[0:00]Let your time and your schedule and everything about you revolve around this. That you and I are to develop and continue to develop this ongoing, intimate, wonderful, exciting, satisfying, indescribable, incomparable relationship with the personal God.
[0:23]In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. Next on In Touch, in search of wisdom.
[0:35]God has a plan for your life. You say, well how do I find out what that plan is? I'll tell you in a few moments. But he has a plan for your life. Now think about this. If God has a plan for your life, life is short. It could be very short. If he has a plan for your life, it's the best plan because he's almighty God. Who's God of goodness and love and mercy, and his plans are perfect. He has a plan for your life, it's the best plan. Life is short, you don't have any time to waste. So think about this. Think about how important your life is. You didn't have to be born, there would have been no you. But for some reason, he allowed you to be created, for some reason he gave you an opportunity to be alive, for some reason, God has a plan for your life. It's been there all along. Many of you going to live out your life and never discover his plan because you never thought about it. Some of you going to live it out because you don't want anybody else dictating you how you should live and how your life should be carried out. But what I want you to see is this, God has a plan for your life. It's the best plan that a that possible because this awesome God who's created this plan is a God of awesome goodness beyond our comprehension. Now, that being the case, how do we discover who he is? How do we live it out? How do we discover what this plan's all about? God has given the gift of wisdom to those who willing to seek it. And to understand that he's the ultimate expression of all that we could possibly become, because he said he predestined us to become fashioned like his son Jesus. So, if we're to live our lives out according to his plan, we will live wisely. If we live unwisely, we will live it out in waste, sin, disobedience, rebellion, and all the things that make up a life without God. So what I want to talk about in this message is simply this. I want to talk about God's wisdom. I want to talk about the wisdom he has for us. And the title is in search of wisdom, in search of God's wisdom. So, we're going to put all the verses on the screen so you can just read them off, jot down what the reference may be, and so you can come back to them at some other time and read them. But I want us to go through many of them for the simple reason, God is so, listen, he's so committed that you and I will live our lives wisely all through the scriptures. He's given us the principles by which to live. So we're going to start with Proverbs chapter two, and if you'll turn there for just a moment and we'll all read that one. Proverbs chapter two beginning in verse one. He says, My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Look at this, he stores up wisdom, sound wisdom, for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. God has the best possible plan for every single one of his children. And of course, that plan starts with trusting Christ as personal savior. And so when we look at these verses, um, we ask the question, all right, if if if wisdom is viewing things from God's perspective and responding to them on the basis of the truth of the word of God. How do I find wisdom? Well, where do I, where do I go? How do I seek wisdom? So, let's talk about uh we acquire wisdom by simply by seeking it. And the first passage I want us to look at is it's in the second chapter here. He says, make your ear attentive to wisdom. Incline your heart to understanding, that is if I want to know what God is saying, I've got to listen to him. You say, well, how do I listen to him? You have a spirit within you as a child of God. that enables you to hear the mind and the voice of God and to understand what he has in store for you. So, he says, for us because this is true, it's not automatic. A child doesn't grow up being wise, and there's some that are a lot smarter than others. But wisdom doesn't come automatically, it comes from God, and part of that is a gift from God. Look at this. For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright, those who live in Godly. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, that is, wisdom is very important in the eyes of God for his children. Then the next verse I want you to notice is uh in the 17th verse. I love those who love me, he says, and those who diligently seek me will find me. Somebody says, I want to be wise. God says, you want to be wise? You seek me. He says, look, he says you will find me. You'll discover what wisdom is all about, and I think if you listen today, as we open God's word, about wisdom, you'll begin to understand why it's so very important that all of us are wise in our belief system, in our conduct, our conversation, our character, and our way of life. Then of course, we acquire wisdom by meditating on God's word. This is God's guide book, and look at this verse, first verse if you will. In chapter four, verse 10 and 11. Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many. Now what is he saying? Is he promising a very, very long life to every single person? No. But notice what he says, accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many. I probably most people would live longer if they lived in obedience to God. That doesn't mean that every Christian would live to be a hundred, but I wonder if we wouldn't live a lot longer because if you're living in obedience to God and in wisdom, you're going to have less what? Less worry, less stress, and we could just go right down to things that kill people. And so wisdom is a very vital part of that. Then look at this, he says, I've directed you in the way of wisdom, I've led you in upright paths. That is, God has given us the pathway. When he gave us his word, remember this, somebody says, well, that Bible was written years and years and years ago. Listen carefully, here's the key.
[8:05]The scripture was written for people many years ago, but at the same time it was written written for them, it was also written for us who would be following after them. God knew that you and I were coming, and he knew that you and I would need to know the same God they knew. We would need to know how to walk in the paths of righteousness just like he was speaking to them about it. And so, this is God's word, and God's word is a vital part of learning to understand and to require wisdom. This is why I said to you oftentimes, you know, when you get up in the morning, one of the first things you should do is get in the word of God, even if it's a verse or two. But there words, this is God's guide book. If you, listen, if you if you lay the word of God aside, you will not live a life of wisdom. First of all, you will know what it is, you won't know how to identify it, you won't know the difference than that in unwise. Look at the world around you, they're living in a very unwise life, wasting their life, wasting their resources, and sinning against God, rebelling against God outrightly, with all kinds of shame and disobedience. Find out how many of those people read the word of God, meditate upon the word of God every day. No. They've already dispensed with the God book. Listen, the God who gave us life, and he says that I'm I'm creating you in my image. That same God is the God who gave us this word to teach us how to live and how to gain wisdom and to how we can walk wisely. Look at this next phrase here. We acquire wisdom by praying for it. Now, this is in James, listen to what he says in this passage. Now we know it's his is will for us to be wise, to walk wisely. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. It's just that simple. That's not all of it, but it's part of it. Who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. That is, it's God's purpose and plan that you and I would be wise and to know what wisdom is. And I can tell you, before I get out of the bed every morning, and I'd say every morning, I don't miss any time. I ask God to give me wisdom for the day. Now, I may have the plan and I may have the calendar all out, but I know that a lot can change instantly. God, give me wisdom for this day. Let me be sensitive to the people I talk to. Let me hear what they say, what they don't say. Make me sensitive to people's hurts and what they really want to say but don't know how to say it. Make me wise when it comes to my time, not to waste any, but not to rush through life. And I think there've been times in my life when the Lord has said to me, stop running. Stop hurrying, stop rushing. And so all of us probably have those things that we have to deal with, but one wonderful thing about God is, you know what? He never lets up. If you want to do the will of God and you keep making a mistake, you know what he does? He keeps reminding of it. No, no, no, no. There's a better way. Why? Because he, listen, as a parent, when you tell your child something and try to teach them something and they mess up two or three times, what do you say? Well, that's the end of that. No, you come back and say this is a better way to do it. You can do it. I'm going to help you do it. You want to mature them. God wants to mature us, and to be a mature person, you've got to be a wise person. So, the next thing I want us to notice is this. We acquire wisdom by observing how God works in the world. And God has an awesome way of working in this world. Think about this, can you it's hard for us to even think about it. Here's almighty God in heaven with all that's there. Only an omniscient God with all power could create oceans like he does and mountain peaks and snow and winter and fall and summer and spring. And and so much that he's provided for us, make crops grow and all the things that God does. Suppose there were no man. Watch this. If God had created that and never created a person, what on the earth would have worshiped God? Nothing. He says he created man in his own image, the only living thing on this earth that can pay homage to God and praise him and adore him and worship him and give thanks to him. Nothing else can. And he's made things so simple and so complex sometimes. And I think about uh in this verse, the sixth verse in the sixth chapter, listen to this. Go to the ants, you lazy person, he says, observe her ways and be wise. Now think about this, of all the things God had said. What is the tiniest little thing that you know that just bugs you when your kitchen gets full of them? Ants. And you've noticed, ants don't just wander around. They have a sense of direction. He says they have no captain, no God, no compass, nothing. They have a sense of direction, they know where they're going, and if you ever seen one, you you put a magnifying glass on one, it's amazing what a little ant can pick up with a mouth that you can't even see. They're not just floating around, they're going somewhere. So, what is he saying? He says, go to the ant, oh slugger, observe her ways and be wise. So, what are the what are the ways of an ant? Organized, energetic, have goals, and in fact, when you look at an ant, all of us could take some lessons. And you can just mess up what they're doing. Next thing you know, they're right back at it again. They don't give up, and imagine how imagine how large you look to an ant. How large you look to an ant. They're not intimidated, you know why? God created them in this awesome fashion. That's how wise God is, and he says he gives us his wisdom. We acquire wisdom by observing how God works in the world. And then, of course, we become wise by heating Godly council. This is a very important point. For the simple reason that um, I've seen some of the most heartbreaking experiences as a pastor in the lives of people who were given Godly council, wise council, and refused it. You can caution and caution and caution, and they think, well, I know better than you. But I want you to notice this passage of scripture here, in 12:15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to council.
[14:57]Nobody's ever so smart they have all the answers. All of us should be open to council, no matter who we are. You can't you can't have so much education, you're so smart, you don't you're not open to council. We don't have all the answers, but God has. And sometimes God may send somebody into your life to give you a bit of wisdom, that's very important for God's plan for your life. Don't judge people by their education, or however this, that, and the other, and so forth. You can't judge them by that. God uses all kinds of people to speak to us. And when he says in this passage, so clearly, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes. I don't need that, I don't need God. But a wise man is he who listens to council. Let me ask you a question.
[15:50]Are you open to council? Are you open to Godly council? Are you open for somebody to say, well, have you thought about that in your life? Are you open to hear someone say, if you walk this pathway, here's what's going to happen. Well, not me, I'm an exception. No. That's not the way God operates. And whenever you think you've reached the stage in life that you don't need it and that uh, you're you're better than and uh you have enough education and enough experience in life that you do not need council, you're in trouble. And often times people will say, you know, one word or one paragraph or one short sentence, and God absolutely changed my life. So being willing to listen is is godly. And when I think about that, and I think about a few people that that I've loved dearly in life, and um, just just would not, just could not, just just gonna have it their way. There are always consequences of refusing Godly council. And I pray that if a friend, if if somebody who's God and you know that somebody who loves the Lord and loves you, makes a suggestion to you or maybe might say to you, uh, do you mind if I tell you something? You know what? You don't you don't have to do it. It but it may be from God, it may not be from God, but at least you've not turned a deaf ear to what you see, if you turn to, if you just turn a deaf ear to everything you don't want to hear, you may turn a deaf ear to Almighty God. Now, I want to look at another verse here though. He says, listen to council and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Listen to council, accept discipline, that is make the changes that are necessary. But you know what he's saying? We'll grow. If I make this change in my life, that's wise, I'll grow. Make this change and the truth is, we should all be growing, wisdom wise. We should all be growing in our relationship to Jesus continuously. At what age do you stop growing in wisdom? I'll tell you, at whatever age you stop listening, staying out of the word of God, looking at the world and wanting to be like them. You don't really, you see, if if all the consequences of unbelief and disobedience and rebellion and ignoring God, if all those consequences would just come up to the surface each time, you know, I wouldn't follow their ways. But they don't. Then, look at this. We acquire wisdom by associating with the wise. So, who are your friends? Who are your friends?
[18:49]Are they people that uh contribute to your Godliness? Are they people who contribute to your obedience? Are they people who love you because of your Godly influence in their life? Are they, watch this, are they people, uh, whom you want your sons and daughters to be like? Are they people whose finances and their whole financial attitude about money is what you want your children to be like? You see, when he says, we acquire wisdom by associating with the wise. Listen, he said, he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Now, it doesn't get any straighter than that. Look to see who your friends are. Will you not agree that it says something about your character? If you choose people who are living like a fool, and they're living foolishly, if you choose them to be your your friends, what are you saying? I like that. That satisfies something in me. And to some degree, you're saying it's what I want to be like, you don't want to be foolish. Look at the consequences of living an ungodly life. And you can't change the scripture. What does it say? Whatever we sow, we're going to reap, whoever I walk with continuously, I'm going to become like them. It doesn't mean that you can't have some association with lost people because you want to win people to Christ. But he says, whoever walks, listen, but the but the companion of fools. will suffer harm. Be wise who your friends are. And if you look at this verse, and the and the Bible says it in several different ways. That is, we acquire wisdom as a gift from God. It's in Ecclesiastes chapter two. Look at this verse. For to a person who is good in His sight, that is God's sight, he has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner he has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This to is vanity and striving after wind. He says, you know, when you and I live a life of wisdom, God will use others, for example, who are not wise, that will he'll take from them and give to his children. Because what does he say? We reap what we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow, and it's not for us to decide where it comes from. Listen, if you live a life of wisdom, you're going to have joy. You're going to have a sense of peace, you're going to have a sense of happiness. You're going to have a sense of success about you. You may not have the finest job in the world, but if you're successful where God has placed you at that moment, you're successful, you're wise. If you listen, if you follow God's simple plan for your life, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be famous or wealthy or this, that, and the other, but it means this. You and God are on great terms, and he created you with his best plan in mind for you. Listen, what he has planned for you is totally beyond your comprehension. So, what do we do? We live wisely in this life. And one of these days we'll look back and realize we've done the wise thing, the right thing. I will simply ask you a question. If you're not a believer, why not? Is because the Bible's not true? No. It's because you've looked around and you've seen a few Christians that you think, well, now, I don't think uh they're living like you folks talk about. Well, you probably have. But why aren't you a believer? You can't claim wisdom for living outside the will of God and his plan for your life. That's not wisdom, that's foolheardy. So, why haven't you trusted Jesus as your savior? Because you don't believe that? Well, that's foolishness. Why don't you get in the word of God and read it and see and let God speak to your heart? Let him show you whether it's true or not. And here's what'll happen. Uncounted millions of people have read the word of God who may not have believed it to start with, but the spirit of God spoke to their heart and showed them the truth. It is my prayer that you will be wise enough. To know that God created you with a plan. He's there to live inside of you with the Holy Spirit and help you fulfill his plan for your life. Don't compare yourself with someone else, what's his plan, and what is the pathway he wants you to walk to please and honor him? And Father, how grateful we are. You love us enough to have created us in your image. died on the cross to take care of our sin problem. He lives with the Holy Spirit to enable us to live out your plan for our lives. I pray that every person who hears this message would be honest enough, brave enough, courageous enough to ask this question. God, am I wise or am I playing the fool? And then to make a wise decision.
