Seek Wisdom
Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted
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In 1988 a man named Forrest Fenn was diagnosed with caner and was told that he was most likely not going to have much longer to live. But he was able to recover from it in 2010. This made him thankful for the life he had lived and gave him an idea. He had made a fortune selling antiquities and art decided to take some of the artifacts he had collected, including gold, rare coins, jewelry, and gems, in a treasure chest from 1100 AD and hide it in the Rocky Mountains. He then wrote a book called “The Thrill of the Chase” where he outlines important moments in his life that made him who he is and talks about pursuing passions in life. The book contains a poem that contains nine clues that reveal the location of the treasure. Many people have searched for the treasure over the years. He hid it in 2010 and people for 10 years searched for the treasure. In fact, at least 5 people have died looking for the treasure. People have scoured for clues and sought to find this missing treasure. People have done thinks like rappel over Yellowstone and dig massive holes at state parks.One man sued him claiming that he had defrauded and deceived people with his clues.
In this passage the son calls the son not just to listen to wisdom, but to seek it out. To search vigorously for it because it is valuable and will be worth it throughout his life.
The father has warned the son to listen to his teaching and not to listen those who seek to bring him instant satisfaction. Now the father calls him to seek wisdom over to major temptations. Violence and crime (power and money), and sexual temptation.
“IF” You Accept
“IF” You Accept
The Father tells the Son that IF he accepts. What he is showing His son is that He has a decision to make. A decision between life and death. A decision to choose knowledge or choose pleasure.
The Father says “if you accept my words” and “if you call out to insight”, “if you seek it like silver” THEN “you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God, “then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity - every good path.”
The two ways that the son is called to listen to his father’s words are by “accepting as valid” what He says and “seek out wisdom.”
How does the son accept?
Agree that it is true
To accept is to recognize that it is valuable to you
Commit to memory
“Store up my commands within you”
Pay attention
“direct your heart to understanding”
How does the son seek out wisdom? In the first chapter the father was telling the son to listen to his wisdom, now the father is telling him that he must also search it out. He must explore teachings in order for it to take hold in his heart and mind.
Don’t just ask, plead for it
“Call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding
Find people who are wise and ask them to pass some on. Never stop asking.
Look for it wherever you can find it
“Seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure
Don’t think because you found a little wisdom that it is good enough. If you found a piece of gold you wouldn’t just say “that’s cool, glad I found it!” You would keep searching in this area to see if you could find any more.
“THEN” you will find life
“THEN” you will find life
The Father calls the Son to wisdom because wisdom will guard the Son, it will protect Him and rescue Him from evil. But evil will not protect.
The point that the father makes is that if the son is willing to accept wisdom then God save his life. That God cares for His people and He will bring success and shield those who trust in Him.
Wisdom leads to...
Discernment between right and wrong
“What is right and just and fair”
These words describe being a person of integrity. Someone who deals wisely and and fairly with others.
Delight in life without regret
“Knowledge will delight you”
Make no mistake, doing the wrong thing can be enjoyable. But the regret that comes after it brings us sorrow, depression, anxiety.
There is no regret in doing the right thing
What are we rescued from?
What are we rescued from?
We won’t spent a lot of time on these two people that the father wants to rescue the son from because we will talk about these more as we look deeper into Proverbs but what specifically is he seeking to rescue the son from?
The evil doer
Speaks twisted words
Justifies his actions by distorting his values and persuading others his way of life is right
Saying things like “this is my truth”. Behind this phrase is a statement that what you personally believe, whether about yourself or the world around you, is a reality that someone else cannot refute.
This is illogical because without common ground there is no way for someone to refute what you believe even with common sense. Because people use this in order to justify terrible actions. They will get angry at someone, or make up something false about another person, they will make terrible decisions. Then say “this is my truth”. But just because you insist that something is true does not make it true. Perception and reality don’t always line up.
When you are a kid, “your truth” is that the tooth fairy puts a dollar under your bed or that Santa brings you presents. But neither of those are “the truth”.
When we make it about “our truth” then no one can tell us differently, it is not “the Gospel” it is “our Gospel” it is using God’s Word to justify our behavior.
Sometimes people say “Just live the life you want, everyone else is haters”, “you do you” “only God can judge”
These statements are saying that if you don’t agree with my lifestyle then you hate me.
To say only God can judge is saying that since no one is perfect therefore no one can tell you that you are wrong.
Here is one I have heard recently “you know, just securing that bag” or “making money moves”
another one of my favorites “I’m just built different”
This man leads to moral corruption, to finding joy in evil ways rather than good ways.
The forbidden woman
Meanwhile the father shows how the son will get caught up in the forbidden ways of the woman. The son walks into darkness, he hides away from the eyes of those who would tell him to walk differently.
Where she leads no one returns because on her path only comes destruction, the ruining of families, shame and guilt.