We have at our disposal today more knowledge than at any time in history. More information has been produced in the last thirty years than in the previous five thousand. Today information doubles every four years. Knowledge alone isn’t enough.: Did you know ...
--that only two people in Saudi Arabia subscribe to Surfer magazine?
--that Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per person than any other country in the world?
--that Heinz ketchup, poured from the mouth of an upended bottle, travels at an average speed of 25 miles per year?
Now we certainly have more information, but just knowing doesn’t mean you know what to do with what you know! The real problem is that most people have no idea what true wisdom is. And they settle for a wisdom that is not wise is at all. In fact, earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
MORE KNOWLEDGE AND LESS WISDOM THAN EVER BEFORE
Our world has plenty of knowledge and education, but not much wisdom.
Wisdom can often be learned from the fairly uneducated. Take children for instance.
Patrick, age 10 “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
Michael, age 14 “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ don’t answer him.” Michael also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
• Randy, 9 years “Stay away from prunes.”
• Lauren, age 9 “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”
Joel, 10 years old “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and
• Eileen, age 8 says, “Never try to baptize a cat.”
JON RANDLE: Who know where we are going/not building foundations/trend driven society
13 Who among you is wise and understanding?
Sophos-applied living/ skilled tradesman
There are many who think they have all the answers. - advice columns - self-help books - day-time television talk shows and radio programs - counseling and therapy clinics in this country in the last twenty years. OPRAH - There are just multitudes of individuals who regard themselves as endowed with the ability or qualified to share there wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom is not merely a matter of the head. It is rather a matter of the heart and of our behavior.
Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” Immanuel Kant
Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.,.
The person who is really wise we’ll show that wisdom by the way he lives his life. Your lifestyle will be the leading indicator of the level of your wisdom.
Depending on the kind of lifestyle a person has, you can make an accurate judgment concerning the kind of wisdom they have -- whether it is the wisdom that comes from God or the wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
James has already told us how we can get this true wisdom, which is from God.
James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." The place to begin is to ask.
But the real question is how can you put true wisdom into practice in your daily life?
To put true heavenly wisdom into practice you must do some things.
Repent of sin and walk in purity. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure,
God is interested in our character. (not earthly, natural, demonic) LIT ‘free of contamination’
Proverbs 15:26 "The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him." He is holy, and he desires for us to be holy as well.
You must repent of sin in order to walk in purity.
Repentance means a change of mind. Everywhere in Scripture it fundamentally means a change of mind. Some people believe that repentance means a change in behavior. It does not.
Ultimately it results in a change of behavior because when our minds change our behavior follows.
Behavior can be altered to suit a particular situation and not be a reflection of how we truly think. Everyone knows how to be on his or her best behavior when the situation requires it.
God does not want us to merely act holy, he wants us to be holy and this requires true repentance
Refuse jealousy and pursue peace. then peaceable(not bitter jealousy)
Heavenly wisdom is also peace-loving. Lit ‘restore break’
Proverbs 20:3 "Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor."
If you are always fighting with people something is not right inside. If angry and hostile you need to find out why. You can be sure that the anger and hostility is not inspired by God.
It is so easy to be angry and hostile. In fact, often we pride ourselves on our hostility. Somehow we think that it is a desirable character trait. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
If we are going to experience peace, we are going to have to pursue it.
Peace will not come on its own. We must intentionally avoid arguments by refusing to participate.
Lower the volume of life. Make peace your goal.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace
A couple just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Someone asked the husband the secret of their marital bliss. “Well, the wife and I had this agreement when we first got married: When she was bothered about something, she’d just tell me and get it off her chest. And if I was mad at her about something, I would take a long walk. I suppose you could attribute our happy marriage to the fact that I have largely led an outdoor life.”
Relinquish selfish ambition and be Gentle. gentle,(not selfish ambition)
Selfishness is at the root of so many of our problems. Makes us inconsiderate of others.
Heavenly wisdom is gentle. It is hard to think of others when we are only thinking about ourselves. As Christians, we are called to love and care for one another.
Colossians 3:13-14 "Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity."
Christianity is characterized by relationships. The relationship with God and with one another.
How we live in these relationships is critical. Christians should be a model of how people can live in love and concern for one another.
Christianity should display to the world that it is possible to overcome selfishness.
A rider on horseback, many years ago, came across a squad of soldiers who were trying to move a heavy piece of timber. A corporal stood by, giving lordly orders to “heave.” but the piece of timber was a trifle too heavy for the squad.
“Why don’t you help them?” asked the quiet man on the horse, addressing the corporal.
“Me? Why, I’m a corporal, sir!” Dismounting, the stranger took his place with the soldiers.
“Now, all together, boys—heave!” he said. And the big piece of timber slid into place. The stranger mounted his horse and addressed the corporal.
“The next time you have a piece of timber for your men to handle, corporal, send for the commander-in-chief.” The horseman was George Washington.
John Brodie, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was once asked why a million-dollar player like him should have to hold the ball for field goals and points after touchdown.
“Well,” said Brodie, “if I didn’t, it would fall over.”
Renounce stubbornness and be REASONABLE. reasonable, (do not be arrogant) Are you stubborn? Probably are stubbornly refusing to admit that you are stubborn.
All of us are stubborn at times. We think we are right and refuse to consider we may be wrong.
Heavenly wisdom is reasonable. The word used has to do with openness and teachability.
Lit "willing to yield to others." It should be apparent to us that we don’t know everything.
EINSTEIN: 2% of all that can be know we know
Proverbs 12:15 "Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice."
On one occasion Abraham Lincoln, to please a certain politician, issued a command to transfer certain regiments. When Sec. of War Edwin Stanton received the order, he refused to carry it out, saying the President was a fool. When Lincoln was told of this, he replied, “If Stanton said I’m a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I’ll see for myself.”
As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it. A teachable, submissive spirit is often a major key in defusing
Reject callous attitudes and be merciful in actions. full of mercy and good fruits, As we show mercy we are simply reflecting the nature of God. Lit ‘controlled by mercy’
God’s nature is one of mercy. God is merciful and we ought to be merciful also.
What keeps us from showing mercy?
Callous attitudes toward other people is the biggest hindrances. It is so easy to get a hard heart. We have all been disappointed by other people. All been hurt.
We may put up walls to keep people from hurting us. These not only keep people out but keep us in. They tend to make us insensitive and unfeeling. By building these we end up hurting ourselves.
Comedian Buddy Hackett confessed "I’ve had arguments with people, but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you’re carrying a grudge, they’re out dancing."
E. Stanley Jones says bitterness is similar to a rattlesnake. "If cornered, sometimes it will become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is— a biting of oneself. We think we’re harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves."
We should practice the art of showing mercy. Wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit.
It is the kind touch, or caring word, or encouraging deed.
We should look at people and ask ourselves what we can do to be an agent of mercy in their lives. Everyone needs mercy.
How did and does God to deal with us? Do we want what we deserve only?
We don’t want what we deserve at all. Rather, we want what we don’t deserve -- mercy!
Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
You must repudiate prejudice and be without hypocrasy. unwavering, without hypocrisy True heavenly wisdom is also impartial and sincere. Lit ‘not dividable’
James 2:8-9 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Years ago, a radio station received a strange request from a shepherd living on a lonely ranch in the Western United States. “Will you please strike “A” on the piano in your studio? I am far from a piano, and the only comfort I have is my fiddle. It is out of tune. Will you strike “A” so I can get it in tune again?”
Do you want true heavenly wisdom? Do you want the wisdom that is from above?
Repent of sin and walk in purity.
Refuse jealousy and pursue peace.
Relinquish selfish ambition and be gentle.
Renounce stubbornness and be reasonable.
Reject callous attitudes and be controlled by mercy.
Repudiate prejudice and be without hypocrasy.
These are indicators of whether the wisdom that we say we possess is really God’s wisdom
“It’s so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and say the opposite.” Sam Levenson Just think of a wrong way to live and live the opposite!
An old mountaineer from Kentucky once said, “I don’t ask the Lord for faith enough to move mountains. I can probably get hold of enough dynamite to do that. I ask the Lord for enough faith to move me!”
Be an influential person by living the life of faith. Be wise with God’s wisdom and show it by a good life.
