table or behind the scenes ways to get the job done, all of which seem to be unethical and contrary to what you feel God would desire.
So, you decide to take a different approach, even though it may end up being more time consuming.
This is one example of many that shows us that if we are willing to begin where God says it is best to begin, our judgment on daily matters will be overall better.
We will be able to point out the sinful temptations that will try to draw us in, something Proverbs talks a lot about.
We will be able to surround ourselves with the right people, those who will both encourage and challenge us, holding us accountable in the process.
Please hear me when I say this: there is not going to be a negative shift in your life when you lay foundations of wisdom and knowledge, when you desire to grow in these things.
The results will lead to your ultimate good and more importantly, the glory of God.
Conclusion
As we wrap up today, maybe you’ve been given some things to think about.
Maybe you need to readdress which foundation you are building your life on.
Or maybe, this whole concept of the “fear of the Lord” is a new reality for you.
Maybe you’ve always associated fear as something bad.
My hope is that you have gained some insight regarding what it really means to “fear” the Lord.
Let this message not push you further from God, but rather let it draw you in close so that you may learn more about His love, grace, mercy, and strength, gaining wisdom and knowledge in the process.
Invite and ask God to help develop the same in you.
Spend time considering just how powerful, gracious and amazing God really is.
Let’s pray together.
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