PUT ON WISDOM

Today in chapel Pastor Roger Horning brought a very insightful and eye opening message to the students here about wisdom. We often pray for wisdom as Christians desiring that God reveal to us some lofty purpose or something that we are supposed to fulfill as if we have no part, but in reality wisdom is much more than a prayer request and must be pursued in daily life.

Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible aside from Jesus Christ gives us a powerful real-life example and some great tips so that we might understand how to gain wisdom too.

Proverbs 1:7 says, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Why is it that wisdom is something that is lacking in the body of believers today? Because foolishness is part of our flesh-nature and is much easier to succumb to in daily life. However there is no excuse and we must strive for wisdom.

We can derive three practical principles about gaining wisdom from Solomon's life:
1. Recognize what wisdom is and pursue it!
2. Embrace personal correction
3. Keep in mind the consequences that come from a wise or foolish life.

In 1 Kings 3 the Lord visits Solomon in the night and asks him what he wants and Solomon asks for wisdom...the ability to discern right from wrong. Solomon however although he might receive that and he did, would have to pursue that and act it out in everyday life...something as we know he failed to do as he suffered many repercussions of his foolish living.

In 1 Kings 11:4 we read, As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

Solomon's consuming passion and desire had wandered from the Lord to things of this world. Solomon failed to apply what he knew about wisdom. Solomon pursued earthly happiness yet as we know and read in Ecclesiastes it was all vanity...worthless!

1. RECOGNIZE WISDOM AND PURSUE IT
-Wisdom is knowing and fearing God
-The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
-Having a relationship with God that leads to fear and worship of Him
-Wisdom is righteousness, truth
-Be committed to obeying God in the small things
-Wisdom is doing the right thing (Proverbs 27:7)
-You have to LIVE out God's Word, like Christ did

2. EMBRACE CORRECTION
-If your attitude toward correction is defensive and unwilling you must check your heart, your attitute toward this says a whole lot about your character
-Proverbs 9:8
-The way you respond to authority says a lot about your character
-The way you respond to wise counsel does too
-Fools hate instruction...are you a fool? Christians do foolish things but cannot be fools

3. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES
-Proverbs 8:18-21 reminds us of the blessings wisdom brings
-Wisdom is worth far far more than material or earthly blessings
-Wisdom is God's blessing bestowed to you!


What do fools do?
-They are mocked by God
-They are destroyed by their consequences
-They destroy others
-They prey on others

Do you have foolishness in your heart that you need to deal with? Be Honest with yourself as 2 Corinthians 13:5 reminds us "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" We should be dealing with our foolish fleshly hearts and putting on wisdom...don't reject the discipline of the Lord.