Wisdom for Work & Finances

I run. My name is Benji. If you don't know me and tonight about ratings going to come from Proverbs Chapter. So that's page number 635 in the Pew Bibles.

I was going to read the first 11 verses.

Does not wisdom call out. Does not understanding raise her voice. Have the highest point along the way where the pause made she takes a stand.

Beside the gate leading into the city at the entrance she cries aloud to uopeople I call out. I raised my voice to all mankind. Yoo-hoo a simple gain Prudence you have foolish that you're hot on it. Listen to I have trustworthy things to say. I open my lips to speak. What is right my math speaks. What is true for my lips to test wickedness? All the words of my mouth adjust. None of them is crooked or perverse. To the Discerning all of them arrived. They are brought to those who have found knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver knowledge. Rosin Choice code for wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with him. And I would like to pray for me cuz he comes up.

Andy Lord, I just pray for Nick as he speaks to us tonight. I pray that you teach us your wisdom at work and finances and pray that it went just become knowledge that is stored up in our heads because if it's only knowledge than that just pops up but I pray that it will actually take us to love others while and we know that wisdom isn't just knowledge, but it actually teaches us how to live. So I pray that we were saving all of the Bible say will be at Implement that into a lost real pal. I'm in

A good evening everyone. Thanks for dropping into North and was so far. So good until the year. We've looking like less restrictions this weekend. I had an email from some of the UK who used to work with and was a posture over there and was talking about they looking, you know, if tomato head back as churches, that's how serious the pandemic he's over in the UK and I took a breath and thought thank you Lord, and I say lucky in so many ways to be where we are just a couple of pretenses here before I start off Preamble when you preach on topics like these maybe there's a possibility that people out here in the Kardashian think that I know a lot of things in terms of size financier work or not, but I'm I'm here is Balloon is and you still have a role to studying and researching bring some some teaching to us together to learn but I wouldn't want you two to think that that's am I fertile this damn patent. I worked at everything there is to know about finance and work and planning know that I'm unloading to and to not I've learned some things this weekend been refreshed is all I've prepared for the other thing. I'll say he's that

Proverbs, it doesn't say everything either Tristen Hoge had work in financing and planning. It says some very important things from principles. But that's often the case with the Bible that the date aisle is what you work out. Once you grasp the Bigga pillows and the Bigga Foundation stones of of the truths and and the themes of the Bible then you can work out the smaller stuff. So for instance, the Bible doesn't tell us when a couple get married if they get married should they have one joint account or should they have accounts in different times that something that couples have to work through personally, since you asked we can have one account a joint account and we both know what's going in in that and it weigh 1 in in garden and that's how we've understood that but there's no specific teaching a bat. How do we manage bank account but their principles and and themes are in those those bigger areas that we can then apply as we understand what we believe God wants. So let's recap from last week just quickly what is wisdom if you want around last week, we're looking and trying to learn fresh some wisdom for the start of the Year. Trying to be trained a fresh to get some wisdom muscles moving and just before I do go until I will say thank you to Jody and marrying. It was such an insightful and a helpful session are in an ime fellating that to tahia and very hot and Incas. Well kind of hot ending. It was a bit of a book anything with Marion's at the end of her vocational work and enjoy the beginning and I just hearing and what what God has done in their lives and he's doing was was very encouraging and I will just secondly say to its rated, but thank you. Everyone who's involved in have Christmas services online and I were really wonderful. If you didn't say that you miss that but that would really appreciate those who put a lot of work into those services and they still out there on our YouTube channel with you want to do a belated Christmas and also detail people last week because you forgot masks on in Tim's of interaction. He you need to use your eyebrows more if if you commented on one side and just lift your eyebrows a bit cuz I can't see if you're smiling or whatnot. So I said an acronym Ika wisdom is appropriate applying knowledge appropriately. So it's not just having knowledge and information we will get lots of that right but it's knowing how to apply at and I love tremper Longman. Dr. Tremper Longman the third and he's overview of wisdom from The Book of Proverbs in the Bible is wisdom is the skill of living. It's a practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and how to speak in different situations wisdom entitles the ability to avoid problems. That's why is that a problem in the first place? But if you do the skill to handle them when they present themselves, so we stood me is an art of living and it's Gameboy experience observation by knowing god and ultimately the source of wisdom is God. It's pretty simple the source of wisdom. The beginning of of a wild life is to relight properly to the Creator to be submitted and surrendered to your creator to know God to the reverence go to the Bible uses the word for you actually care what God cares about K what God thinks about what God says. That's the beginning of wisdom. If you are someone who is on that You already continue that to Waze path to someone who's searching and then asking questions about who God is and what it means I'm leaning and listen because this could be the start of Lies a lot. Lord Smackdown open at 6

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What's the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding. So that's where we stand begins. Not just a summary on Proverbs are on welfare. This is a tramp along then again. I like his work. He's a good commentator. He he said six things about this will be a lot of stuff here to no more expecting you to remember more than 10% of it like that. But I want you to listen, please listen for perhaps something that will prompt you expect God not because I'm speaking because goat Spirits here in this is his word expect God to prompt you enter to Najee on something tonight. We got that's me. I need to hear that and I need to respond to that. I need to grow in wisdom in that area. I think that'll happen. I believe that will happen to a tramp along with his God blesses. The righteous with will fish is a summary of Proverbs who is behavior leads to Poverty. The wealth of fools will not last poverty is the result of Injustice and oppression those with money must be generous wisdom is better than wealth and wealth has limited value now that that's a great summary and and I'm not trying to improve it in any way but I've spent some time in Providence this week looking through all these themes and I've got my own sticks and some of them cross over but there's a couple of new ones they for you. I'm true wealth is not Material. the wise treat the pool well The wise in Bryce or Brice's hard work the wise plan and a disciplined the wise Master their desires and we'll look at that in the moment. It's a small of Fame in Proverbs that I really important one the wise off content. the wise eye content Now let's look into those cheeks. Okay, I want spend a long time since I get to skate. How many points is normally three guy true wealth is not Material blessed are those who find wisdom those who gain understanding for she is more profitable than silver. We must say more profitable than a share portfolio and yields better returns than gold better than a high-paying job. She's more precious than rubies and rubies are really precious. Nothing you desire to wisdom can compare with her and wisdom is personified. Here is our as a woman in Proverbs long life is in her right hand and in her left hand are riches and honor the Paradox here in Proverbs. We're on the one hand. You notice she well. So well, Mike wealth you'll go on it money is way warned about the Love of Money in the Bible on the other hand write leaving and why is leaving General? Most stable financial position for a person you're not wasting your money on foolish things in snow squandering money for not making silly decisions around Financial the time you're going to look after you decide if you're going to actually grow up Shield material by by wise and right leaving but it's not like a Prosperity Gospel thing. If you do these things, you know, if you acne God will bless you. It's not so much of that because you can work hard you can do the right thing. You can be wise you can love God and be Godly and have very little that people like that in the world have given over the years have given their life to serving the lord and I financially that have my chill, but they content and is satisfied nonetheless. So let's not look a little bit more into this true wealth is not material. This is 1/4 of a better a little with the fear of the Lord that the reverence the respect of God, then great wealth with tomorrow and I thought about this program and thought of that culture often. There's an automatic assumption that if you get a job offer and you got a couple job offers that the one that pays the most is automatically the one that you choose not to talk to someone this morning and in morning church about that and and as a follower of Jesus, perhaps this this probably Sprint still teaches us that we don't just judge what soda work who do or what options we have based on how much money is going to be know that it's you know necessarily wrong to get a rice and I'm take a job that's better than the one you've got financially speaking. But what about considering? What is his men for my relationships in my family? What is this mean for serving Christ in his ministry in his mission? Like I might be running a lot more money here but a lot more. Time so they probably better a little better to have a bit less and have right relationship with God and others than to have tapes of money and lots of problems into a more cuz you disconnect from God and I'm saying this over the years and I've talked to people who said things like you. I just want to work really hard for 5 or 10 years and a lot of money and then I can be really valuable to God then I can save him and I'll have freedom and I will always kind of response. I look that I can't we coming from but if you're not doing that now, this is Jordan said if you're not being generous when you have a little if you're not using you time now watch me to serve God don't think that once you've got lots of money and heaps of time you do that. It doesn't normally work that way as far as I can tell and Jesus look at what he says don't store up for yourselves Treasures on Earth where moth and Vermin destroy and with thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven where moth and women do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there. Your heart will be also so what do you value? What do you aim your heart at in this life isn't the Eternal blessings the the pleasures that will have with God in the Kingdom the Longing To Serve Christ on Earth and still opportunity blessings, or is it just living for the moment living for yourself and and storing up lots on it. Now. I've been at the deathbed of a number of people when they died. I don't have definitive scientific evidence on this site. Don't use it in the journal in Port me or a college, but I've never heard anyone. On their deathbed wish I wish I had more money. I never heard it. Maybe there's someone sometime I said that I've never heard of it. I've never heard of anyone else hearing it and I'll need it for the taking their last breaths and I got you know, what I could have denied people. Do I say that because at that point in your life money doesn't matter at all and the Book of Proverbs is teaching us to get perspective is Mary and severely own money and Jesus. The true wealth is not Material. Secondly the wise treat the poor. Well, this is a really big theme in Proverbs and in the whole Bible actually, which is quite profound and its culture its diet. I to be elevating the poor not like it does it was it was Radical and it still is in many ways and it's also a political whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for them Micah. But whoever is kind to the needy on his gun at this there's the the beautiful truth in the Bible that everyone's made in God's image. This is not some random universal truth. It just dropped out of the sky. This is biblical Revelation that every person is made in the image of God to the pool to reach Kings whoever going. This is beautiful. So we need to treat everyone with that dignity and respect whoever is calling to the poor actually lends to God lends to the Lord has that and he will reward them for what I have done. Whoever shot today is to The Cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Chiffon praying and seeking God for my life and I have no care for those who are underprivileged still lacking if I have no patent of giving those supporting their many wise to do it. Go this time. I'm not going to listen to you. If that's the way you want to leave, I'm not going to listen to you not to promise. The generous will themselves be blessed. Jesus say the book of Acts is more blessed to give than receive full that share their food with the poor to this is really important. I would encourage every follower of Jesus to be at some point giving into a reputable charity or through other means to support those who I in the let's face it most of us here. We're probably in the top 10% of wealthy people in the world may be at least the top 20% if your student so there's a lot of people behind us. Even if we're not think we have much money here in Australia who who really doing it tough in the world and go to somebody to care about that and I want you to be regularly doing that and it's a it's a wonderful thing to do and and that's part of that Treasures in Heaven Imagine One Day in heaven meeting people who like because of your generosity we never met, but you know you blessed me. Thank you. So the wise treat the pool well. The wise Inn Brice Hard work. I love these problem. He I went past the field of a sluggard. Where use that term Dewey but we might sell went pasta. I went past the shop of a slacker or the field of a slacker and I went past the video out of someone who has no sin and Fallen to come up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds and the Stonewall was in Ruins and I applied my heart to what I observed and he's one of the principles of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs apply your heart to observe ask some questions of things in life. I thought about it. I want it and this is what I learned. A little sleep a little Slumber a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come upon you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. This is probably the last week this gave me when I first became a Christian everytime. I had a nap. I feel that's it. I'm going to lose all my money and I bet it's not saying that it's saying a patent a repeated pattern of laziness and indifference and willingness to work. It will lead to ruin it will lead to Poverty. It will lead to a life of lacking fulfillment and I want to get into Jordan Peterson too much but he wrote this book if you know, Jordan Peterson killed the 12 rules for life and one of these rules was clean your room and the principal of that rule was basically what this probaby sang. You want to change the world. You see the Injustice in the world and still problems Elie Wiesel through something, you know, I need to like that on Facebook or whatever. It might be you you want to act and change the world and and his point is great. But once you start with Harding up your room, why don't you get your own life some order some organization some planning like this like it here and take the weeds out here, you know, the place is a mess. Stop it. Stop managing and leading yourself. And then move out from there and then you have some skills in some capacity cuz the 1st last thing I think we learn has had a late ourselves. So the wise and Brice Hard work they some Proverbs lazy hands make for poverty but diligent hands bring wealth all hard work brings a profit but mere talk leads only to poverty and I should say to sometimes you hear that in the west. It's kind of like well, you know, if you work hard you will be a success you make it look at this work hard. That's good in Brice Hard work, that's fine. But don't think that hard work and I automatically leads to phone at to Independence because if that were true, they would be hundreds of millions of people in Africa and India and around the world who would be really wealthy because I work really hot 12 15 hours a day in a field and plowing and what not and then a wealthy in that kind of Western sense, but their hard work provides for the needs their hard work gives them dignity. I'm sorry for so you working harder. The principal isn't just go get wealthy that's not what province is saying, but it is saying things like this one the one who those who work their land will have abundant food you have enough but those who chase fantasies have no sense. So, you know, it's like a dream to have visions and that maybe take a risk and step out there but has to be measured it has to have some sense in reality and start where you are start with what you've got used what little you have and build from there to stop working with what you've got this one. He's scary one who is slack in a work is brother or sister, lets people. I'm to one who destroys So you think of that when you was flat and you'll work when you do a poor job that your brother or sister to one who destroys the who in the Bible is the one who destroys the universe a man. I'm looking at you give me something to come on people who is the one that the thief comes to kill steal and destroy. Used of the evil one. So when we imagine that you can glorify God you can on a goddess by doing a good job you working a shift at Subway Orlando is where it is running a little firm. I'm starting your own jewelry business Whatever It Is by by working harder and and doing a good job, you know, you can glorify God and you can bring God glory to working with your heart and doing a good job this like it said there's a line from the road in the road. Lawn roaming the streets that looks like it's always making excuses procrastinating and you know, I was struggling a lot with procrastination over these. Thankfully I join procrastination enormous could decide when to mate but it was it was helpful. Anyway that this is like it is making excuses procrastinating all you know, the alarm goes off at 7. I can't be bothered getting. I was just press the snooze button and sleeping to 10 how it's cold out so I don't not going to do anything tonight. Looks like it is always making excuses and procrastinate but the wise and Bryce Hardware, neurotic kind of crazy why it's like a rest so I kind of have self care for your life. But nonetheless I'm hard work is is wise when done on the god the wise plan and a disciplined this again can come Personality not bringing just your preference some people. I'm very much. All right mind chaos last minute. I don't mind I get bored easy. So I don't like having a plan. I love that that's kind of creativity and Chaos of the moment. Sometimes you might have noticed but it's been something I've had to work harder at to work some systems into my life to to to plan to be disciplined to be organized specially when you're leading others in a community and you've got many responsibilities or obligations. And so you could find your own way to do this, but there's no wise life without planning and without discipline and proverb says whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shine. Whoever hates correction. Whoever wants to learn is honored the plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as high school. Hurry leads to Poverty. So being measured planning thinking I mean sometimes Play folk, but do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before Kings. I will not say it before officials of my rank. So again, and I just wherever you working whatever you're doing is a follower of Jesus do it. Well, you know it maybe it's not lucky Korea Parthia. I'm in Hospitality now and I want to become a brain surgeon. That's okay. But while you're in the hospitality, I do a good job. If you have a brain surgeon do a good job when you learn your craft be skilled at it and do the best you can put your outdoor work in order and get your Fields ready after that build your house. It's a complicated one that one I take it to Maine.

Get some foundations in your life. I work hard. I think particularly people in their 20s, perhaps they can be a tendency to Coast through your twenties a bit. They say a word in the book of Lamentations that I used to read and hold onto in my twenties and it was it's good for a young man or a young person to pay the yolk while they are young and that sensitive don't be afraid of working hard putting that are for like ever wants to party have a good time. Just take it easy. That's her. I pick your twenties go through pretty fast, but put some foundations in you know, I finished degrees get get you work happening and then later on you can do with your house cuz you've got some foundations there. The wise up the wise plan and a disciplined. I kind number 5 the wise Master their desires this needs to be said around 8, but let's just hope we have some conversations and think about this during the week the wise Master. They desire to control desires Alors On Master desires are probably the are responsible for most of the time in the world from a human perspective. And I think of addiction uncontrolled is our data control to destroy the person and destroy those around them. So the wise learn to master that decides you know with with God's help and Grace we we learn to be aware of of desire and not ignore or not. My cat. We aren't people of Desire but to manage Well said whoever loves pleasure will become poor whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. Now I said this morning, I love olive oil. I have four bottles of olive oil by my stove. I have one which is blood orange scented olive oil, which I use for some quick easy salad dressing. I have a second one, which is just a generic extra virgin olive oil for everyday cooking. I have a third bottle which is organic cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, which is only useful for cold things are putting on some olives awesome charts feta cheese with bit of Oregon on black pepper. And then I have a fourth bottle which I just picked up before Christmas at the market just because I thought I need more olive oil and it was a local Vineyard in Victoria, and I thought this is bright. So I love olive oil and But the problem is I'm going to become pull right I'm going to lose everything now. That's what problems we need to understand. The principal said that the point here is an inordinate love of pleasure will lead to a disorder life into poverty. If you can't limit yourself, if you can't delay gratification, then you're going to strip yourself up and and ended up in trouble. I think of it when I was a child and I love crunchy bars that I just that was so delicious and my mom was so cruel because she wouldn't let me eat whenever he died only special occasions. Could you have a crunchy bounce like this is so mean it's awful when I grow up when I own my own money. I'm going to buy a crunchy by everyday. I want even bought two or three. I'm going to eat them everyday. That was as I think is a child. I only ate them every second. I know I didn't make them grow up and you realize what that would have been a bad desire to follow. It was a childish desire and if you follow that through you didn't know. Going I guess eventually I'm heading to be crunchy for Hotspot as we grow as we mature. We we need to two Master at his eyes with God's grace and help do not join those who drink too much 100 go to themselves on me until I go there you can apparently for drunkards and gluttons become poor and drowsiness closing in rags. So I guess you're mighty Woodside baby courses about the party lost Isle this isn't saying it's not okay to enjoy your life to enjoy the gifts of God to receive them with Thanksgiving don't sign that it's just be careful because there's always have a wife getting out of control and before you know, it let's face it at world is wrapped with many people who I just overwhelmed because they desire has erratic control inside many wise better the poor who's walk is blameless then the reach Who's wise up Aversa better to be poor and have little and to be walking rolly with God than to have lots and be living a crazy for this lifestyle the wise Master their desires and finally the wise are content contentment the lovely word contentment being at peace. Rest being secure in who you are and whose you are and what you have been content you think of some of the Commandments in the Bible don't have it what other people have you not be content who you are with what you have. I love this run of the end of Proverbs Chapter 30 the second last chapter. There's a prayer. And it's a beautiful pray. You might look this up this week and pray this everyday it's a beautiful prayer and he says God keep. Food and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Have you heard that before?

Give me only my daily bread James 10 points for you one free crunchy by after the service. Come on, the sorry James you can give it to someone else. So be generous. Come on. The Lord's Prayer give us this day. I see Jesus our daily bread. Give give us enough for today. Otherwise, he says I might have too much forget to wealthy. I'm not get cocky and arrogant. I might discern you God and say who is the Lord God. Let me have too much Lorde on the other hand. If I become poor and steal and Soda song that I might go that's not good either sir, Lord. Help me be content to give me just enough. I don't want to have hapes. I don't have to to little but help me Lord have what I need and use all got a few though, if you want to go half late, but I think of matter do I wait we've seen this in a large is pin X when put hot or we going to get through here. I'm just financially and I'm just saying God provide for us and and come through for us in in really beautiful ways and and to have enough And until maybe don't have as much as I wanted or not bear to do everything I wanted to do necessarily but what we need to do. I've Just Seen God's faithfulness in that. I've been many years the wise a content and the Apostle Paul. What's it like this? I'm not saying this because I am need for I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances I know what it is to be need to have little I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation with a well-fed or hungry where the living in 20 or and won't he is the secret no secret anymore. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength No matter where I am in life what I'm facing what challenges I have what situations I'm confronted with. My contentment says pull comes from the fact that I know that God will give me strength. God will be faithful. He will give me what I need and I can trust my life to him. I couldn't trust my life to him. He will give me the strength to do what I need to do to be who I need to be and that's contentment. And if I have lots I'll thank God for and I'll be generous if I have a little in our struggle and I'm really doing it tough. I'll trust God and I want to spare but I won't be pushed around by Paul video by riches my strength and my identity comes from knowing going to need that back to proverbs. Where the whole basis of wisdom is the fear of the Lord the trust of God the respect and reverence for God that if that's the center no matter what you face no matter what we advise we don't have to be afraid or anxious. So he's at little summary on wealth on a bit of work a little bit of planning true wealth is not Material the really important things in life aren't things. the wise treat the pool well I care about others that care about the needs of others the wise and Brice Hard Work Not Afraid to work hard until to really put themselves into in into God's work in in Passionate wise as well the wise plan and a disciplined the wise master that desires. Rubottom the wise I can paint. Does that sound like a beautiful life I want that silly not there yet. I'm on the way but I want that too. So just to wrap up. What does that mean a few things and I said Somebody's last week be encouraged not condemned these probably not to condemn myself feel like if your room's really messy right now and you'd be really embarrassed if someone came into your office or whatnot. I saw like, yeah, you're an evil person if it's just be encouraged United to practice those disciplines to to get some order into your life. God wants to help us grow in these areas. He's not trying to trick out. So what's your boss shop be reminded that every in every word. We say every thought and every deed every relationship. There were two pods to choices to make we can make wise choices when we can make foolish choices. That's a good use of a fight is it when we do make foolish choices, and we do sometimes it's not like you're disqualified You Rather game? That we we come back to God and we learn we say Lord, you know, I've got that wrong. I made a mistake and I help me help me help me get that right next time. I read Proverbs. This will be the next few weeks. Just keep reading them. Keep soaking them in. I mean actually do that. Just think about it take note of things in Proverbs that stand out to you pry into your life Lord help me treat the pool. Well, I don't even know how I can help will show me how I can help those who are struggling. How can really help them pray for wisdom ask God daily to give you the ability to apply knowledge appropriately and to leave skillfully. Let's pray together. It's that time comes up. And if you do have questions, feel free to contact me. I'll put those notes on the Facebook group tonight. If you want to follow up on some of those but let's pray together Lord. We thank you for these words. We thank you that you care about that lives. You care about the details of Our Lives. Thank you. That living is a skill and it's something that we growing and learning. Thank you that being discipline means literally being a disciple one who learns and who he is and sees and observes from Jesus and puts it into practice. Thank you that Jesus is is the wise one we follow thank you for the grace in this to God that none of us are there yet. None of us have life. What happened? Mike wise decisions and speak wise words and think wise thoughts all the time so loud. Thank you that in that this grace. That your molding Us in shaping us, but Lord I pray for each one of us you to not that will type something away when we can apply it to our lives and we can say that's something I can work on that something that I want to go to help me with the end an area. I want to grow in with with finance and work and planning. So Lord help us up before I what we have heard. What will learning and buy your Holy Spirit continue to shape Our Lives to be wise to speak wisely to leave wisely. We pray in the name of Jesus because there's much need and much foolishness in the world when we pray that we can be agents of healing and hope and wisdom to those in their lives. And those we met HD. Thank you Jesus. I'm in a next week. We're going to look at some wisdom for friendships and relationships and family and what that looks like and what that might mean for us in and that will be thank you.