Slides: Get Wisdom!

By David Feddes

Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
 love her, and she will guard you.
 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
 she will honor you if you embrace her.
 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” (Proverbs 4:5-8)

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is skill, expertise, competence that understands how life really works, how to achieve successful and even beautiful results. (Ray Ortlund, Jr.)

Get wisdom!

• Glorify God
• Treasure truth
• Keep commands
• Research reality
• Accept advice
• Ponder path

Glorify God

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (1:7)

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (2:6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (3:5)

By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. (3:19)

Treasure truth

Seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures. (2:4)

Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (8:10-11)

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (16:16)

Keep commands

Treasure up my commandments. (2:1)

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. (13:13)

Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. (19:16)

Research reality

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. (6:6)

I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. (24:32)

• Study animals, nature, and people.
• See what works and what fails.
• Learn from those who know a lot.
• Keep adding knowledge and skill.

Accept advice

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (15:22)

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. (15:31)

Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)

Ponder your path!

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble…

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (4:18-19; 26)

Ponder or perish!

Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (Prov 5:5-6)

Goodness needs wisdom

If we have love but not wisdom, we will harm people with the best of intentions. If we have courage but not wisdom, we will blunder boldly. If we have truth but not wisdom, we will make the gospel ugly to other people. (Ray Ortlund, Jr.)

Total fitness

• Spiritual fitness
• Physical fitness
• Financial fitness
• Intellectual fitness
• Emotional fitness
• Relational fitness
• Vocational fitness

Get wisdom!

• Glorify God
  
• Treasure truth
• Keep commands
• Research reality
• Accept advice
• Ponder path