• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
\u201dThe Exceeding Preciousness of Wisdom\u201d
(Proverbs
2 : 1 - 5 )

Introduction: Whatis precious to you? What do find to have more value
than anything else you can think of? If an answer doesn\u2019t come readily to
mind, then ask yourself, What do you spend most of your time on? What do
you spend most of your money for? Whatisitthat occupies your thoughts
more than anything else? The answer to these questions reveal whati tis
that you find to be the most valuable and precious to you.

But what are the answers that you gave to these questions? Wasi tyour work that came to mind? Are you busy trying to build a successful business in life? Wasi t your family that you thought of? Do you devote most of

your time to develop your relationships with your wife and children? Wasi t
sports or recreation that has captivated your time and thoughts? Do you

keep up on all the latest scores in pro-sports? Do you often day-dream
about the lake where you love to fish? Are you addicted to computer games?
But, to go further, what should the answer to these questions be for every

Christian? What should the most precious thing be to you? What should you be devoting your time to? What should be on your mind and heart more than anything else?I t must be the Lord, of course! If you are a Christian, then the Lord and the things of the Lord are the most important to you, or else you are not a Christian at all. The Christian seeks in every way and at all times to glorify the Lord in everything that he does, because he

belongs to the Lord and not to himself. Paul wrote,\u201dIURGE YOU THEREFORE,
BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING AND HOLY
SACRIFICE, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, WHICHIS YOUR SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF WORSHIP\u201d
(Rom.
12:l);
\u201dFOR YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD
IN YOUR BODY\u201d
( 1
Cor.6:
2 0 ).

Jesus said, \u201dFOR WHOEVER WISHES TO SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT\u201d (Matt.

16:24).
You do not offer your body to God only to takei t back

again. You are not purchased with a price only to live as though you owned yourself. You do not lose your life only to takei t up again for yourself. Does this mean that you may no longer do the things that you please after coming to Christ? Does this mean that your life-style has to change? Yes,

it must change drastically. You now have a new name stamped on your
forehead which reads, \u201dHOLINESS TO THE LORD.\u201d You are to be holy in mind
and body, words and works. Everything you dois now to be Christ-centered.
Paul wrote in1 Corinthians
10:31,
\u201dWHETHER, THEN, YOU EAT OR DRINK OR
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD\u201d
( 1
Cor.10:31
1 .
This does not
mean that you will never do anything that you want. You always do the
things that you want at all times. But whati t meansis that your new heart
will desire to do everything that you do to God\u2019s glory, and if you can\u2019t do
it for His glory, then you will not want to doi t at all.
But you may ask yourself the question, What does this have to do with
the preciousness of wisdom, whichis the title of this sermon?
It has much
to do withi t , for the wisdom whichis being referred to hereis no ordinary
wisdom.I tis the wisdom of God to live daily a life pleasing to Him.I t
is the knowledge of how to live for His glory. What could possibly be more

precious to the Christian than the answer to that plaguing question, Whatis the will of God formy life? Such knowledge will be very precious to you if you are Christ\u2019s.

You already know that the Lord has given to you the book of Proverbs to teach you this wisdom for life. You also know that the fear of the Lordis the place where godly wisdom and knowledgeis to begin. And you know that

2

the Lord has warned that to turn away from such knowledge will result in the Lord\u2019s turning away from you in the day of your calamity. This morning, you need to see that,

obtaini t .
You must intensely desire God\u2019s wisdomin your life if you are to
I.First, I Want to Remind You What the Goal Is That Is to Be Reached.
A.
Solomon says thatit is that you might have the ability to discern
the fear of the Lord, that is to perceiveor to understandit.
1.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.I t is that holy dread of God that you should do anything against His holy law and incur His wrath and judgment.

wisdom.
a. The more you fear the Lord, the wiser you will be.
b. And the wiser you become, the more you will understand
c. The grand conclusion of Solomon to all of the problems of
2. But the fear of the Lord is also the end,or the goal of all
whati t means to fear God.

lifein the book of Ecclesiastes is this, \u201dFEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, BECAUSE THIS APPLIES TO EVERY PERSON. FOR GOD WILL BRING EVERY ACT TO JUDGMENT, EVERYTHING WHICH IS

HIDDEN, WHETHER IT IS GOOD OR EVIL\u201d
(12:13-14).
d. To fear God is the beginning of wisdom, and to understand
the fear of the Lord is the goal of all wisdom.
B. That goal is also described as finding the knowledge of God.
1.
They come togethera n d cannot be found apart.

2. The knowledge of God is to be foundin the way of the fear of the Lord, and the more that you know about God, the more you will fear Him, for He is a greata n dterrible God.

3. As much as we might like to gloss over that fact and think of
God morein the light of His love, we must not forget that He is
an awesome God who is to be feared. The sooner we learn that
fact, the more we will livein such a way as to glorify Him.
II.But There Are Conditions Which Are Laid Down by Solomon Before You
Might Obtain this Knowledge.
A.
There are usually conditions to be met before you can get anything
in our society.
1.
In our culture you must be 15 1/2 years old before you can get
your drivers permita n d16 years old before you can get your
license, provided you have met all of the other conditions.
designated heir to someone\u2019s fortune,a n dthat person must first
die beforei t becomes yours.
3.
In order to get married, you must first have a blood test. Then
you must apply for a marriage license. Andthen you must be
marriedbyan officer of the state who has the power to marry.
2.In order to receivean inheritance, you must first be the
4. Conditions are not something strangein our society.
B. There are conditionsin the spiritual realm as well.
1.You must be adopted into the family of God before you will ever
2. You must be justified by the righteousness of Christ before you
3.
You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ before you can stand
in the end be glorified.
can be adopted into God\u2019s family.
3
as just in the sight of your holy God.
to be saved.
regenerated. Paul wrote,"HOW THEN SHALL THEY CALL UPONHIMI N
WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED?A N D HOW SHALL THEY BELIEVEI NH I M
4.You must be born again before you can believe on Christ in order
5.In most cases you must hear the Gospel before you can be
WHOMTHEYHAVE NOTHEARD?
ANn
HOWSHALLTHEYHEARWITHOUTA
PREACHER?
ANn
HOWSHALLTHEYPREACHUNLESS THEYARE
SENT?"
(Rom.
10:14-15).
His elect whom He saves dyingin infancyor from those who never
have the mental capacity to understand the Gospel.
6.There are always certain conditions which must be met before you
may obtain anything.
The only exceptions to this rule are those of
III.Here, Solomon Tells You What the Conditions Are Which You Must Meet
Before You May Obtain This Precious Knowledge.
A.
You must receive this knowledge and treasureup the commandments
within you.
1.
There must be a willingness on your part to acquire wisdom.
a. The literal reading places the emphasis on your part. You
b.A great banquet of the delicacies of wisdom are laid out for
must take these sayings. You must lay hold of them.

you on a large table. But they will do you no good unless you reach outandtake them. You mustfill your plate with the best of this spiritual food.

c. But you have not really done what Solomon here refers to
until you have eaten what you have taken, until you have
received those morsels into your body.
d.I t is a taking which includes the willingness to receiveit.
2. But there is another difference. Food is eaten only to be
eliminated afteri t has been used by the body. Solomon says
that you must not only receiveit,buttreasure i tup.

a. In terms of our analogy, this would be like eating more than
what you need merely to maintain your body.I t is eating
enough to strengthenit,a n dto build i tup.

prevention of starvation,but the making of a healthya n d
vibrant body.

something which will strengthen your soul for the time to come.I t is to be hiddenin your hearta n d mind,a n d used as a precious guidein life.I t is not something to be

eatenandthen eliminated.
b.
Itis a nourishing which brings withi t more than the
c. Wisdom is to be stored,i tis to be treasuredu p as
3.

Butin order for you to treasureup this valuable commodity, you must have a readiness to listen toit,a n d have a heart inclined towards receivingit.

a. Most of the Israelites would not have possessed a copy of the Scriptures. Their main source of information, then, would be from hearing the priestsa n dLevites readit.

(i)

You too must give careful attention to the Word asit is read,so that you might storeu p this treasure in your heart.

Not long ago you were also exhorted from Scripturein
Deuteronomy
6:4-9
to continually teach these things to
(ii)
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...