If you were given a choice of being known as a wise person or a foolish person, which would you choose?
Now obviously, no one in here, surely no one in here would say, I want to be known as a fool.
Have you ever thought, and I know many people in this room, you have read through the book of Proverbs probably many times.
Have you ever thought about how the book of Proverbs is written?
Time after time, we are giving the readers a choice of which kind of person we will be.
Either a wise person or a foolish person.
God's purpose in giving us the book of Proverbs is to make us wise.
That's what He wants to do as we do our study in this book.
But if we reject the Lord's wisdom, that's the same thing as choosing to be known as a fool.
Because as Proverbs goes, those are the only two choices.
The person who listens to the Lord, who seeks to honor Him and obey Him, that's the wise man or woman or young person.
But the person who doesn't care about listening to the Lord.
You don't have to hate God.
Just be indifferent.
Ignore Him.
Ignore His Word.
Ignore Him.
And that's the kind of person Proverbs calls a fool.
This morning, I want you to turn with me to Proverbs chapter 2, which very plainly tells us how anyone can acquire godly wisdom and be known as a wise person.
It's going to be here.
Very obvious as we read through it.
But as you turn to chapter 2, I want to do a quick review of what we looked at in chapter 1,
which really introduced us to the concept of biblical wisdom or godly wisdom.
Either way is accurate.
It's been three weeks since we did that.
But instead of me just sort of reviewing quickly some of the things that we looked at, my notes from last time,
I want to use something that Dwayne Garrett, in his New American Commentary on Proverbs, pointed out about biblical wisdom.
Three characteristics that will be on the screen.
Number one, biblical wisdom is practical.
He's talking about, as he introduced the topic of wisdom, in chapter 1, specifically verses 3 through 7,
biblical wisdom is practical.
It includes the idea of common sense.
Someone who is wise, as Proverbs teaches us to be wise, will be someone who demonstrates good common sense.
The ability also to cope with daily problems.
And that's what Proverbs is filled with.
Guidance on how to deal with the people you live with.
Guidance on how to manage your money.
Proverbs gives us wisdom about our words.
Things that we shouldn't say, as well as the kind of things we should say to avoid problems,
to make life better in our home or just around people.
Biblical wisdom is very practical.
Number two, biblical wisdom is intellectual.
We've got to think.
God gave us a mind that he intends us to use it in studying his word, studying life,
and developing good biblical wisdom.
This has implied, the fact that it's intellectual, in words like understanding, in knowledge, in insight.
Solomon's own fascination with natural history, for example,
gives us a good example that God expects us to observe, to learn, to study.
Look in 1 Kings chapter 4.
It says, he described plant life, talking about Solomon now,
from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls.
He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.
Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom,
sent by all the kings of the world who had heard of his wisdom.
Solomon was a man who was given wisdom by God, as we'll see in a moment.
But Solomon had a keen mind.
He was just interested in life, how life worked.
And he studied, he observed, and he wrote about it.
Biblical wisdom is practical.
It's intellectual.
Biblical wisdom is also moral.
And it involves self-control.
Back in chapter 1, this is a summary of chapter 1, sort of.
This is indicated by words like righteousness, doing what's right, justice, equity, or fairness.
A person who is wise, as God teaches us about wisdom here,
is someone who seeks to put into practice what they learn from God's Word.
Someone who seeks to do what's right because it is right,
and because that's what pleases God.
We can summarize how wisdom is described in the beginning of Proverbs chapter 1 like this.
A wise person has correct knowledge, that's intellectual wisdom,
understands how to apply that knowledge to life, that's practical wisdom,
and demonstrates godly character in all things.
Moral wisdom.
A wise person, according to Proverbs 1,
acknowledges God as the source of his or her wisdom
and seeks to honor God in the way they use it.
Honor God in all things.
A wise person also, and we're going to see this throughout,
we're going to see it some in chapter 2 later on,
a wise person also recognizes that he or she will always be surrounded by people
who reject this wisdom,
who do not care about God,
who actually reject God and His truth.
And such people, they're not just in our lives,
they're trying to influence our lives.
They're tempting us to look at life and live life their way,
their way that rejects God and His wisdom and His ways.
Now, let's look in chapter 2.
Let's read first verses 1 through 5
and think about what he is telling us here.
Solomon is telling us here the way to acquire wisdom.
Look at it.
My son.
A lot of Proverbs is written like this.
It's like a wise father instructing his son or his children.
That's how this chapter starts.
And you'll see it throughout the study, throughout the book.
My son, a wise father who cares about his children.
A wise father who wants what's best for their child.
We need to think about it as God speaking through this author.
God, our Heavenly Father, speaking to us.
He loves us.
He cares about us.
He wants us to live life in the best possible way.
And in this book of Proverbs,
we're going to find a lot of the very practical ways to live such a life.
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding,
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
We'll come back and read more in just a little bit.
These verses describe the attitudes that we must have
if we're interested in becoming wise.
Look again in verses 1 and 2.
We acquire wisdom by being teachable
and listening to wise teachers.
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding,
we acquire wisdom by wanting to be taught,
by being willing to be taught.
We acquire wisdom, let's think it first here,
by listening to God's Word.
God is speaking through this author,
this gracious, loving, caring Father.
If you receive my words,
we need to think about it as receiving God's words,
as treasuring up His commandments ourselves.
You know, in Psalms chapter 19 and verse 7,
we read this about God's Word.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
I don't know if you ever just stop and think about
why did God give us His Word.
God gave us His Word to reveal Himself,
who He is, how He is,
and how we can have a right relationship with Him.
He also gave it to us to inform us
how we can have a right relationship with other people.
God's Word, if we'll read it,
if we'll listen to it, if we'll apply it,
seek to do it with His help,
God's Word will make us wise.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible,
and the whole point of that long psalm
is to help us understand the importance of,
the value of God's Word,
and studying it,
seeking to understand it,
so that we can live the way that God tells us to live.
Now, this idea of seeking to acquire wisdom
by being teachable,
by listening to wise teachers,
we need to listen to wise teachers
in every realm of life.
I'm going to guess that everybody in this room,
you've got people in your life
that you know,
you consider them to be very wise.
I mean, there may be a family member,
may be a family friend,
may be a teacher, a coach.
There's someone in your life
that they're just,
they're just wise.
They've got a good understanding,
good common sense.
They've got good experience.
And when they talk,
you listen.
Well, that's an indication
that you are a wise person
to recognize wisdom wherever it's found.
Even in maybe some bad examples,
there are some good lessons to be learned
from bad examples.
And if we're going to be wise,
we've got to learn to be teachable.
We've got to learn to listen,
whether it comes from God's Word
or whether God brings us His truth
in other forms.
We need to learn to listen
and learn from everyone and everything.
Number two,
we acquire wisdom by asking for it.
Look in verse three.
Yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice
for understanding,
that's what Solomon did.
He asked God to give him wisdom.
Look at it in 1 Kings chapter three.
He said,
Give your servant, therefore,
an understanding mind
to govern your people
that I may discern between good and evil.
For who is able to govern
this your great people?
When Solomon succeeded David
as king over Israel,
he asked God.
God said,
What do you want?
I'll give you whatever you want.
And Solomon's response was,
I want to have understanding.
I want to have knowledge.
I want to have insight.
I want to have the wisdom
to be the best king
I can possibly be
for these people,
for this nation,
for your glory,
for your people.
He asked God for wisdom.
And then look at how God responded.
Chapter three, verse 12.
Behold,
I now do according to your word.
Behold,
I give you a wise
and discerning mind
so that none like you
has been before you
and none like you
shall rise after you.
Solomon asked for wisdom
and it pleased God
to give him wisdom.
God desires to give us wisdom.
But I want you to look again
at verse three
very carefully.
Asking God for wisdom
is not just a part
of a routine prayer
or just some kind of,
you know,
sort of laid back,
Lord, I'd like to have
kind of thing.
Note how verse three
describes this request.
Call out for insight.
Raise your voice
for understanding.
This is an intense desire.
A desperate cry for wisdom.
Most people in this room,
you pray before a meal.
You ask a blessing.
Now I know
I'm not going to question
anybody's commitment,
sincerity.
I know sometimes
when you bow your head
and you pray,
you're very sincere.
You're acknowledging God
is giving you what you've got
and you're thankful.
But let's just be real honest.
Sometimes some of our blessings
we're just going through the motions.
I mean,
you're looking at what's on the table.
You're concerned.
You're hungry.
You want to eat.
Let's just get through
this blessing and eat.
We've all been there.
We've all done that.
We know what that kind of prayer is.
Or maybe you want to pray
before you go to bed at night.
And so you lay down
and you say your prayer
there in the bed.
You'll never remember ending it
because you went to sleep.
We all know what it's like to pray,
but we don't really mean it.
We're just going through the motions.
We're just saying words.
That's not how we pray.
Really anything from God.
Let's don't kid ourselves.
But especially wisdom.
This is an intense, serious cry.
God, give me wisdom.
Imagine how you would respond
if you were on the deep end
of a swimming pool.
12 feet of water.
And all of a sudden,
you got a cramp in your leg.
I don't know if you've ever
had that happen to you,
but many years ago,
I had a youth group.
And we were in a pool.
And there were people around,
thankfully.
I was young.
I was 21 or so years old.
Never had a cramp in my life
in the water.
I've always heard that.
And I thought,
you know,
if you're old and decrepit,
you know,
you may have a problem,
but the old cramp,
you can make do
if you're strong,
young, and healthy.
I had a cramp that just,
my leg just locked down
in that deep water.
The guy next to me,
his name was Joe.
I said,
screamed,
Joe,
help.
And I was struggling,
scrambling.
I reached over there.
I never have hugged a man
like I hugged that man.
And I didn't apologize.
I was desperate.
I was panicking.
I needed help,
and I let him know,
and everybody in that pool knew.
I was serious.
It was intense.
If we really want something,
need something,
and are desperate for something,
we will cry out for it
within our very soul.
We will cry out for it,
and God will know,
we will know,
we mean business.
That's what Solomon is saying here.
If you really want wisdom,
then show God,
express yourself to God,
inwardly,
outwardly,
as if you want him to really rescue
and save you from your foolishness
and your ignorance.
You know,
we're told in James chapter 1
that if we ask,
if we lack wisdom,
we should ask God.
But even in that passage,
we're told we've got to be serious about it.
It's not some ho-hum prayer.
Look at it.
In James chapter 1,
beginning in verse 5,
if any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask God,
who gives generously
to all without reproach,
and it'll be given to him.
But let him ask in faith,
without doubting,
with no doubting.
For the one who doubts
is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed by the wind.
For that person must not suppose
that he will receive anything
from the Lord.
James is basically telling us here,
if you're not going to pray sincerely,
wholeheartedly,
if your heart and soul and mind
is not in it,
just don't pray.
Because it's a waste of breath.
And that includes
the prayer for wisdom.
We've got to truly want it.
And let God know
we mean business
in the way that we ask Him.
But that's not all Solomon says
along this line.
He goes on in verse 4
to stress this point
by pointing out
that we must pursue wisdom
wholeheartedly
because we actually value it.
Look at verse 4 again.
If you seek it like silver
and search for it
as for hidden treasures,
then you'll understand.
Think of people
who are just money crazy
or just materialistic to the core.
It just seems that they just
eat,
drink,
sleep,
it's all about money,
it's all about things,
inquiring things.
Do whatever it takes,
break their health
to get more.
And there's never enough.
Think about how some people
will go to great extremes
to get a football ticket
or a basketball ticket
or a concert ticket
by camping out
in the rain,
in the cold
so they'll be in line
and be sure
that they get one.
We know
what it looks like.
There's things in our life
that we truly
go all out
to pursue.
The question is,
do you pursue wisdom
like that?
Or will you pursue wisdom?
Will you so value
having God's insight,
having discernment
that comes from Him
that you will do
whatever it takes
to pursue it,
to seek it?
You value it that highly.
You know,
in thinking about
what is being said here,
we need to not only
just want it this badly
and put forth
such an effort,
but we need to learn
to seek wisdom,
acquire wisdom
wherever it is,
wherever we are in life.
Solomon and the other
writers of Proverbs,
as I said earlier,
they studied life.
They observed things
in nature,
in this world.
They were able
to teach on many subjects.
They were able
to teach about
having a work ethic.
They were able
to warn about debt.
They were able
to talk about
things like
our words,
our character,
our relationships.
That's because
they studied life.
They studied people.
They understood
as well as what
God had given them
wisdom-wise.
If we want
to be wise people,
we need to learn
to open our eyes,
have a teachable spirit,
and learn from
all kinds of people
and all kinds
of experiences.
Let's not forget,
as we saw
three weeks ago,
and we see again
in verse 5,
the key to acquiring
wisdom is to fear God.
Look here in verse 5 again.
When we pursue
wisdom this way,
then you will understand
the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge
of God.
The key to understanding
or the key to acquiring
wisdom is to fear God.
What we're talking
about here is learning
to honor God
as the holy God
that He is,
respecting Him,
showing reverence
toward Him,
honoring Him
in all that we do.
And the more
we do this,
the more we demonstrate
this reverential fear,
the closer we become
to God,
the better that we know Him,
the stronger
our relationship will be.
The more we pursue
wisdom this way
and truly love God
and fear God
and honor Him
and listen to Him
and obey Him,
the more we will have
this wisdom
that's being promised here.
Let's be clear
about this matter,
about how we acquire wisdom.
there must be
a relationship with God
in order for this
to happen.
There must be
this relationship
with God
where we have
this reverential fear
for Him.
We actually know Him
as our Heavenly Father.
We love Him.
We desire
to experience
His presence
and power
in our lives.
Do you have
that kind of relationship?
Second thing
I want us to look at
this morning,
the reason we should
acquire wisdom,
I want us to say that
in verses 4 through 6
or 6 through 8 rather.
6 through 8.
For the Lord
gives wisdom.
From His mouth
come knowledge
and understanding.
He stores up
sound wisdom
for the upright.
He is a shield
to those
who walk
in integrity,
guarding the paths
of justice
and watching
over the way
of His saints.
Think about
what's being said there.
Acquiring wisdom
makes life better.
Acquiring God-given wisdom
makes life better
in every way.
I want you to look
closely at verse 6 again.
For the Lord
gives wisdom.
From His mouth
come knowledge
and understanding.
Biblical wisdom
is not something
we can acquire
on our own.
It's not like
acquiring general knowledge.
It's not like
learning about
anything else in life.
You know,
a person can be brilliant
but never acquire
biblical wisdom.
Highly intelligent people,
they can gain
an understanding
of complex matters
by their research,
by their study,
by their experimentation.
But even a highly
gifted scientist
or a technological genius
will never become wise
just by studying wisdom.
they may have a lot
of understanding
but they'll never
experience God-given wisdom
apart from the relationship
with God
and it coming from Him.
Biblical wisdom
comes from God
and it's given
by God.
But here's what I want
you to understand.
The key to experiencing
this kind of wisdom
is this.
It only comes to those
who truly want it
and will pursue it.
It'll never happen
by accident.
Look at how it's all
stated here
in what we've been reading.
I want you to note
the word if
in verses 1, 3, and 4.
In verse 1,
my son,
if you receive
my words.
Verse 3,
yes,
if you call out
for insight.
Verse 4,
if you seek it
like silver
and search for
His hidden treasure.
God gives wisdom
to those
who listen
to His word,
call out desperately
to Him
and go all out,
do whatever it takes
to acquire it.
Now,
without understanding
of what it takes
to acquire
godly wisdom,
will you ever have it?
You can answer
that question.
You know yourself.
Remember from the beginning,
from God's perspective,
there's only two kinds
of people in this world.
Those who are wise,
those who are seeking
to become wise,
and those who are fools,
those who are content
to ignore God
and ignore His truth
and ignore His wisdom
and just be foolish.
Now,
which one are you?
Your life shows it.
Which one do you want to be?
It's your choice
over and over again.
Proverbs lays it out,
the way of wisdom,
the way of a fool.
Which will you choose?
Let's look at the final section
of this chapter,
the benefits
of acquiring wisdom.
I want you to look with me
at a few examples
of how wisdom benefits
all who actually pursue it.
In verses 9 through 11,
we see that wisdom
will prepare us
to live life in this world
as God's good
and holy people.
Look at it.
Beginning in verse 9.
Then you will understand
righteousness,
justice,
and equity.
Every good path.
See what he's talking about.
If you will listen to God,
if you will receive His wisdom,
if you will pursue it,
if you will cry out for it,
He will give it to you.
Then, verse 9,
you will understand righteousness,
and justice,
equity,
every good path.
For wisdom will come
into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant
to your soul.
Discretion will watch over you.
Understanding will guard you.
Wisdom,
the wisdom of God,
it will enable you
to live in this world
and be discerning.
It will enable you
to live in this world
and know what's good,
what's better,
what's best.
It will enable you
to see stumbling blocks.
It will throw up red flags
at people
and poor choices
that can harm you,
that can ruin your life.
Wisdom,
having it,
developing it
will make a difference
in how we live.
It will help us
to live the good
and godly life.
Secondly,
wisdom will protect us
from falling under
the influence
of ungodly people.
Developing God's wisdom
in just a general way,
having that knowledge
will protect us,
help us to be on guard
against the influence
of ungodly people.
Look at two things.
First, verses 12 through 15.
People who try to undermine
our godly character
and personal integrity.
Look at verses 12 through 15.
Delivering you
from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech.
Perverted speech
is not just someone
who uses profanity
or talks about
some form of perversion.
Perverted speech
is any kind of speech
that is contrary
to the truth of God.
Delivering you
from the way of evil.
Wisdom will do this.
From men of perverted speech,
who forsake the paths
of uprightness
to walk in the ways
of darkness,
who rejoice in doing evil
and delight
in the perverseness of evil.
Men whose paths
are crooked
and who are devious
in their ways.
Having biblical wisdom
will just help us
to understand shady people
and shady dealings.
It'll throw up the red flag.
Flash the red warning light
when people come to us
talking about ways
to get around the truth.
talking about ways
to deceive somebody.
Talking about ways
to avoid punishment
for our crimes.
Reaping what we sow.
Proverbs will help us,
prepare us
for the people
who are going to ruin
our lives
if we listen to them.
It happens.
It happens every day.
Are you equipped
to hear the people
who really don't care about you,
who just want to use you
and abuse you
and they will
if you're not discerning,
if you're not wise.
But also,
there's a second kind
of person or people.
People who try
to undermine your marriage
and sexual purity.
Look at verses 16 through 19.
So you will be delivered
from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress
with her smooth words,
who forsakes the companion
of her youth
she's married,
and forgets the covenant
of her God
she claims
to be a woman of God.
For her house
sinks down to death
and her paths
to the departed.
None who go to her
come back,
nor do they regain
the paths of life.
Godly wisdom
will help us
to be on guard
against a man
or a woman
who has the desire
within them
to undermine
our marriage,
our commitment
to our spouse.
You know,
there are men
and women
who are not faithful
to their own husband,
not faithful
to their own wife,
have no respect
for marriage,
nor your marriage,
nor your spouse.
And sometimes
they come on
in subtle ways,
sometimes they come on
in ways
that's not easily
recognizable,
but a person
who is wise
with godly wisdom
will be discerning,
will be able
to pick up
on clues
and guard themselves,
guard their marriage,
guard their sexual purity
if they're not married.
Biblical wisdom
helps us to live life
in every kind of way.
It'll keep us on guard,
help us to be on guard,
and recognize people
of all stripes
who will hurt us
and ruin our lives.
Wisdom,
one more thing,
will guide us along
the good and godly life
that ends
in the presence of God.
Look at verse 20.
So you will walk
in the way of the good
and keep to the paths
of the righteous,
for the upright
will inhabit the land.
They'll be in the presence
of God
and those with integrity
will remain in it.
But the wicked
will be cut off
from the land
and the treacherous
will be rooted
out of it.
Wisdom will guide us
along the way in life
that is good,
that pleases God,
that satisfies ourselves,
that will help other people,
and it'll bring us
eventually into the presence
of God,
where by God's grace,
through faith in Jesus
and being faithful to Him,
we can hear on judgment day,
well done,
my good and faithful servant.
That's wisdom's goal,
to lead us that way.
Now,
as we conclude this morning,
I'll remind you
of what we saw
in the first study
of Proverbs
three weeks ago,
and then again last week.
When it comes to seeking
anything from God,
including wisdom,
the place to begin
and end
is with Jesus Christ.
It's in Jesus
that we find
God's greatest wisdom
as Jesus Himself
made known,
and I want to show you again
as we've done
the last two times.
Matthew chapter 12,
verse 42.
The queen of the south
will rise at the judgment
with this generation
and condemn it.
For she came
from the ends of the earth
to listen to Solomon's wisdom,
and now one greater
than Solomon in here.
That's Jesus.
The book of Proverbs
teaches us much
about wisdom,
about truth,
and about life.
But the ultimate truth,
the ultimate life,
the ultimate wisdom
is found in Jesus.
And so I want you
to understand that
in order for you
to be truly wise
as we're learning
about in Proverbs,
is to have a relationship
with Jesus Christ.
If you don't have that,
I want to encourage you
this morning.
That is what you need
to hear more
than anything else.
You cannot experience,
acquire,
develop the wisdom
of God
unless you first
have a right relationship
with Jesus Christ.
If that's your need
this morning,
admit that to God.
Turn from your sin
and call upon Him
to save you now.
Mean it.
Be serious about it.
That's the beginning
of wisdom.
That's the beginning
of truly fearing God
having a right relationship
with Him
in this world
right now.
Final thought.
We're given a choice
in Proverbs
of being wise
or being a fool.
In light of what we've learned
in this passage
this morning,
which choice
have you made
to this point
in life?
And then,
which choice
will you make
today
and every day?
You see,
seeking
and acquiring
and developing
biblical wisdom
is not
a choice
that you just make
one day
and that's it.
It's a daily,
sometimes hourly
choice.
I want to encourage
you this morning
as Proverbs
will just say
over and over again,
there's two paths
before you.
The way of wisdom,
the way of a fool.
Choose which path.
You have been
on a path.
Choose the right one,
the way of wisdom
to go from your own
today.
Let's pray together.
Dear God,
dear God,
no one in this room
would willingly
choose
the path
of a fool.
But dear God,
help us to see
that if we are not
choosing you,
your ways,
your wisdom,
your truth,
we are choosing
the path
of a fool.
So help us,
dear God,
to hear you
this morning
that wisdom
can be ours
through faith
in Jesus,
through a right
relationship
with you
where we honor you,
love you,
and obey you.
Help us to see,
dear God,
this morning
wisdom
is a gift
of your grace.
But it's a gift
that you require us
to want,
desire,
intensely seek,
because we value
it that much.
Dear God,
help us right now
to respond,
each one of us.
Help us to choose
wisdom
and whatever else
that involves
for us individually
this morning.
In an attitude
of prayer,
you just be still
and listen to the Lord
and you respond to Him.
I would be happy
to pray with you,
talk with you
during this time.
I'll be here
at the front
as the music plays
and we're just
listening to the Lord
and we respond to Him.