Category: Wisdom
Subject: Wisdom
Serenity Prayer
The prayer is rather famous. It has taken various similar forms from the 1930’s, and was apparently adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1940’s. It is called the serenity prayer.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
It seems that the prayer has three very important and true sentiments. Let’s consider them in turn.
First, we need serenity – the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled. Our serenity is tied to the loving provision of our Master. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). We do not need to be concerned about things beyond our control, because God is in control of all! Even against the most powerful of forces, “The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand…’” (Isaiah 14:24).
Second, we need courage – strength in the face of pain, grief or hardship. There is much we can actually do with God’s help, especially spiritually. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Sometimes hard decisions have to be made – sacrifices, changes, repentance. Many are unwilling to make those decisions. An example were the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees were unwilling to confess him, “lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). It is always important to do what is right in the sight of the Lord God, no matter the consequence.
Finally, we need wisdom – the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. In the Bible, this wisdom comes from a knowledge of God’s word, experience, and prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Here our wisdom allows us to know when to act, and when to leave our troubles with God. As Jesus said, don’t worry, “for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32). We understand that since God knows and cares, He will act to protect us and provide what we need.
It may be that the Serenity Prayer is misused or misunderstood by some. But it contains truths to embrace!
Sermon: Wise Words About the Tongue
A discussion of wise sayings about the tongue taken from assorted verses from the book of Proverbs, chapters 12-17.
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Mining the Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:16-21
The calling in Christ is described by Paul here. In calling, we must determine how we are called. It is through the gospel of Christ. God is not capricious, giving his grace to some, but denying it to others. The reason why so many who are humanly wise, mighty and noble are not of the elect is they choose not to be! They trust and depend upon themselves rather than upon God (cf. Proverbs 16:18).
God champions the humble. What He considers to be valuable differs greatly from the world’s definition of value. God chooses that which indicates man’s dependence upon Him, rather than things which promote selfishness and arrogance. Why? “That no flesh should glory in His presence” (29).
Accepting God’s wisdom, His righteousness (cf. Romans 10:3), and the blessings that accrue from our relationship to Him, this is what God desires for us. Don’t glory in yourself (pride); instead, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (31).
Wisdom’s Way
One truth that is clearly established in scripture is that true wisdom is salutatory, pleasant, and does no harm. One such passage where this is established is Proverbs 9.
“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding’” (1-6).
This is contrasted with foolishness. The woman who personifies foolishness, “is clamorous, she is simple, and knows nothing” (13). She does not make the same preparations as wisdom to welcome and benefit, but foolishness also wants to be heard.
Both wisdom and foolishness want the simple to turn to them. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here” (4, 16), but while wisdom desires to enlighten, and to help, foolishness is manipulative and destructive. Consider foolishness’s words, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (17).
If you want favor, listen to and be entertained by true wisdom. As for foolishness, “…her guests are in the depths of hell” (18).
Walk in Wisdom
Paul’s exhortation is, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5-6). It seems that the instructions in both verses have reference to how a Christian should behave among those who are not Christians.
They are to walk wisely. This is the general admonition. It includes the call to redeem “the time.” The word redeem is defined by Strong—to buy up, i.e. ransom. Figuratively, to rescue from loss, (improve opportunity). Time unused is time lost. We have limited opportunities to both influence and teach those in the world. A wise Christian will make use of such opportunities to the best of his abilities. This is wise.
A wise Christian will measure his words. His speech will be careful, with a consideration of how they might impact the lost. Graceful speech represents Christ. It is speech where He can be seen. In the words, “seasoned with salt” we see the idea of influence. These words should exclude idle words, corrupt speech, filthiness, offensiveness, curing and lying. They should include soundness, blessings, that which edifies and expresses love for God and man.
Wise talk glorifies God, and is much more likely to bring the outsider to Christ. Our love for mankind is not only seen in such speech, but is demanded by it! May we all take this to heart.
Sermon: Wise Parents
The book of Proverbs, a book of wisdom, is appealed to in showing principles of parenting that will help moms and dads raise children faithful to the Lord.
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“Let him become a fool”
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19a).
We are constantly bombarded with the world’s wisdom. It is seen on television as we watch the news, as well as entertainment. It even rears its head when you watch something as simple as sports. Moral issues, civic issues, questions of war and peace. How to help people. What is most important. Who is right and wrong. People argue back and forth, everyone sure they are right, and the other side is not only wrong but evil. But, few talk about God. Even fewer adopt what God has to say!
James warned about this, calling worldly wisdom demonic and divisive (cf. James 3:15). Here in our text, Paul called them fools who hold to worldly wisdom!
They are crafty, but God catches them in their deceit. Their thoughts are futile. (vs. 19b-20). It is misguided to place your trust in their schemes. The world is a mess because of them. “Therefore let no one boast in men” (21a).
Society seems doomed because too many are swayed by the futile thoughts of our cultural and political leaders and influencers. But it is not too late for you and I. We have to reject the wisdom of the world, and become fools for Christ!
Do you want true wisdom? Place your trust in the Lord!
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The Good and Bad of Wisdom
In reading on the topic of wisdom, as the concept is treated in scripture, it is interesting to note that it is a rather mixed bag. So, a principle has to be understood from the start. When you read of wisdom in scripture, is the reference to divine wisdom? That is, wisdom that comes from God? Or does it refer to those things that are regarded as wise which come from men? It seems like this is the line of demarcation in determining whether wisdom is “good” or “bad.” Consider the following:
First, being wise doesn’t do you any good if there is no God. This is established by the wise man of Ecclesiastes in chapter 2:12-16. Yes, the wisdom is better than foolishness while you live on the earth. “The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness” (14). But wisdom doesn’t spare you from death. “So I said in my heart, ‘As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?’ Then I said in my heart, ‘This also is vanity’” (15). Both the wise and the foolish die. And, eventually the wisdom of the wise man fades into the past, and is no longer remembered, “all that now is will forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!” (16).
The Patternists: Paul – A Simple Apostle
Question: Who was the most educated apostle among Jesus’ chosen men? We know that Peter, Andrew, James and John were simple fishermen in Galilee. Matthew was a tax collector, typically indicating some business acumen. Little is known from scripture about the other seven men’s educational background.
An interesting statement is made about Peter and John after their arrest for teaching “in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). Luke records Peter’s address to the Sanhedrin, and the response of the assembly, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (4:13).
The Patternists: Walk in Wisdom
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5-6).
According to these words from Paul, (representative of many other passages that affirm the same), Christians have responsibilities regarding how we interact with those outside the body of Christ. Elsewhere Paul wrote, “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). In our passage in Colossians, this passage instructs us in our speech.
There is No Wisdom
How often the righteous are derided as ignorant and superstitious. We are told that a belief in God is a belief in fairy tales. The truly educated, it is contended, have no use for such a crutch.
The dependence upon scripture as a standard of morality is condemned. As the enlightenment of man continues, our moral standards must evolve and improve. No longer should we judge others with dogmatic contentions about the rightness and wrongness of moral choices others make. Social warriors rail against those with the temerity to speak out against sin.
Even religious people today often follow their own counsel rather than the counsel of God. Doctrinal views are established by the opinions and speculations of men rather than an appeal to the Bible.
The wise man had something to say about these attacks on faith that are present in every generation, but seemingly pervasive in our own:
“There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
Such human wisdom is not wisdom at all. It is simply the presumptuous railing of the ignorant, who refuse to hear the words of the Lord.
No man is wise who rejects the wisdom that descends from above (cf. James 3:13-18). Don’t be intimidated by the claims of the unrighteous…they lack understanding.
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Things to Learn from the Wise Man
The book of Proverbs teaches us a myriad of important lessons we need to heed. In doing so, we will both please God, and will enrich our lives and relationships. Here are a few things I have learned by reading the book of Proverbs. (Note: In order, from chapter 1 on, until I run out of space in this article).
True knowledge comes when we begin to fear God (1:7). It is important to listen to parental wisdom (1:8). Ignore evil people (1:11-19). Exercise discretion to avoid the pitfalls of evil (2:11-17). Sexual immorality leads to destruction (2:18-22).
Obeying righteousness leads to a long and peaceful life (3:1-8). Be receptive to God’s chastening, as it brings understanding (3:11-14). When you can help others, do so right then, don’t put it off (3:27-28). Don’t pick fights (3:30). God punishes wickedness and rewards righteousness (3:32-33). Don’t lie (4:24).
Sermon: Fall Meeting 2020, Jeremiah Cox
The following lessons were preached from November 1-6, 2020 during the West Side Fall Meeting.
Brother Jeremiah Cox is the evangelist for the Elm Street church of Christ in El Reno, Oklahoma. He and his wife Zoe and little girl Collins live in Yukon, OK.
Sunday Sermon in two parts
Boldness to Enter the Holiest (Hebrews 10)
Sunday Class
Asking for Wisdom in Faith (James 1)
Monday
The Defense for My Hope
Tuesday
Walking in the Light (1 John 1)
Wednesday
Memories from Home
Thursday
The Generic Jesus
Friday
If They Were Here, What Would They Say?
True Wisdom
Paul quotes Job’s friend Eliphaz in 1 Corinthians 3:19 while admonishing the Corinthians to avoid the “wisdom” of the world. The full quote from Job 5 is:
“He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noontime as in the night” (Job 5:13-14).
This truth is affirmed time and again in scripture. What men consider to be “wise” is often at odds with the Lord and His will.
Consider that wisdom is often associated with illumination. A truly wise man has insight, an ability to “see” that is not available to the foolish. And yet, Eliphaz talks of the “wise” as groping at noontime as in the night. The only explanation for this is that the wisdom noted in the passage is not true wisdom.
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).
Remember that true wisdom descends from above (cf. James 3:13-17). Any time the wisdom of men conflicts with the mind of God, it is counterfeit. It has no real ability to illuminate and guide a man in the way he should go. As Paul notes, the thoughts of the wise, “they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:20).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 2:5-6).
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The Lord’s Counsel
“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Proverbs 19:20-21).
Wisdom comes from instruction. The reason for this? Wisdom is the perceptive application of truth. In order to act wisely, one must first know the truth. God’s truths, ultimate truths, are revealed in His word. If a man listens to those who know those truths, and comes to know them himself, he has established a foundation for wisdom. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Men often reject wisdom for their own desires and goals. Truly, “There are many plans in a man’s heart.” Men design wicked, selfish and foolish plans that result in ruin. “No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil” (Proverbs 12:21).
Their evil ends in ruin for two reasons. First, it is foolish. That is, what they do is most often self-destructive. By rebelling against God’s plans, they reject counsel that is designed to benefit man. God’s knows best, and yet men consistently reject His good counsel.
Second, rejection of God’s counsel leads to judgment. God said to Israel, “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me!” (Hosea 7:13).
Be wise. Listen to and heed God’s counsel. “The Lord’s counsel – that will stand.”
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