|
5. Opening Prayer - Lord clearly lead us by light and guided hand to straighten our ways as we seek knowledge and understand the teachings of Solomon. Amen
music - enchanted
LESSON:
The point of my message this morning is that we should "get wisdom." We should bend all our efforts to become wiser tomorrow than we are today. And I speak not just to students and graduates, but to us all. Graduation today gives me an occasion to say something that applies to us all, namely, that formal education is only one stage in the process of becoming a wise person. So much of life has been professionalized and institutionalized that we easily slip into the notion that it is the responsibility of some profession or some institution to impart to us wisdom. You can see this tendency in the fact that continuing education in many spheres is thought of entirely in terms of taking courses from professionals in institutions. The implication seems to be that wisdom and understanding are something you purchase with tuition and class fees rather than being a daily, lifelong process of growth. But what I want to stress this morning is that we should never be content with the wisdom we attained through formal education and we should not think that the only way to grow in our understanding is by taking more courses. When the wise man says in Proverbs 4:5, "Get wisdom, get insight," he does not mean, "Go to school, take more courses." That might be part of God's plan for you. But for most of us it is not. Yet the command comes to us all: "Get wisdom!" What does this mean? How shall we do it? And why is it so important?
Let's begin by asking why is it so important? We have already seen that all men seek happiness, and that this is not bad but good. Now the reason that getting wisdom is important is that it is the practical knowledge by which we gain this true and lasting happiness. Proverbs 3:13 says "Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gets understanding." Proverbs 24:13-14 says, "My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off." In other words, by means of wisdom you can make your way into a hope-filled future. It is the key to lasting happiness. Proverbs 19:8 says, "He who gets wisdom loves himself." In other words, do yourself a favor: Get wisdom! Get wisdom! Proverbs 8:32-36 sums it all up beautifully. Here wisdom herself is speaking and she says, "And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. . . . Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death." If we do not make it our aim to "get wisdom" we will suffer injury and finally death. Therefore, the command, "Get wisdom; Get insight," is very important. As Proverbs 16:16 puts it, "To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." It is a matter of life and death. The ultimate, eternal happiness that all people long for will only be found by those who first "get wisdom."
Praise to God ; Praise to the Lord
Thanks be to God - repeated.
Blessed be to God. - repeated
Blessing for us all.
Wisdom Prayer: Lord in our moment of seeking knowledge and truths it is your hand which we follow to obtain such understandings, that by your grace and goodness, that each one of us shall open our minds to absorb your words and advice. Amen
4. Opening Prayer - Lord lead us by light and guide us our ways as we seek to learn and understand the teachings of Solomon. Amen
music - enchanted
Chapter 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Chapter 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
In the travels open to us, it is important to steer out of the complexities of paths not righteous in motives or forthwith. The playing field to the human is continuously slanted toward the evil road as all humans are in nature, inclined to either seek a path of least resistance or the path with the greatest potential for pleasure quickest. Because of that doctrine built in each human, God must intervene in the thinking process with the guidance and reverence of at least pushing one’s self toward what is right versus what is wrong. But the definitive line between right and wrong, rests in one’s own mind and in the mind of public opinion. In one instance the issue of drawing the line is predicated on the two moving targets. Own’s mind , that which is contained in the views, values and internal being of one’s self, a component that can be influenced, uttered, changed, and waffled to a variety of flavors of the day. On the flip side of the coin, change own rely on the base of the Public, once again we see that this component of decision making towards right or wrong is flawed. While current event of the hour edit the human mindset, so the Public Opinion subject to rapid change. A prime example of that is the ever changing public perception of the drinking age. The age at one time in the 70’s was a standard 18 years of age, however, various states determining what is right or wrong, via public Opinion changed the law to 21 years of age. Following that, a variety of countries, changed their legal drinking age to 19. Now in the effort of determining what is right or wrong, how can humans, who are experiencing much of the same influences and quarks of life, set a public forum on the topic of drinking and it be varied to some great extent. The proverbs of yesteryear and today are relevant especially the following:
Chapter 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
A path is determined on wants, needs, pleasures, ease and perception. It has been said “ that the true test of character is not portrayed in the way one carries themselves in the public eye, but what one does during the time that the public eye is closed. A truth in the actions surface to guide that individuals motives towards right and wrong. In another look of determining the steps to decision making to achieve a sense of common morality is to seek a definition of such. The early philosophers, such as Aristotle, determined that morality was present in the minds of it participants when they experienced an inclination of wholeness. The settling factor can be witnessed in the next proverb, as described by Solomon.
Chapter 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
In many circumstances, determined or created from our acts or lack of acts, the root of consequences enters into play. We have heard that “ if the end justifies the means and the outcome is perceived good” then it must be the right decision. Is that so, certain decision can have immediate benefits but and time lapses become horrible catastrophes and some not so favored decisions, can have exponential returns in the future, even if on the onset, the decision looks bleak. Much can be assimilated to marriage, while a great number if not all marriages, begin with heightened expectations and bliss, as time wanes on the outcome is that less that 50% retain the luster or acceptance through the years. Such other decisions that face us today are innate as humans have tendencies, however with the inner percieverance dictating actions, the desire to make the decision right succeeds, no matter what the predetermined outcome is. Therefore, with careful hindsight and foresight, associated with conceived expectations, a choice is made. Some choices are “run for cover” even in the most likely favorable outcome as some consequences of the decision can linger to greater travesties. God has placed an inner gauge in each of us to look towards the right and moral choice, while experiencing signs of proper decisions.
Praise to God ; Praise to the Lord
Thanks be to God - repeated.
Blessed be to God. - repeated
Blessing for us all.
Wisdom Prayer: Lord in our moment of seeking knowledge and truths it is your hand which we follow to obtain such understandings, that by your grace and goodness, that each one of us shall open our minds to absorb your words and advice. Amen
3. Opening Prayer - Lord lead us by light and guide us our ways as we seek to learn and understand the teachings of Solomon. Amen
music - enchanted
Chapter 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisedom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
In summary – the fear of the Lord is the seven things that the Lord despises and those seven abominations are fournd in the Proverbs in later sections, it boils down to walking upright and righteous and being humble in nature. The times that the seven abominations are violated then one must expect some sort or remedy laid upon them. Not known the breadth of the remedy will be what eats at the sinners and occupies their mind. The seeking of knowledge and intuitively bringing forth an expected outcome is scratching the surface of understnading holy elements. The event of seeking will bring delight and clear concise. The knowledge gained should be supplemented with choice counsel, selected in confidence. Knowledge on its own will not parlay into results it takes action upon the knowledge that can move mountiains and inspire others to be absorbed in great works. Asking for forgiveness is also an action derived from knowledge and understanding.
Praise to God ; Praise to the Lord
Thanks be to God - repeated.
Blessed be to God. - repeated
Blessing for us all.
Wisdom Prayer: Lord in our moment of seeking knowledge and truths it is your hand which we follow to obtain such understandings, that by your grace and goodness, that each one of us shall open our minds to absorb your words and advice. Amen
2. Opening Prayer - Lord lead us by light and guide us our ways as we seek to learn and understand the teachings of Solomon. Amen
music - enchanted
Chapter 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
In summary – get away from foolish people as soon as possible. Foolish people have an inability to forecast a misstep and avoid its coming burden. Foolishness is done by both the use of the tongue to make statements and the hand. Where it is by unwise processing of a situation at hand or the on line moment of emotions to hypothecate something that otherwise would not occur. When in place, God grants us the message of forward thinking before we act, speak or partake. That instance of thinking can be the setting the stage of positive power or negative deflation. Further study of the Proverbs reference a number of instances were foolish engagement pits ones inner-guide in either opposition or harmony of external conditions. The proverb at hand directs one’s energy to find or mimic those of understanding
Praise to God ; Praise to the Lord
Thanks be to God - repeated.
Blessed be to God. - repeated
Blessing for us all.
Wisdom Prayer: Lord in our moment of seeking knowledge and truths it is your hand which we follow to obtain such understandings, that by your grace and goodness, that each one of us shall open our minds to absorb your words and advice. Amen
1. Opening Prayer - Lord lead us by light and guide us our ways as we seek to learn and understand the teachings of Solomon. Amen
music - enchanted
The sake of listening is not just to have information rattle in one ear and find no where to be applied. The sake of listening involves the intent of the listener to have the enlightenment of hearing the teachings of Solomon along with the intepretation of said teachings. in Chapter 5 of proverbs, Solomon erges us to seek the wisedom of the message and to listen to what is being or not being said. I refer to is "anticipatory knowledge" - it that knowledge that with reasonable deduction can be gleened from a given message. however, "anticipatory knowledge" is not to be acted upon unless other confirmations occur. In chapter 5 of proverbs, its the lesson of closing your mouth, holding your lips, while intaking knowledge. Instructions are key to the message and when usurped grief and tension arise to the surface. be wary of the unknown and stick to your knowns first before, grudging to another horizon. It's such temptation that can lead us to unhealth improvisions, all while the Lord is watching. Man for as we know it is a weak creature and at times our own leader of demise. Therefore, steadfast listening is in order to face the burdens of today and shield the mind from temptations.
Praise to God ; Praise to the Lord
Thanks be to God - repeated.
Blessed be to God. - repeated
Blessing for us all.
Wisdom Prayer: Lord in our moment of seeking knowledge and truths it is your hand which we follow to obtain such understandings, that by your grace and goodness, that each one of us shall open our minds to absorb your words and advice. Amen
|
