Sermon Tone Analysis

Wisdom’s Worth

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Welcome

We are rested (Fall Back) and we are caffeinated (Brewed Awakening).

I think this Sunday morning, we are primed for a breakout!

Excellent Youth Rally Friday night!

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{TITLE: WISDOM’S WORTH}

Humility Is Required To Obtain Wisdom

I wonder if we could have a show-of-hands in the room: Has anyone in here ever met a know-it-all?

Some of you are like, “Yep - he’s already moving in the Spirit, first thing this morning!”

Or maybe there’s someone here today who is like, “Yes, actually, I happen to know all things.

I am consistently correct.

I am the best there was, is, and ever will be...” It’s kind of like that song that says, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way...”

And, you know, sometimes we think of other people as a know-it-all, but then, sometimes we are talking about a topic that we have a lot of knowledge in… we’re really going on about it… and other people start thinking… “I bet they feel I’m lucky to be breathing the same air as they are.”

We got so cracked up at mom at the dinner table the other day… My own mother called me a “coffee nerd!” Probably had good reason…

Knowledge doesn’t always equal wisdom!

As a matter of fact, there’s a man by the name of Brian O’Driscoll (a famous rugby player), who is known for having said:

“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”

Brian O’Driscoll

You know, we need to acknowledge that we do not know it all.

For that reason, I’m going to say that a couple of times.

We do not know it all.

And we need the humility to seek wisdom.

We’re starting a series of Sunday Morning lessons today called “Choosing Wisdom”.

We have to humble ourselves like King Solomon.

In 1 Kings 3, when God promised to give him whatever it was he asked, this young King Solomon didn’t ask for honor, riches, or long life.

He asked in stead, for wisdom.

There may have been others who would’ve treated God like a genie in a bottle who appeared only to grant them all their wishes.

But Solomon knew better than to waste this opportunity on gifts and gold, when he was speaking with the SOURCE of WISDOM!

And so, he sat aside all of his power and human desire for things, and embraced humility in saying, “I don’t have the wisdom I need to lead these people like God wants me to.

I need to receive godly wisdom to do this.”

Now, we know that Solomon didn’t always follow in wise ways.

He reached the top peak of royalty and was well-known for his understanding.

But at some point, wisdom was just theory if it wasn’t being applied right.

But he sought to become better, much like David.

And he collected proverbs from around the world that we can use today to increase in our own wisdom.

And then there are some that are true, yet comical.

Let me pause here and say, to understand and learn from the book of Proverbs, the only way to do it is to take it slow and think on a verse at a time.

So, to make the most sense of these, I put them in my own words:

Proverbs 23:9 - “Don’t talk to idiots.

They’ll hate you because you sound smart”

Proverbs 4:7 - “Here’s where wisdom starts: get some of it.”

Proverbs 14:4 - “If you don’t have oxen, at least your barn is clean.”

Proverbs 17:28 - “Even a fool looks smart when his mouth is shut.

If he doesn’t say anything, he could actually look intelligent.”

Proverbs 20:14 - “‘What a terrible deal!’ people say when they’re negotiating to buy something.

Then they go home and brag about what a great deal they got.”

Looking to God Instead of Ourselves

Proverbs 3 in particular contains some of the most quoted verses on pursuing God (who IS the source of all wisdom).

Basically, these verses are calling us to get beyond our human nature, which is to trust in ourselves.

We like to be independent and “take the bull by the horns”, not need any help, and “get the job done.”

And God has given us some ability.

He gave us logic.

Common sense (some of us!).

And we can and should use the ability He’s given us…

…but also, we need the humility to avoid leaning on our own understanding.

There’s a lot of Christians - a lot of Apostolics - who are bound by leaning to their own understanding.

Proverbs 3:7, another good one, warns us not to be wise in our own eyes.

Here’s a thought: our perspective might not always be the correct one.

And even if we think we are right, we should humble ourselves and seek the Lord.

The ones who really are wise will double-check!

It’s like carpenters will say (and my men here will know what I’m talking about): “Measure twice; cut once.”

We have to have the humility to pray for a God’s eye view of our situation.

…

Something else about seeking the wisdom of God - it leads to great rewards.

I mentioned this scripture last week, but it’s so important to get it into our spirit:

Look at how blessed King Solomon was for desiring wisdom.

We have health when we humble ourselves and follow the will and the wisdom of God.

God increases us, giving us all we need and more.

The fish tank exercise from “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Conference.

When you started on this journey with God into His truth and to live a truly Apostolic life, you found that He started blessing all parts of your life.

But here’s the deal about that (spiritual maturity moment, right here!)… if we are willing to receive all those blessings, we must also be willing to receive correction from the Lord.

It’s one thing to humble ourselves to be wise, but it’s another to accept thee Lord’s correction and admit when we’ve done wrong.

And all of that is hard.

It’s not easy.

But you know what?

It takes discipline to be a disciple!

I Will Embrace Humility

Our society makes humility hard to embrace.

I’m talking about a me-first, individualistic world that we’re a part of.

A selfie world makes discipline hard.

People are discussing which pronouns they prefer based on a demand for transgender rights as well as confusion about gender.

But, if many people were honest, they would discover that humanity’s preferred pronouns have nothing to do with gender.

And it has everything to do with pride.

What people should do is declare that their pronouns are “me, myself, and I” to admit the selfish and self-centered view we all often have.

There’s nothing wrong with self-care or pursuing godly goals.

But we have to humble ourselves to become better the right way.

We would all do well to remember 1 Peter 5:6…

I like that “due time” right there.

Because humility will help us recognize that God’s timing and our own timing may often differ.

That humility keeps us faithful.

Wisdom’s Reward

So yes, there definitely is great reward to adopting the wisdom of God.

But, we also need to understand that wisdom is its own reward.

If we go down the road of godly wisdom, we’ll have a greater chance of leading happier, healthier lives.

And that’s by-products of wisdom.

Some of the most spiritually mature people I know also happen to be wise in the business world.

Wise in their dealings or managing their stuff.

It’s a by-product.