Wisdom
We need wisdom!
Some of us are stuck or will get stuck because of a lack of wisdom in our lives.
The Story of Solomon:
2 Chronicles 1:6-13 (NASB)
6 Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”
8 Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” 13 So Solomon went]from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
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We gain these insights about wisdom
1. Wisdom's Value
●We need to value wisdom more than the world
●It is very easy to say, very hard to do since worldly desires are so prevalent
●Many of us value what the world says, but we don't value what God says
●Would we rather spend an hour scrolling through Facebook updates than spending 15 minutes seeking an update from God?
●We we rather have 500 twitter followers than help 1 person become a follower of Christ?
●Proverbs chapters 3,8,16 describe wisdom as more valuable than rubies, gold, and silver.
2. Wisdom's Source
●Wisdom comes from God
●People are just a conduit
●Gas doesn't magically appear in my gas tank, it came from a station that got it from a refinery, from a well, etc.
●Ice cream comes from milk which comes from a cow - are we getting wisdom from God? or is it repackaged?
●When you know the Source of wisdom, all you have to do is ask (James 1:5-6)
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2 Kings 11:9-11
9 Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.
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Why did this happen?
3. Wisdom's Definition
●True wisdom is APPLIED wisdom
●In the New Testament the word "wisdom" is "sophos," which means forming the best plans and using the best means for its execution (Ephesians 5:15)
●We grow up thinking that wisdom is only having the right answer
●Reading a lot of books doesn't make us wise
●Having great dating or marriage advice does not make us wise
●Getting an A in biology doesn't make us wise, it's hard, but it doesn't make us wise
Applying Godly wisdom to the frontline of your life makes you wise
I would rather make wise decisions than have wise words!
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What can I implement in my life today?
- Read proverbs
- Ask God for wisdom in the areas of your life in prayer time
- Take an inventory: can I walk in the wisdom that I already know?
Have you asked God for a different answer besides what he has already given?