GOT WISDOM Part I - Why You Need Wisdom

GOT WISDOM

Part I

Why You Need Wisdom

Intro:

For age’s people, philosophers, religious leaders and academicians have wrestled with this question. The great lecturer and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson says

“A wise person knows there is something to be learned from everyone.”  While this is a true statement I am not sure it embodies all that wisdom is.

The ancient Greek Philosopher and Scientist Aristotle affirmed that

“The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure but to avoid pain “Good thoughts on wisdom but something still seems lacking. 

Saint Augustine the great theologian and bishop of Hippo surmises that “wisdom is reading every page of the book of life and traveling far and wid.”  This is very poetic but how exactly do I read every page of the “book of life”?

I have heard definitions for wisdom ranging from:

“Wisdom is about what we know and don’t know” to “The Wise are those who have the courage to become vulnerable”.

I ask again. What is wisdom? Is it something the slow walking bearded Monk who emerges from a cave after a vow of silence possesses?

Could the millennial with holes in her jeans and dread locks possess wisdom?  Is it simply ancient or is it modern? Does Hollywood model it for us in movies?

Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about wisdom:

“Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence”.

Merriam Webster says Wisdom is:

1. Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships

2. A wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3. The teachings of the ancient wise men

Does all of this have you scratching your head?  I have scratched mine a time or two. To simplify things I am going to give you my definition of wisdom.

Wisdom is discerning the practical knowledge required to give you optimal results in any given situation.

That’s it. It’s that simple as far as I am concerned. It makes sense for wisdom to be practical. It doesn’t make sense as a purely theoretical concept. Wisdom must produce finite results. It can’t exist just to make people gawk at profound statements. It must be more than a tweetable phrase that goes viral. Wisdom must do something. It should build things. It ought to solve problems. It has to establish new norms. When I discern the practical knowledge that gives me the best results I have embraced wisdom.

I. HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO WISDOM 

1.      Don’t forsake it

Prov. 4:6

Do not forsake her…

(‛āzaḇ)  meaning to leave, to abandon, to loose.

2.      Love it

Prov. 4:6

“love her…”

(ehabe) flirt with, endear yourself to

3.      Exalt it

Prov. 4:8

“Exalt her…”

(sālal) A verb meaning to build up, to lift up; to exalt. It means to hold someone or something in a position of a high or excessively high reputation or worth

4.      Embrace it

Prov. 4:8

“…She will bring you honor, when you embrace her”

(ḥāḇaq) A verb meaning to embrace. Its most common meaning is to embrace someone in a show of affection

5.      Ask for it

James 1:5

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6.      Seek and search for it

Prov. 2:4

If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures.

II. 20 REASONS YOU NEED WISDOM 

1.      Wisdom is number 1

Prov. 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

2.      Nothing Compares to it

Prov. 8:11

¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

3.      It’s Superior to Strength

Eccl 9:16

¹⁶ Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength

4.      It Solves Problems

5.      It’s better than weapons of war

Eccl 9:18

¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”

6.      It is better than money

Prov 16:16

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

7.      It has power and character

James 3:13-15

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

8.      Long Life is Attached

Prov. 3:13-16

Happy is the man who finds wisdom…Length of days is in her right hand

9.      It Carries Creativity

Prov. 8:12

I wisdom dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge of witty inventions.

10.  It’s ways are pleasant and peaceful

Prov. 3:13-17

Happy is the man who finds wisdom… Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

11.  People around you need you to have it

Gen 41:33-41

³³ “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. ³⁵ And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. ³⁶ Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.” ³⁷ So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

12.  It produces Stability

Is 33:6

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times.

13.  It provides Direction

Eccl 10:10

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

14.  It provides Discretion

Prov. 2:11

 A plan

15.  It Results in Happiness

Prov. 3:13

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.

16.  It’s a spiritual gift

1 Cor. 12:8

 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit.

17.  God wants to display His wisdom through You

Eph 3:10

¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places

18.  Jesus increased in wisdom

Luke 2:52

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

19.  Wisdom is Hidden in Christ

Col 2:2-3

Both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

20.  Wisdom provides special skill

Exo 31:1-5

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³ And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, ⁴ to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, ⁵ in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

III. HOW IS WISDOM RECEIVED 

1.      Divine Impartation

1 Kings 3:4-15

2.      Asking

James 1:5

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

3.      Human Transfer

Deut 34:9

⁹ Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses