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The Need, The Getting and the Likeness of Wisdom

Introduction -

A. The Context: Verses 1-4

  • Embracing the joy of the purpose of the trial.
  • A Consolation: The diverse trials are helping to make us more like Jesus.
  • Yes. I will "count it all joy" BUT HOW? (Wisdom knowing the HOW.)
  • ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE - More info vs wisdom - Reading the book of PROVERBS - Illustration

I. 1. What We Need -

A. "IF"

  • Are You Wise Enough?
  • How much Wisdom is enough?
  • Why The Lack? IF any of you lack wisdom (Is there a question? Do we have enough)

IT IS SELF EVIDENT but only if we PAY ATTENTION. – But wisdom is justified of all her children. LUKE 7:35 — You know Why do we need wisdom? Knowledge and education is not enough (ALL THESE BOOKS)

It is WISE to ask for wisdom. Know you need some. (humility) — JEREMIAH was locked out and we are problem solving.

Human tendency toward Lacking wisdon versus lacking power.

CONCLUSION: “If any of you lack wisdom”

C. Lack

  • Lack? Who in bible has had it?
  • Wisdom examples:
  • Genesis 2:16,17 & 3:6 - adam & eve (knowledge of good and evil, behavior)
  • Genesis 37 dreams (responsible for content of his dreams, compare with eli to samuel) vs 41:38,39 "discreet" understanding - joseph was a man that could hear from God
  • Young Mary - luke 1:38,45 (for believing)
  • Jospeh. Marys fiance - 1. Matt 1:20 Mary with child and 2. Matt 2:13 "a lot of things he could have done" "ih i woukd listen to the Lord!" Really?
  • 1 cor 1:20-31 christ is made our wisdom

II. How We Get it - Asking for Wisdom

It is wise to receive wisdom. If you are a fool how do you know, what you don’t know?

A. Wisdom is an attribute of God

  • Who has it? Book of proverns and amenhotep egyptoan orivernial writings 2 chapters. Wisdom psalms

Psalm 14:1 — The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

B. How to ask? Simply and properly (vs 5-11)

James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1. Let him ask of God (v.5)

  • Godly wisdom comes down.

Proverbs 3:19 — The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

  • Have I started from the beginning?

Proverbs 9:10 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

  • Solomon asked of the Lord, give me wisdom 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1;

2 Chronicles 1:10 — Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged — Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

2. **But let him ask in faith &hellp; (v.6a)

  • IN FAITH: "But I've prayed about this!" What does that mean? Am I in biblical order? Fellowship of the saints? Am I walking in the light?

  • FAITH: persuasion, moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of Gospel truth itself - fidelity, loyalty

  • We get consistent advice from God because He is consistent.

3. NOTHING/Without WAVERING (vs.6b)

James 1:6c-12 — For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • WAVERETH — to separate thoroughly; to withdraw from; hesitate; doubt; stagger
a. "THAT WOULD BE NICE." (Can I really help it? 1 Timothy 2:8 ...without doubting... internal or external debate)
  • DOUBTED: Adam doubted the wisdom of God. - Jonah doubted God's wisdom in saving Ninevah. - Elijah was afraid (1 Kings 19:3) and ran for his life from Jezebel after he had defeated their false gods on Mount Carmel and slew their priests. John the Baptist appeared to stumble (Luke 7:19-23) Asked of Jesus, "Art thou he?"

Luke 7:22-23 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. [tripped up]

Not accurately a penalty for doubting, but a reward for standing fast.

b. Do I really want God's wisdom to be realized? God's help does not always come as we expect it. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-27.

2 Kings 5:9 — So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger …

… Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

c. After PRAYing, PLAYing === unwise

John 8:11 — She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Instead of standing on the promises, we can be tempted to lukewarmly play with them.

Please God, make me good, but not just yet — Augustine (354–430)

d. DON'T WAVER for the Delay. You can ask again. He won't tire. James was Jesus' half-brother; you can talk to Jesus every day.

III. Whats it look like

James 1:12 — Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

A. What Wisdom IS.

  1. Wisdom is: Desireable

Proverbs 16:16 — How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

  1. Wisdom is: Paying attention. Pause and reflect on the nuggets of God's revelation. “JUST 1 THING”
  2. Wisdom: Living in the light of who God is
  3. Wisdom is: Not Wit or cleverness

To Desire wisdom is not to desire "smartness", but to make "God-honoring choices".

  1. Wisdom is: a Discerning heart - right and wrong - good judgment -that was not very wise! - good sense
  2. Wisdom is: SKILL - Knowledge rightly applied; artisan
  3. Wisdom is: Behavior - The wise know how to put into practice.

The wise puts into practice ... house on sand. Godly insight appkied to the living of life

Matthew 7:4 — Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

  1. Wisdom is: a companion of Humility - A wiseman is never proud.

B. What Wisdom Looks Like

  • Bunyans worldly wiseman - wisdom of this world. - Worlsy vs fodky - Devilish, genesis 3 becone wise (knowledge & exp of sin of sin) vs fodly knowledge

Proverbs 10:1 — The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Pr 10:5 ¶ He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Proverb (“The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” — Jeremiah 31:29, BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE; They had a witty saying, but it was unwise.) -- Can u harmonize all proverbs and wisdom?

10:5 works when time to work

Wisdom is justified by her choldren? ( what follows wisdom)

Luke 7:35 — But wisdom is justified of all her children.

The Spirit of Wisdom

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