Defining “Wisdom”:
· “Understanding” = textbook knowledge, “the way things are designed to work”
· “Wisdom” = applying God’s design
Proverbs 4:7 – “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Jesus – “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for
my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)
Note 1: We cannot find Wisdom on our own…through our efforts.
Job 12:13 - “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.”
Note 2: Wisdom is available when imparted by God.
Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Note 3: Wisdom is the key to inner fulfillment, peace, contentment
Proverbs 3:13 – “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.”
Point: So…Wisdom leads to the Highest Life…elevates our purpose/living to a heavenly status.
Dare 1: Be noticeably Humble.
James 3:13 - “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humilitythat comes from wisdom.”
Point: Humility is designed to be our greatest witness.
Romans 12:2 (J.B. Phillips Translation) – “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”
Dare 2: Be boldly genuine.
Jesus said (Matthew 5:37) – “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
James 3:14 - “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”
Point: If predictability is a sign of genuineness, be predictable.
Dare 3: Be intentionally single-minded.
James 3:15-16 - “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
“Disorder” (v. 16) = Anarchy
Point: Wisdom reveals itself a single-mindedness of focus and purpose.
Dare 4: Be extraordinarily consistent.
James Sennett - “The only way to be ‘truly’ consistent is as a non-Christian. If we are to be Christians at all, we will be inconsistent ones. We will be right some of the time and wrong some of the time. What Jesus asks of us is that we strive to take the ‘right some of the time’ and make it an ever-increasing portion of the time.”
Point: Consistency is a reachable goal for every Christian…because it is God’s goal for us!
James 3:17 - “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Note: Check out this list of what our characters/lives could look like WHEN we live the Way of Wisdom:
· “Pure” = devoid of worldly motives
· “Peace-loving” = Right relationships...no ulterior motives
· “Considerate” = thinking of others
· “Submissive” = ready to obey
· “Full of Mercy” = sympathy for others who suffer injustice
· Full of “Good Fruit” = Mercy that leads to helping others
· “Impartial” = undivided, unwaverign
· “Sincere” = literally: without hypocrisy; honest, not pretending
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