23/02/2015

AcquiringWisdom

AcquiringWisdom
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KeyScripture:Proverbs2:17

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I.Introduction:Thereisadifferencebetweenknowledgeandwisdom.Wehave
accesstomoreinformationthanweknowwhattodowith.Butsomethingisstillmissinggreatwisdom.
Therearemanypeoplewhoboastabouttheirknowledge,education,anddegrees,buttheymakedisasters
oftheirlivesbecausetheylackspiritualdiscernmentandunderstanding.
AlthoughfewScripturesadviseustoacquiremoreinformation,manyadmonishustoseekwisdom.If
wefollowBiblicalprinciples,Hewillgiveusunderstandingandguidanceforeverydecisionand
situationweencounter.
II.Whatiswisdom?TheBiblemakesadistinctionbetweentwoverydifferentkindsofwisdom:
A.Worldlywisdomistheuseofknowledgeandinformation.Itsbasedonhumanunderstandingand
reasoning,butitisfoolishnesstotheLord(1Cor.3:19).
B.GodlywisdomisthecapacitytoseethingsfromtheFathersviewpointandrespondaccordingto
Scripturalprinciples.
III.Howdoweacquiregodlywisdom?Ittakestimeandefforttobecometrulywisebecauseitcomes
asaresultoflearningfromthedecisionswemake.Inordertogainthegodlywisdomweneed,thereare
seventhingswecando.Weacquireitby:
A.Seekingit.Sincenooneisbornwithwisdom,wehavetwooptionsseekitorfacethe
consequencesoflivingwithoutit.Theworldoffersmanyotherpursuitsthatcatertoourdesires
security,wealth,friends,health,popularity,prominence,prestige,orbeauty.ButProverbs8:11says
alldesirablethingscantcomparewithwisdom.ItsagiftGodgivestothosewhodiligentlysearch
foritlikehiddentreasure(Prov.2:47).
B.MeditatingonGodsWord.TheBibleisGodsmindrecordedforusonpaper.ItrevealsHis
ways,plans,andpurposes,andwhenwereadandunderstandit,Histhoughtsbecomeapartofusand
affecthowwelive.ThatswhyweshouldbegineverydaywiththeLord,askingHimtogiveus
directionfromHisWord.
C.ObeyingScripturalprinciples.MerelyhavingBiblicalknowledgeandunderstandingdoesnot
makeuswise.GodswisdomisreservedforthosewhoheedHisinstructionsbyactivelyobeyingand
applyingHistruthstotheirlives(Prov.8:3334).
D.Prayingforit.Proverbsdoesntspecificallyemphasizeprayingforwisdom,butJamestellsusto
askGodforitifitssomethingwelack(James1:56).However,simplyrequestingwisdomisnot
enough.Wemustaskinfaith,obeywhattheLordsays,andwatchtheresultsofouractions.
Obediencealwaysbringsblessings,butnegativeconsequencesoccurifweignoreGodandgoour
ownways.
E.ObservinghowGodworksintheworld.ThebookofProverbstellsusthatwisdomcomesfrom
observingtheresultsofvariouslifestyles.Forexample,wisemenarecautiousandturnawayfrom
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23/02/2015

AcquiringWisdom

evil,butfoolsarearrogantandcareless(Prov.14:16).Evenantsteachustheimportanceofworking
diligentlyforourprovisionsbecauselazinessleadstopoverty(Prov.6:611).TheBiblehelpsus
understandGodsperspectiveandleadsustomakewisechoicesthatproducepositiveresults.
F.Heedinggodlycounsel.Everyoneneedsguidanceattimes,butnotalladviceisgodly.Some
peopleeventrainedcounselorscanactuallyleadusastrayinsteadofhelpingusfindGodsway.
Wheneverweseekoutsomeonefordirection,weshouldevaluatepersonslifestyleanddeterminethe
sourceoftheadvice.IsthecounselbasedonGodsWordoronpsychology,auniversityeducation,or
personalopinion?
G.Associatingwiththewise.Neverunderestimatetheinfluenceoffriends.Theycaneitherhelpus
growinwisdomorcauseustosufferharm(Prov.13:20).Thatswhyweneedtoexamineourfriends
todetermineiftheybuildusuporleadusastray.Weshouldalsoevaluatewhatkindoffriendweare
toothers.ArewewillingtotellthemthetruthbasedonwhattheScripturessay,orisourgoalonlyto
tellthemwhattheywanttohear?
IV.Conclusion:WisdomisachoicethatbeginswithadecisiontotrustChristasSaviorandincreasesas
wefollowtheteachingsofGodsWord.Ifwewanttobewise,weneedaburningpassionfortheLords
guidancebecausetherearemanyideas,people,andsituationsthattemptustoignoretheScriptural
principlesthatleadtowisdom.Theworldtellsustimeisshortandtolivefortodayspleasuresand
pursuits.But,inreality,knowingourtimeonearthislimitedoughttomotivateustocorrectsinful
behaviorsandattitudesandtobeginlivingwiselyaccordingtoGodsstandards.

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