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PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson Six
The Challenges for Those Who Would Be Wise
Text: Proverbs 3:1-12
The objective of this lesson: To emphasize that acquiring godly wisdom is a challenging investment.
That which is worthy of acquiring almost always is costly. That which is easily acquired is rarely worth the cost of acquiring. The person who expects to receive something worthwhile for no investment is ripe for an act of deception. Do not invite disaster into your life by thinking the truly valuable things in life will be yours at no cost.
The mindset of a person who constantly expects to receive something for nothing is a mindset that makes such a person an easy victim. To address the “bargain mentality,” ask bargain hunters to consider (a) the investment of time and effort expended in finding a bargain, (b) how often seeking a bargain results in acquiring something with limited or no value, and (c) the investment required in educating a person to distinguish between something valuable and something worthless. While bargains surely exist, often a person’s concept of a bargain is an illusion. Often the total price of a bargain is not considered.
Though people are determined to find bargains, most understand the following. In business: There are no free lunches—everyone wants something. In education: The person who buys a degree knows the same after acquiring the degree as he/she knew before obtaining the degree. In real estate: A million dollar farm that cannot find a buyer (sell) for more than $100,000 is a $100,000 farm (regardless of what is called).
A bargain is not a bargain if (a) there is no personal use for that which is acquired or (b) the value of that which is acquired is less than the acquirer invested.
Most people realize that acquiring anything involves determined effort. Most are not surprised when the person who does nothing experiences a collapsing enterprise. Most are not confused when the irresponsible person produces the results of irresponsibility. Most are not shocked when an obviously lazy person experiences only sorrow for self.
Ask the question, “Why is a priceless acquisition so noted and newsworthy?” Answer: Because it happens so seldom. The common experience of seeking something for nothing rarely results in finding something of great value.
Wisdom requires a serious investment. It takes more than wishing to have wisdom. Being wise involves more than saying, “I am wise!” The person who seriously seeks wisdom pays the price for becoming wise.
Godly wisdom is not cheap and does not come cheap. He or she who has godly wisdom has paid his or her dues. Most people who acquire godly wisdom see this as a gift, not as an accomplishment. The person who acquires godly wisdom realizes the limits of his/her understanding—and is not ashamed to confess those limits.
The text of this lesson points to some of the prices of wisdom. (1) Do not forget the Lord’s teachings [verse 1]. (2) Do not be separated from kindness and truth [verse 3]. (3) Do not lean on your own understanding [verse 5]. (4) Do not be wise in your own eyes [verse 7]. (5) Do not reject the Lord’s discipline [verse 11].
Godly wisdom is composed of two aspects, and a negative understanding is one of them. A person does not acquire godly wisdom for the primary objective of advising others, but for understanding (personally) how to live his/her own life. Godly wisdom is not about confrontation, but about living.
Or, stated in positive terms: (1) Remember the Lord’s commandments [verse 1]. (2) Find favor in God’s and man’s sight [verse 4]. (3) Place absolute trust in the Lord [verse 5]. (4) Fear the Lord and turn from evil [verse7]. (5) The Lord reproves those He loves [verse 12].
The second aspect of godly wisdom is positive. It is founded on remembering, trusting, and serving. It is founded on doing good rather than acting selfishly, on spreading understanding rather than spreading doubt, and on being appreciative instead of being dissatisfied.
Consider the results of accepting this challenge. In # 1, such behavior will lengthen life and bring the person peace. In # 2, both God and people will hold you in high regard. In #3, God, Himself, will determine the direction of the person’s life. In #4, while no one “enjoys” being wrong, everyone is “wrong” about many things. God cares enough about those who follow Him to want them to understand better ways to live. Thus, God cares enough about His followers to correct them in order to enable them to avoid the consequences of their errors.
First, the perspective of Proverbs is in settled times not in occasions of chaos. Second, Proverbs is talking about situations when good can triumph (there are times when the control of evil makes it impossible for good to triumph in that moment). Third, Proverbs is not presenting a formula that says, “Do this and the guaranteed results will be ‘this’ no matter how evil acts. Fourth, understand that even in the worst of experiences, wise conduct will prevent the situation from deteriorating into an even worse situation.
Consider some observations. Observation #1: These are not “conversion” insights, but “guidance” insights for those who are among the converted. The perspective of this study is that these insights primarily were given to Israel to benefit the Israelites as they sought to be God’s people. It was too simple for them to say, “Look at me—I am an Israelite! I am a citizen of Israel—look at my father, mother, and past! I am a part of Israel and that makes me a part of God’s chosen people! I am something you cannot be because I was born an Israelite to Israelite parents. Therefore, I have ‘it made’ with God!”
There are reasons for coming to the Lord, and there are reasons for those in the Lord pursuing the Lord’s purposes. They are not the same reasons.
It is simple for humans to exaggerate their importance by believing all answers are found in human enterprise to the exclusion of the divine-human relationship. It is simple to base our wisdom on human efforts and accomplishments.
Surely that attitude can exist among Christians today. “We are a part of God’s people, the church! Just as God delivered Old Testament Israel from slavery, gave them a land, and made them a people, look at all God did for us in Jesus Christ. I come from a long line of Christians who did many things for God. I have it made because I am “in” the church and because of my personal history in Christianity.”
One of life’s greatest mistakes is to base our trust on “who we are” rather then to base our trust on God’s concern for us.
The writer of Proverbs said, “Realize that who you are and your history does not make you wise. Your relationship with God makes you wise. Much more is involved in being a wise person led by God than simply declaring who you are and trusting your history.”
Wisdom is not based on human experience individually or collectively, but on the human-to-God relationship.
Observation #2: The investment in becoming God’s wise follower involves a major life investment. God must be your first priority in life. Therefore, there are some things you will not do. You will not forget God’s teachings, nor separate yourself from kindness and truth, nor trust only yourself, nor consider yourself independently wise, nor reject the Lord’s correction. Instead, you will remember God’s commandments; you will seek both divine and human favor; you will place your primary trust in God; evil will be your continual enemy as God is your source of strength; and you welcome God’s correction.
Godly wisdom requires a serious investment of self in God. Understanding the best way to utilize physical life now depends on closeness to God. Since the source of life is God, God teaches humans how to use life well.
Observation #3: In the matter of godly wisdom, nothing has changed.
What would make a person wise in the times of the Proverbs, will make us wise now. Wisdom is NOT technology dependent.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Discuss this: People do not acquire something for nothing.
The discussion will include the understanding that acquiring that worthy of possession is costly.
2. Illustrate what most people understand.
a) In business, there are no free lunches.
b) In education, a bought degree does not impart knowledge or understanding.
c) In real estate, a property is worth only what it can be sold for.
3. Most people realize what?
a) Doing nothing brings collapse.
b) Irresponsibility produces irresponsibility.
c) He who is lazy experiences sorrow for self.
4. Discuss this: Wisdom requires a serious investment.
The discussion should include that being wise must include more than a wish for wisdom.
5. In negative terms, what are five prices of wisdom?
1) Do not forget the Lord’s teachings.
2) Do not be separated from kindness and truth.
3) Do not lean on your own understanding.
4) Do not be wise in your own eyes.
5) Do not reject the Lord’s discipline.
6. In positive terms, what are five prices of wisdom?
1) Remember the Lord’s commandments.
2) Find favor in God and man’s sight.
3) Place absolute trust in the Lord.
4) Fear the Lord and turn from evil.
5) The Lord reproves those He loves.
7. What are the results of accepting the challenge to seek wisdom?
1) It will lengthen life and bring peace.
2) God and people will hold you in high regard.
3) God, Himself, will determine the direction of your life.
4) Everyone is wrong about many things, but God cares enough about you to correct you.
8. List the three observations.
a) These are not “conversion” insights, but “guidance” insights for the converted.
b) The investment in becoming God’s wise follower involves a major life investment.
c) In the matter of godly wisdom, nothing has changed.
9. Discuss what the complacent Israelite might say.
Basically, because of who I am, my parents, and my nation’s history, I have it “made” with God.
10. Discuss how Christians can produce the same attitude.
The discussion should include the understanding that being a Christian includes more than personal claims and declaring I am “in” God’s church.
Link to Student Guide Lesson 6
Copyright © 2010
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ