Wisdom and Solomon
James 3:13-18 (NLT)
If you are wise and understand God's ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don't brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! [14] But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don't brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. [15] For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. [16] For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.
[17] But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. [18] And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.
Quiz:
1. How long would it take darkness to cover the earth if the sun went out? 4 1/2 minutes 8 1/3 minutes 25 minutes 2 hours 1 day 2. What percentage of all forms of life that have existed on Earth are now extinct? 50% 65% 70% 85% 95% 3. What is the most air polluted city in the United States? Chicago, IL Denver, CO Los Angeles, CA New York, NY Seattle, WA 4. What is the average speed at which a beard grows per year? 40mm 140mm 240mm 340mm 440mm 5. Anteaters actually prefer termites to ants. True or False? True False 6. About how many dimples are there on a golf ball? 50 100 200 400 600 7. How many eyes does an earthworm have? 0 1 2 4 88. How much of a cucumber is water? 11% 37% 68% 80% 96% 9. It is estimated that about 7-million of these are thrown away every day. Is it... Publishers Clearing House entries Tax dollars Pennies Michael Bolton C.D.s
Sheet of unused paper 10. What animal does cashmere come from? goats sheep whales lamas bears
Exodus 28:3 (NASB)
"And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
1. Wisdom is the skill to discern and the decision to proactively live life according to God’s perfect design and plan in every area of our lives
Proverbs 17:16 (NLT)
It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool who has no heart for wisdom.
Proverbs 1:24-25, 31-33; 2:9-10 (NLT)
"I called you so often, but you didn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. …That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen…But all who listen to me will live in peace and safety, unafraid of harm."…Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
1 Kings 3:7-14 (NLT); 1 Kings 3:16-28 (NLT); 1 Kings 4:29-34 (NLT)
Eccles. 2:8 (NLT)
… I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
1 Kings 11:6 (NLT)
Thus, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord's sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.
1 Kings 3:1 (NLT)
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.
1 Kings 11:1-3 (NLT)
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. [2] The Lord had clearly instructed his people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. [3] He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. And sure enough, they led his heart away from the Lord.
1 Kings 11:9-10 (NLT)
The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. [10] He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord's command.
Faithless Heart
At times the woman deep inside meWanders far from home,And in my mind I live a lifeThat chills me to the bone.A heart, running for arms out of reach,But who is the stranger my longing seeks?I don't know.But it scares me through and through,'Cause I've a man at homeWho needs me to be true. . .Oh, faithless heart,You tempt me to the core,. . .God, you know my feelings hereCould wipe my world away,Ravaging the promisesA stronger heart once made,. . .
- Faithless Heart, Amy Grant (Lead Me On, 1988)
When our hearts begin to drift away from God and our significant relationships, deal with it immediately before unalterable consequences
Rev. 2:4-5 (Msg)
"But you walked away from your first love—why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen…"Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.
Guard our affections
Neh. 13:26 (NIV)
Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.
2. Wisdom is effective only when it is put into action
Solomon had the capacity and intellectual ability for wisdom but he did not choose to live wisely.
James 1:22-24 (NLT)
And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. [23] For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. [24] You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
We are measured by what we choose and not what we believe or intend.
Deep understanding, if it is not followed by obedience to what we know, leads to regret and a loss of meaning
Eccles. 1:12-14 (NLT)
I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. [13] I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done in the world. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. [14] Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind.
Eccles. 12:13-14 (NLT)
Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. [14] God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
1 Cor. 1:20-31 (NIV)
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
[26] Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. [30] It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
3. Purpose to see Jesus more clearly, love Him more deeply and follow Him more closely – with all our heart, soul, mind and strength
1 Cor. 2:16 (NLT)
…"Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 111:10 (NLT)
Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.
André Ong
James 3:13-18 (NLT); Exodus 28:3 (NASB)
Proverbs 17:16 (NLT); Proverbs 1:24-25, 31-33; 2:9-10 (NLT); 1 Kings 3:7-14 (NLT); 1 Kings 3:16-28 (NLT); 1 Kings 4:29-34 (NLT); Eccles. 2:8 (NLT); 1 Kings 11:6 (NLT); 1 Kings 3:1 (NLT); 1 Kings 11:1-3 (NLT); 1 Kings 11:9-10 (NLT)
Rev. 2:4-5 (Msg); Neh. 13:26 (NIV)
James 1:22-24 (NLT): We are measured by what we choose and not what we believe or intend.
Eccles. 1:12-14 (NLT); Eccles. 12:13-14 (NLT)
1 Cor. 1:20 [30]-31 (NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
1. Wisdom is the _____________and the decision to _________________ according to God’s perfect design and plan in every area of our lives
When our hearts begin to drift away from God and our significant relationships, deal with it ______________before unalterable consequences
Guard our ________________
2. Wisdom is effective only when it is put into ___________
Solomon had the ______and intellectual _________for wisdom but he did not ____________________
Deep understanding, if it is not followed by obedience to what we know, leads to ______and a loss of _________
3. Purpose to see Jesus more_______, love Him more _________and follow Him more_______– with all our heart, soul, mind and strength