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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (11-8-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional reading: James 1:1-8; 3:13-17
There have already been many differences alluded to
between the Christian and the non-Christian, e.g. light v.darkness, alive v.
dead. Now we have a further contrast – wise v. unwise (or foolish in some
translations). This contrast is not so often preached about. Yet wisdom is a
great Bible word, prominent in both Testaments. Job, Proverbs, Song of Solomon,
Ecclesiastes and some Psalms are referred to as the “wisdom literature”.
Jesus taught of the wise man who built his house on the rock, and the foolish
man who built his house on the sand. There is the parable of the wise and
foolish virgins.
Wisdom is one of the attributes
of God. To the only wise God, be glory forever (Romans 16:27). (Same
phrase is found in the A.V. in 1 Timothy 1:17 and Jude 25). The wisdom of God in
creation: By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations (Proverbs
3:19). He founded the world by his wisdom (Jeremiah 10:12). How many
are your works O Lord, In wisdom you made them all (Psalm 104:24). Oh the
depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Romans 11:33). The
wisdom of God in the work of salvation: We preach Christ crucified… to
those whom God has called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (1
Corinthians 1:23-24).
One of the great things God does
when He saves His people and puts the Holy Spirit within them, is He makes them
wise. He imparts understanding and sound judgement. And calls on them to use it.
There are many living examples of people who were wise. God gave Joseph
wisdom (Acts 7:10). Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so
successfully (or wisely) (1 Samuel 18:5). God gave Solomon wisdom: I
will give you a wise and discerning heart (1 Kings 3:12). When choosing
deacons for the early church, they had to be full of the spirit and wisdom (Acts
6:3). Stephen’s enemies could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit
by whom he spoke (Acts 6:10).
And above all, wisdom was
displayed in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was prophesied to be the Wonderful
Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6), and The spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the
spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2). Christ, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). No wonder the crowds who
saw him asked Where did this man get this wisdom? (Matthew 13:54).
Now in Ephesians the Christians are told to walk wisely, or circumspectly. To live like sensible men, not simpletons. In other words, made wise in Christ. Using what you’ve got. Going to look at the meaning of wisdom, its effects in the life, and how we may get and increase in wisdom.
To some, the term “wisdom” is rather vague, remote,
academic and theoretical, discussed by philosophers who have nothing better to
do with their time. But in fact wisdom is very down to earth, practical subject,
something we need every day of life. It is for very ordinary people. It affects
decisions, how we react to people and situations, face events, and determines
how we behave.
Wisdom is needed to help know
how to apply the Gospel and the great truths we believe and base life on, to all
ordinary everyday affairs of life. We need it to help us decide our way of life,
words, actions, and to ensure our movements please God. Paul prayed: asking
God to fill you with … all spiritual wisdom (Colossians 1:9). Admonish
one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3:16). Be wise in the way you act
towards outsiders (Colossians 4:5).
This wisdom is very different
from that of the man of the world. There is such a thing as worldly wisdom. The
mind of the worldly man is blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4). Concerned to please
himself, he is ruled by feelings, and acts impulsively. He has no insight into
spiritual things, for natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of
God, they are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). The fool says in his
heart “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). “You fool! This very night
your life will be demanded from you (Luke 12:20). The worldly man lives for
material things, and forgets how short life is and how quickly death comes. He
never bothers to prepare for death. The worldly wise man is full of himself and
his own importance and cleverness. The way of a fool seems right to him (Proverbs
12:15). Fools mock at making amends for sin (Proverbs 14:9). Everyone
who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like the
foolish man (Matthew 7:26).
Therefore the Christian life is the only sane life and sensible way of living. Outside of Christ, living for self and ones own ends – is stupid, and will one day end in disaster. Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom (Proverbs 4:7). For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with that (Proverbs 8:11). Wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:18). Be like the wise man who built his house on the rock, be able to withstand disasters, uncertainties, problems, death and eternity.
Answer - in every area of life, because in every way the
Christian is so different from the man of the world.
(a) In making decisions about our own lives – work, homes, children, business life, church problems.
(b) Living the Christian life before men. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6).
(c) Think before you speak. Think of the consequences of what you are about to say. What will the result be? What will the reaction be? What good will it do? What pitfalls might we enter?
(d) Be careful what you do and where you go. Consider the effect of your example on the non-Christian or the weaker Christian. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive (1 Corinthians 10:23).
(e) Need for wisdom to say and do the right thing in the home, at work, wherever we are in contact with non-Christians, and where our actions are being closely watched and weighed up. One false step, one hasty word can do untold harm and set back the situation for a long time.
(f) True also in dealings with Christians. People are different in background, temperament, spiritual growth. Need to be wise so that words and actions help and not hinder.
(g) So with preaching and teaching. Adjust style and vocabulary and context to the people to whom we speak. As someone once put it, we are called to “Feed my sheep”, not “Feed my giraffes”. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom (Colossians 1:28).
(h)
But the wisdom that comes
from heaven is first of all pure (no ulterior motives), then peace-loving
(not aggressive), considerate (gentle), submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). This is diametrically
opposite to worldly wisdom, which is demonic, self- seeking and envious.
(i)
Facing persecution. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). You
will be bought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name…. I
will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to
resist or contradict (Luke 21:15). There is a story of a young Christian
girl in Scotland in Covenanting days, attending a forbidden communion service.
Stopped by English soldiers when she was on her way, she answered “My Elder
Brother has died and they are going to read his will this afternoon and he has
done something for me and has left something for me. Therefore I want to hear
them read the will.” A shrewd answer – and a perfect description of the
Lord’s Supper.
(j)
Living life in the light of the Lord’s return. Like the five wise
virgins, we have to be prepared for the Lord’s coming. Lord Shaftsbury, at the
end of his life, was able to say “I haven’t lived a single hour when I
wasn’t influenced by the thought of Christ’s return.” Continue in him,
so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him (1 John
2:28).
We will not get very far in spiritual things till we are
convinced it is no use looking to ourselves, because it is a waste of time.
Abraham Lincoln said “I have often been driven to my knees by an overwhelming
conviction that I have nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of those
around me seemed insufficient for the day”. The Bible encourages us to
cultivate this overwhelming conviction.
Do not be wise in your own
eyes (Proverbs 3:7). Lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs
3:5). Begin by telling the Lord how helpless you are. Turn to Him, submit to
Him, commit your way to Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm
111:10; Proverbs 9:10). Then ask for wisdom and direction. If any of you
lacks wisdom, he should ask God (James 1:5). And will He give it? For the
Lord gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). He gives liberally and without reproach.
Solomon asked for it, and he was given it (2 Chronicles 1:10,12). Daniel also
thanked God for giving him wisdom and might (Daniel 2:23).
Sometimes this wisdom comes to us directly. Sometimes it comes through the counsel of others. A wise man listens to advice (Proverbs 12:15). He who walks with the wise grows wise (Proverbs 13:20). Scripture also reveals God’s wisdom to us. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7). The holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). So our hope is in God, He has promised to give wisdom to those who ask, and others have proved Him to be faithful to this promise.
Here is the promise of wisdom, so that in every aspect of
life we may make the right decisions, take up the right attitude, and live life
pleasing to God. N.B. Wisdom is not promised to enable us to be millionaires or
be successful or make a name for ourselves, but to be pleasing to God. This
ambition may leave the worldly man cold, but ought to be dear to every Christian
heart.
God has made every provision. He
has given us His Holy Spirit, His Word, new life, new heart, the support of His
family. And He is more than willing to give us this gift, not just once but
throughout our lives. This gift ought to constantly be growing in our lives, for
we are never done learning. Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still (Proverbs
9:9).
This is one reason why we should
face life without fear or uncertainty. God has not given us a spirit of
timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy
1:7). We belong to Him in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge (Colossians 2:3).
But this is something we have to be in earnest about, and to really want. Have to be prepared to make sacrifices for, to be thought of as odd or peculiar. It may cause us to make decisions and go in directions which the world will scoff at, as being “out of step”, or “behind the times”. But we cannot go with the crowd and with God at the same time. Double minded and unstable (James 1:6-8). A divided heart means compromise. If we are trying to keep in with the world, we will receive nothing from the Lord. No middle ground. Be totally committed to Him, have an undivided heart, and this will bring an abundant response, for He will be totally committed to you.
