God s Success Manuel (Part III)

Transcription

1 Text: Proverbs 1:8 Intro: God s Success Manuel (Part III) Ill. Author and businessman, Michael Powers, tells of the great wisdom of his 7 th grade Phys Ed teacher. Recalling his years in junior high, he writes: What I remember most about junior high was the incredible pain and heartache that students inflicted on one another with their words and actions. I didn't have the best self-image in junior high, and there were two things that I fell back on to be accepted: athletics and humor. I have always been a decent athlete which brought a certain confidence and comfort level in my life, and I have always been able to make people laugh. At times the laughter came at another's expense, unfortunately, and most times I didn't fully realize what I was doing to the self-images of those around me, particularly one classmate of mine. Her name was Tracy and she had a crush on me. Instead of nicely letting her know that I wasn't interested in her, I got caught up in trying to be funny with her being the brunt of my jokes. I am ashamed now to think of how I treated her in seventh grade. I made up songs about her, and even wrote short stories in which I had to save the world from Tracy the evil villain. That all changed about half way through the year, however. Mr. Greer came up to me one day.

2 Hey, Mike, you got a second?" Sure, Mr. Greer! I said. Everybody loved Mr. Greer, and I looked up to him like a father. Mike, I heard a rumor that you were going around picking on Tracy? He paused and looked me straight in the eye; it seemed like an eternity before he continued. You know what I told the person I heard that from? I told them it couldn't possibly be true. The Mike Powers I know would never treat another person like that, especially a young lady. I gulped, but said nothing. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and said, I just thought you should know that. Then he turned and walked away without a backward glance, leaving me to my thoughts. That very day I stopped picking on Tracy. I knew that the rumor was true, and that I had let my role-model down by my actions. More importantly, though, it made me realize how badly I must have hurt this girl and others for whom I had made life difficult. It was probably a couple of months later before I fully realized the incredible way in which Mr. Greer had handled the problem. He not only made me realize the seriousness of my actions, but he did it in a way that helped me to save face. My respect and love for him grew even stronger after that.

3 Now, How do you acquire wisdom like that? Well, Solomon makes some suggestions. Actually he mentions 3 ways to acquire a good head on your shoulders: The first is to study what the wisdom-skilled say. I. Study The Maxims of The Wise. In fact, the very first sentence of the Book of Proverbs states: The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom. Proverbs 1:1 There really is wisdom packed into those one-liners! Reading them, Memorizing them, Thinking about them, And passing them on Truly makes you wiser. Ill. Christian blogger, Kathleen Miller, shares how she was in the habit of always giving her opinion on things, sometimes even before she heard all the facts. I had been studying Proverbs and many of the passages I'd looked at had to do with listening and careless speech. God had been convicting me about how poorly I sometimes chose my words. In response to His nudging, I purposefully began to restrain my tongue, and a strange thing happened. Over time, I noticed new depth in my friendships.

4 My husband shared deeper feelings with me. My friends sensed a real change in the way I related to them. As I listened, I gained a better understanding of their fears and joys, and my heart opened to them more deeply than before. Proverbs had helped me identify some common listening difficulties and gave me a better understanding of how listening strengthens our friendships. Moreover, Kathleen wouldn t have gained the wisdom she did, had she not been studying the words of the wise. Remember, wisdom can be learned! Are you endeavoring to learn from those wiser than yourself? As someone has noted: A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Nobody lives long enough to make them all himself. Ill. Barbara also was someone who had the problem of quick speak. But after reading Proverbs 18:13, this rapid-response mother decided to introduce a new practice into her relationship with her daughter. So what did that proverb say? Simply this: He who answers before listening that s his folly and his shame. American author and keynote speaker, Stephen Covey, puts it this way: Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. So now when her rather quiet daughter wants to talk, she brews a pot of coffee, grabs a banana and sits down with her, sipping coffee and listens.

5 If she feels the urge to Interrupt, Offer advice, Or express an opinion, she just takes a bite out of the banana. Ill. Humorist, Samuel Levenson, made this astute observation: "It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." After all, Most of us have an overwhelming tendency to offer our superior opinions. However, doing so often comes across as setting ourselves up as an authority, rather than as a friend and equal. Next time, how about saying, Here s something you might do. Instead of saying, You should do this. Do you see the difference? The one comes across much more know-it-all. However, It s not that we shouldn t ever give advice, actually Solomon says just the opposite wise advice is a great blessing. Here s his take: Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. Proverbs 22:17-18 Notice sayings is plural (the bigger picture, choosing the right one for the occasion).

6 To apply your heart, means you ve really thought this out and have understood the deeper meaning behind the wise saying, you make it your own. Finally, Notice his advice to have them ready on your tongue. That means you ve memorized them and know how they apply to life. So, Why not once a week look for one that hits you and then memorize it. You can then tell people you meet, Hey listen to what I learned from the Book of Proverbs. Even if they don t need it at the time, you ve Memorized it; Quoted God s word to someone else; and Just made it stick a little better in your own mind. That said, Here s Solomon s second route to acquiring wisdom. II. Hang Around The Wise Proverbs 13:20 states: Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. This is true in general and doesn t just apply to spiritual matters alone. Entrepreneur, Scott Ginsberg remarked:

7 Absolutely the best business/life decision I've made in the past few years was to start hanging out with people who are smarter than me. Think about it One of the greatest problems that young people face today is that they are so disconnected from the older generation. And as Spanish philosopher, George Santayana, warned: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. That sure sounds foolish to me! Now, Wouldn t you agree Most of us spend more than enough time with a company of fools? What do I mean? Well, just remember that not all of your companions are people in your close circle of friends. Companions include, TV shows, Movies, Pod casts, Video games, Websites, Books, Magazines and Newspapers. Anybody acquainted with pop culture knows that there s an overabundance of fools out there airing their opinions in every facet of the media!

8 Therefore, It s often hard to find the wise to hang out with. What it means then is you often have to settle with associating with their shadow, that is: Their writings there are so many good books to choose from! Their broadcast do you avail yourself to Christian radio, esp. Moody? Or their YouTube channels today, you and I have so many avenues for spiritual enhancement. Because, I realize that we re a media-centric society, most people today would rather listen to something or watch it on video, therefore let me recommend one place.com. So, To become wiser 1. Study the maxims of the wise. 2. Hang around the wise. 3. And thirdly... III. Pay Attention To Life It s amazing the things you can learn if you just keep your eyes open. For instance, Solomon explains his common-sense approach to everyday issues: I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34

9 Wisdom is to be found in all kinds of places. God has embedded prudence into the very fabric of life, but like little children trying to find the hidden pictures in a national Highlife magazine, we need eyes trained to see it. Solomon had a keen sense for finding these life-lessons and then pointing them out to others. He says, I applied my heart to what I observed. Proverbs 24:32 Notice, He didn t just observe, he thought about what he saw. He understood that conclusions could be drawn from the actions of others. That s why he added: I learned a lesson from what I saw. Proverbs 24:32 Eyes are great teachers. What are your eyes teaching you? See anything lately where God said, Take a look at that. What can you learn here? Well, The Good Teacher calls our attention to something else he observed. It actually deals with the same topic as the rundown estate however, this time he sees great wisdom displayed in the smart behavior of the main characters: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

10 So, What did his Majesty See? He saw ant-wisdom, which of course is Creator-wisdom because the Creator is the One who made them. And one reason He made them was to teach us something. Ill. He says ants have an inborn insight as it relates to hard-work and laziness. Therefore, those lacking ambition should step out into their back yard and watch ants for a while they could really learn something from them. Here s what Solomon learned: Laziness is an invasive problem the more space you allow it in your life, the bigger it grows. Elsewhere he diagnosed its contagious nature when he wrote: Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry. Proverbs 19:15 But, Never limit this to mere material applications there s a spiritual dimension to it as well. Remember what he said earlier: A little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a bandit. Proverbs 24:34 Well, There s no poverty like soul poverty! Become careless in reading your Bible. Begin missing worship here and there.

11 Start putting other things ahead of God s Kingdom. Allow little compromises in your life. And pretty soon your spiritual account is overdrawn and if you don t do something about it, you ll be bankrupt in no time! So, What s the Wisdom Principle? Things don t take care of themselves; you have to actively work at maintaining them. He who refuses to work is like an unarmed man in a world of thieves he always loses! Even ants know this. Therefore, you want more wisdom? 1. Study the saying of the wise by the way, you ve got the best reference book available, it s called the Bible. 2. Hang out with the wise by the way, Jesus is the wisest of the wise! 3. And pay attention to life keep your eyes open in God s classroom. Finally, I conclude with this last example of thoughtful observation. I don t want you to ever forget it! Actually, it can change your life if you truly grasp it. Ill. A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill and asking, Who would like to have this crisp $20 bill?

12 Hands started going up. I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the bill and then asked. Who still wants it? No less hands were raised. Well what if I do this? He dropped it and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe and then picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. Now, who still wants it? There was no change in the number of takers. He then remarked: My friends, you have all observed a very valuable lesson today. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because its value never decreased; it was still worth $20. So, You may feel beat-up, crusted, dirty, yes even worthless, but from God s perspective, you re still priceless! In fact, so valuable that He paid the dearest price ever paid to get you back! Therefore, Why keep running from Him? Why believe Satan s lies? Why not return home? Why not surrender to Him who wants you? Why not let Him restore you to Himself? Why not today, why not now?

13 A man becomes wise by watching what happens to him when he isn't. Dublin Opinion Although we may not be able to produce wisdom ourselves, our minds are prepared to look for it and to recognize its products. Therefore, despite its rarity and profundity, wisdom is not completely hidden, or something that can be contacted only by an elite few. On the contrary, we all are somewhat connected to wisdom; we recognize, though in varying degrees, its challenge and see its footprints. On July 6, 2011, a hiker, Brian Matayoshi, was attacked by a female grizzly bear near the Wapiti Lake trail in Yellowstone National Park. He and his wife were visiting the park as hundreds of thousands do each year. Apparently they surprised the mother grizzly and her cubs. The National Park Service issued a statement saying, In an attempt to defend a perceived threat to her cubs, the bear attacked and fatally wounded the man. Though the man did not intend to harm the bear or her cubs, she did not know that and responded according to her nature with fatal results. As dangerous as it is to cross paths with a mother bear and her cubs, the Bible tells us that it is even more dangerous to cross paths with a fool. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Proverbs 17:12

14 A wise man learns by the experience of others. An ordinary man learns by his own experience. A fool learns by nobody's experience. A wise old Owl A wise old owl sat in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Let s try to imitate that bird. Let s Change The Rules The manager of a large office noticed a new man one day and told him to come into his office. What s your name? he asked the new guy. John, the new guy answered. The manager scowled, Look, I don t know what kind of place you worked before, but I don t call anyone by their first name. It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my employees by their last name only Smith, Jones, Baker that s all. I am to be referred to only as Mr. Robertson. Do you understand? As the new man nodded, the manager continued, Now that we got that straight, what is your last name? The new guy sighed, Darling. My name is John Darling. OK, John, the next thing I want to tell you is Something more valuable that valuables A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. I ve been thinking, he said, I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me something more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.