Series: Wisdom

Part 6

(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.

Knowledge is having knowledge and knowing some principles – wisdom is the ability to apply to your life.

Treat wisdom like a friend that stands beside you.

Proverbs 27:6 NLT Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

If a friend can speak to you and be faithful by wounding you and bringing correction, then so should the Word of God and wisdom be able to wound you like a friend. Wouldn’t you rather a friend tell you the honest truth and have it hurt than have the flattery of an enemy.

Wisdom is going to be brutally honest.

I believe the missing key for most of us to enjoy the prosperity of the Lord, is something very small; a minor adjustment.

Proverbs speaks of being lazy or laziness 17 times.

What does being lazy mean?

Matthew Henry: The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing.

Am I Lazy?

1. Lazy people never rise to the top.

(Proverbs 12:24 TLB) Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed.

Going over and above the norm is what will produce promotion.

Set goals and compete with yourself.

(Matthew 5:41 NKJV) And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Roman soldiers could require someone standing on the side of the road to help them carry their armor and belongings one mile.

2. Lazy people irritate their superiors.

(Proverbs 10:26 GNB) Never get a lazy person to do something for you; he will be as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.

3. Lazy people always have good intentions, even many desires, but no initiative.

(Proverbs 13:4 NLT) Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

(Proverbs 21:25 NLT) Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

4. Lazy people are always bouncing from one crisis to another.

(Proverbs 15:19 NKJV) The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway (higher path).

The thorns hurt because they are bouncing around from one thing to another.

5. Lazy people are wasteful.

(Proverbs 12:27 NLT) Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.

6. Lazy people always have an excuse for their laziness.

It is never their fault. They always have an excuse.

(Proverbs 26:13 TLB) The lazy man won’t go out and work. “There might be a lion outside!” he says.

(Proverbs 26:13 MSG) Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!” and then pull the covers back over their heads.

I Am Diligent!

Diligence – constant and earnest effort to accomplish what needs to be done.

The greatest asset in the life of prosperity is having the attitude of hard work and diligence.

The diligent person is not a workaholic but is a smart worker.

1. Diligent people always rise to the top.

(Proverbs 12:24 NLT) Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

(Proverbs 22:29 AMP) Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

2. Diligent people have goals and a strategy on how to reach them.

(Proverbs 24:27 NLT) Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

3. Diligent people are always looking at things to see how they can cause it to work and produce for them.

(Proverbs 21:5 AMP) The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.

They are asking the question, “How can I prosper from this?” rather than, “How can I get out of this?”

With the diligent person, it begins with their thoughts.

4. Diligent people are prepared for the future.

A diligent person puts his best into his future.

(Proverbs 6:6-8 NLT) Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! (7) Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, (8) they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

The ant knows how to work hard but also knows how to work with nature and gets things to work for him.

5. Diligent people will prosper.

(Proverbs 10:4 NKJV) He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

(Proverbs 13:4 NLT) Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

Part 5

(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.

Knowledge is having knowledge and knowing some principles – wisdom is the ability to apply to your life.

Hebrew word means “skilled living”.

Being teachable is the key to growing and becoming better.

26 of 31 chapters of Proverbs teach or mention this topic.

The Babbling Fool

(Proverbs 10:8 NLT) The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

This verse is saying that there are times we are talking when we should be listening. A lot of times we do this because we are insecure. Might be a protection or defense mechanism.

• The know it all.

(Proverbs 28:26 NLT) Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

• The been there, done that.

(Proverbs 18:2 NLT) “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.”

• The one upper.

(Proverbs 12:15 NLT) “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”

(Proverbs 17:28 NLT) Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

The Listening Heart

(Proverbs 1:5 NLT) Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance.

• Is humble.

(Proverbs 11:2 NLT) Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Humility is your choice – humiliation is when someone makes that choice for you!

Choosing to be humble is when we choose to lay pride down. Humiliation is when pride is taken from you painfully!

• Has a desire to grow.

(Proverbs 15:14 NLT) A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.

(Proverbs 15:32 NLT) If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

Very often growth does not feel good. Ever hear of “Growing Pains”?

• Will embrace correction.

Correction is never fun but we must learn to embrace it. We may not enjoy it but it should help us to grow and become better.

Correction is never rejection!

The enemy will always make sure you interpret correction as rejection to make you get bitter and not better.

(Proverbs 12:1 NLT) “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.”

(Proverbs 13:18 NLT) If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.

A Teachable Life

(Proverbs 13:13-14 NLT) People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. (14) The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

1. Learners initiate.

They take the first step to learn and get better.

(Proverbs 18:15 NLT) Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.

(Proverbs 2:2-4 NLT) Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. (3) Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. (4) Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

(James 1:5 NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

2. Learners implement.

(Proverbs 7:24 TLB) Listen to me, young men, and not only listen but obey;

(James 1:22 NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

• Water Baptism – July 15^th
• Growth Track Membership Class – July 21^st

3. Learners improve.

(Ephesians 4:15 NLT) …we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.

Grow (Greek) – to increase, enlarge, to exceed

Improvement is a process!

4. Learners inspire.

(Proverbs 27:17 NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

A Little Bit of Wisdom #5:

(Proverbs 19:20 NLT) Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

The habit of a teachable spirit produces a life of consistent wisdom.

Part 4

(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.

Knowledge is knowing some principles – wisdom is the ability to apply it in your life.

Hebrew word means “skilled living”.

Words in the Bible:

• Believe = 272 times
• Pray = 371 times
• Love = 714 times
• Give = 2161 times

God is a generous God. People that follow God are generous people.

The World of the Generous

(Proverbs 11:24 MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Most of the Scriptures on generosity have more to do with what generosity does from the generous person than it does for the recipient of that generosity.

(Acts 20:35 BBE) …keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, There is a greater blessing in giving than in getting.

When we live a life that is focused on how we can serve others and make our lives better, it causes us to be better.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

“A life not lived for others is not a life.” Mother Teresa

The vision of our church is four-fold. We lead people to:

• Know Jesus
• Encounter God
• Experience Life-Change
• Make a difference

We want your life to make a difference.

✓ The generous are happy.

Being generous is fun. God hard-wired you that way. There are chemicals released in your brain when we are generous.

(Proverbs 11:25 NLT) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Prosper – be pushed forward

(Proverbs 21:26 NLT) Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!

Examples of our Generosity as a Church:

• Charlotte Rescue Mission – $2500.00
• Freedom Within Walls – $2250.00
• Rooted – $1500.00
• Link Church – $3000.00

✓ The generous are compassionate.

Compassionate people are looking to make things right for others.

(Proverbs 29:7 NIV) The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

(Proverbs 21:13 NIV) If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

✓ The generous are blessed.

We never want this to be our motivation. We are generous because we love God first and people second.

“When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” Mark Batterson

(Genesis 12:2 NLT) I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

(Proverbs 22:9 NLT) Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

(Proverbs 28:27 NLT) Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

✓ The generous are rewarded.

(Proverbs 19:17 NIV) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

(Revelation 22:12 NLT) “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”

A Legacy Life

A Legacy Life is a life that goes on beyond just us.

“What we do for ourselves usually dies with us. What we do for others lives beyond us.” Chris Hodges

(Psalm 112:9 NIV) They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.

(Psalm 112:5-6 NIV) Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

(2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT) Since you excel in so many ways–in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us–I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

(2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV) You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Four areas that God gives us that we can be generous:

1. Generous with our time. (Dream Team)
2. Generous with our talent.
3. Generous with our touch. (An encouraging text or call)

• Smile
• Sympathize
• Speak Up
• Serve
• Sacrifice

4. Generous with our treasure.

(Luke 6:38 NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

A Little Bit of Wisdom #4:

The value of life isn’t determined by how much I achieve or accumulate but by how much of my life I give away.

Part 2

There is a lot of knowledge in the world today but we need WISDOM!

(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.

(Proverbs 19:23 NIV) The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Never have we had more and enjoyed less!

With all of the technology and conveniences that we have today, we are more dissatisfied than ever.

Contentment – the ability to be happy wherever you are in life.

There is an archenemy to contentment – comparison!

Culture of Comparison

(Proverbs 14:30 NIV) A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Envy – The feeling of discontentment with regard to someone else’s advantages, success, or possessions.

Three lies of comparison:

✓ It makes life about the wrong perspective.

Social media can feed comparison – See that boat, car, or house – #blessed

✓ It makes life about the wrong presumption.

“If I had want I don’t have, I would be happy.”

Marketing plays on this presumption.

✓ It makes life about the wrong person.

This gets us to focus on the “other people” and not who we have in our lives right now.

FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – new disorder – pervasive anxiety that our peers are doing more, know more, have more or something better than us.

The Secret of Contentment

(Ecclesiastes 4:6 NLT) And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”

(Philippians 4:11-13 NIV) (11) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (13) I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

1. Realize what we already have.

(Psalms 103:1-6 MSG) A David psalm. O my soul, bless GOD. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! (2) O my soul, bless GOD, don’t forget a single blessing! (3) He forgives your sins–every one. He heals your diseases–every one. (4) He redeems you from hell–saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy–a paradise crown. (5) He wraps you in goodness–beauty eternal. He renews your youth–you’re always young in his presence. (6) GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.

Practical Application – If you need to, sit down and make a list of what you are already blessed with.

2. Make God our source.

When you really think about it, it is not about the stuff, it is about some type of void or emptiness in our hearts. God is desiring to fill that void.

Let God fill those desires because what He will provide for us will be far better than what we can provide for ourselves.

(Psalms 84:11 NLT) For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

(Hebrews 13:5 NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; (strong desire for material possessions) be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”

(1 Timothy 6:6 NLT) Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

3. Live life on mission.

(Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV) (12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

You don’t have time for comparison when you are living for something bigger – bigger picture.

A Little Bit of Wisdom #2:

Contentment fills me with life and protects me from circumstances.

Part 1

(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.

Hebrew word means “skilled living”.

• Knowledge constructs the Titanic, wisdom avoids the icebergs.
• Knowledge builds a house, wisdom builds a home.
• Knowledge understands God, wisdom walks with God.

Wisdom comes from God.

There are people who think that they don’t need God’s wisdom.

(Proverbs 26:12 NKJV) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

4 Types of People in Proverbs

1. The Simple.

“Simple” means they are naïve and clueless.

(Proverbs 7:7 NIV) I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.

The Cure: Time

Along with time comes experience.

We all need people in our lives that are a little further along than we are to tell us not to go that way.

John C. Maxwell: “It’s said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others’ mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from other’s successes.”

2. The Fool.

The fool knows that it is not the right thing to do but do it anyway.

We ask, “why would you do that?”

(Proverbs 10:23 NLT) Doing wrong is fun for a fool…

(Proverbs 10:23 MSG) An empty-head thinks mischief is fun…

(Proverbs 13:20 NIV) Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

The Cure: Pain

Every tragedy has a lesson equal in significance to its heartbreak.

3. The Mocker.

Mock – to criticize someone who is doing the right thing. (scoffer)

(Proverbs 9:7-8 NLT) Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. (8) So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you…

The Cure: God

God will have to do something in their life to bring about change.

4. The Wise.

(Proverbs 9:9 NIV) Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Wise people are humble and teachable.

• Correct the simple and they won’t get you.
• Correct the fool and they will ignore you.
• Correct the mocker and they will hate you.
• Correct the wise and they will thank you.

The Fear of the Lord

(Proverbs 9:10 NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Most people have a bad perception if what it means to fear God.

A proper fear of the Lord is to simply acknowledge that He is greater than you are.

1. God is awesome.

(Psalm 33:8 NLT) Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

(Isaiah 40:28 NIV) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

2. God is holy.

(Psalm 99:5 NLT) Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!

(Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

3. God is right.

When you see it one way and God sees it another way, God is right!

(Psalms 19:7-11 NIV) The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (8) The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (9) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. (10) They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. (11) By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

(Proverbs 19:23 NLT) Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

A Little Bit of Wisdom #1:

When I understand what it means to fear God, I can live fearlessly.