1 WISDOM ABOUT COMMON SENSE PROVERBS JULY 27, 2014 Have you noticed that common sense is not really all that common? I think about that when I see people speed up to get through the last bit of a yellow light and the first moment of the red light. I think about it when I see someone in the grocery store park their cart on one side of the aisle and stand on the other side of the aisle to read labels. I think about the lack of common sense when I see the label on a hair dryer that says, Do not use in shower. You know they had to put that label on there because someone did it! And then sued the hair dryer maker! And won their lawsuit! Really? There s a whole string of folks in that story who are missing common sense. Common sense, wisdom, street smarts, whatever you want to call it, is not same thing as knowledge. I ve known people who have lots of book knowledge, even advanced degrees, but have no common sense. Common sense is really not so common. And I wonder how that can be. Darwin s theory of the survival of the fittest would suggest those people would not survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. But somehow they do. In ever increasing numbers, it seems. Wisdom of the common sense variety is the ability to live life effectively. One of the ways common sense wisdom is communicated is through proverbs. A proverb is a short, pithy saying conveying some common sense or wisdom. It s not so much a prescription of how things ought to be, but a description of how things generally are. There are some proverbs I learned as a child: Like, God helps those who help themselves. By the way, that s not in the Bible. It s Benjamin Franklin. But his point was valid. God does not intend us to just sit like a baby bird in the nest and expect God to drop food in our mouths. He gave us skills and abilities to use. And God will bless our efforts. How about, Birds of a feather flock together. My parents warned me about hanging around with the wrong people. People might begin to think I was one of those wrong people. And there was the very real possibility that I d become more like those wrong people. On the other hand, there comes a point when a Christian is called to be mixing with those who do not know Christ so we can earn the right to point them toward him. I learned, that Idle hands are the devil s workshop. It was, among other things, a way to keep me from ever saying, I m bored. Say it once, and I d end up with a list of chores to do. I wonder what proverbs you might have learned.
2 In an era when we are so in need of common sense, it seems the appropriate thing to do would be take advice the wisest person you know. The smartest, wisest person I know is. God. And, fortunately for us, God has given us several books of wisdom. The Wisdom Literature of the Bible includes the books of Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and one entire book of proverbial sayings. It is titled very imaginatively: Proverbs. It is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon, and some of it may come from him, but portions of it are clearly from other sources. If you read the book, you ll see there is no story-line to it, no apparent thematic or literary structure. It s really more like a loose collection of one-liners. And, like modern proverbs, they are not prescriptions of how things ought to be, but more like descriptions of how things are. Most of it doesn t seem particularly spiritual. It is more like practical counsel for living well. Some of these proverbs will sound very familiar. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Some proverbs you may find very appealing. One of my personal favorites says, Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. (Pr.16:18) (Pr.16:31) Stop laughing! It s really in there. In this book God is giving us some common sense wisdom. I can t think of a better source for wisdom. Today I ll try to give you just a taste of some of the wisdom of the Proverbs. As you might expect there are some proverbs about the foundations of wisdom. One of the most well-known says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Pr.1:7) Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You can very neatly set that beside a verse from the Psalms The fool says in his heart, There is no god. (Ps.14:1; 53:1) Which of course gives rise to the one religious holiday for atheists, April Fool s Day. The fool says in his heart, There is no god. But Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And there s a proverb we have sung in a contemporary praise song, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Pr.3:5-6) In other words, wisdom is seeking the will of God and then doing the will of God. There are proverbs about the importance and benefits of wisdom. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Pr.14:12; 16:25) All of a man s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighted by the Lord. (Pr.16:2) For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. There is the importance of having a teachable spirit. The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. The way of fools seems right to them, (Pr.1:32) (Pr.10:8)
3 but the wise listen to advice. (Pr.12:15) A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. (Pr.17:10) All of that and more says in BIG, BOLD LETTERS: WISE UP! And what does the life of the wise person look like? The wise person knows the importance of taming the tongue. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Pr.17:28) The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. (Pr.18:6) A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. (Pr.11:13) The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. (Pr.12:22) A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Pr.25:11) In short, watch your mouth. It s not just a matter of actions, but also of words. So watch your mouth. Proverbs provides advice and real life description regarding marriage. May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. May you be captivated by her love. Why be captivated by an adulteress? Why embrace another man s wife? For a man s ways are in full view of the Lord. (Ps.5:18-21) Wisdom will save you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. (Pr.2:16-17) The prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? (Pr.6:26-27) Biblical wisdom recognizes the temptations faced by all of us, and teaches us that sexual fidelity, faithfulness, really matters. And there are a few words about wives. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. (Pr.18:22) Then there s one of my personal favorites for wedding sermons: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (Pr.21:9; 25:24) Just kidding! Well, not entirely kidding. It REALLY IS in the book of Proverbs. But it s not a verse I use for weddings. And then Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character. To the surprise of many who cling to a traditional 1950s American model, she s a successful business woman! She s buying and selling, making good deals and building profits, so she can take provide for and care of her family, and also be generous to the poor. And near the end of the chapter it says, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Pr.31:30) There is also some common sense regarding parenting. Of course, there s the first commandment of parenting: Thou shalt not kill. But after that, Proverbs offers us common sense. There s the one you all know,
4 Spare the rod and spoil the child. Actually, that exact wording comes from a 17th century poem by Samuel Butler. But it s close to the biblical form which says, He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. (Pr.13:24) The basic idea is, disciplining your child is no fun, and they probably won t be pleased with you, but sometimes it really is the most loving thing you can do for them. There are a number of proverbs that make that point. The job of a parent is not to be their child s buddy. It is to be the parent, which means sometimes bringing discipline to bear. Another proverbial principle for parenting is, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Pr.22:5) Do your best to teach your child values and faith, and that teaching will take root in their soul. Generally speaking, that s the way things work. The harder truth is, there are exceptions to that rule. Sometimes a parent might do everything in their power to teach and model faith and values for their child, but it does not seem to take root, their child goes a very different way, and the parent s heart is broken. It does happen. If you are a parent whose child has strayed far off the path, do not let anyone heap guilt on you by suggesting you did not do it right or do enough. Your child has free will to make their own life choices. And just as you and I misuse our free will in ways that hurt the heart of God, so sometimes our children will do the same thing to us. Just keep loving them and praying for them. But know that it is really up to them and God. At the same time, we still must plant good seeds. Proverbs gives us wisdom about money, lots and lots of wisdom about money. As if God knew this would be a problem area for many of us. Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is Maker of them all. (Pr.22:2) Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. (Pr.28:6) Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. (Pr.11:4) In other words, the value of a life is not measured by dollars and cents. What matters most is your relationship with God and your character. There s clear advice regarding financial debt. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Pr.22:7) Debt may allow you to get more stuff right now, but in the long run it is not your friend. So get out of debt, and stay out of debt. There are plenty of calls for being generous toward the poor. One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Pr.11:24-25) He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Pr.14:31) A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. (Pr.22:9)
5 And there are warnings about the temptations of riches. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. (Pr.15:16) And this one really struck me, Give me neither poverty, nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and say, Who is the Lord? Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Pr.30:8-9) I wonder how often we miss out on seeing the power of God at work because we ve got so much stuff and feel so capable on our own we think, Who is the Lord? Temptations come with having too much or not enough. I wonder if Jesus had this in mind when he taught us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. There are plenty of proverbs about having a good work ethic. Go to the ant, you sluggard; considers its ways and be wise. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores up its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 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. (Pr.6:9-11) A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. (Pr.20:4) I like that word, sluggard. You didn t know it was biblical to call someone a slug, did you? There s a proverb that suggests if you work hard and smart, if you re really good at what you do, you ll advance: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (Pr.22:29) And there s a proverb that warns against workaholism: Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Pr.23:4-5) There s more to life than just working a lot to make more money. In Proverbs there are warnings against venting your anger. A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. A quick-tempered man does foolish things. (Pr.14:16-17) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Pr.15:1) Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered many stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. (Pr.15:17-18) A fool gives vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (Pr.29:11) Given this advice, I ve seen more than a few drivers who should get some anger management counseling. For that matter, there are times in parenting when many of us have felt that need. And how many marriages have been badly damaged because a husband or wife or both never learned to control their temper. Hurtful words leave emotional scars that are not easily healed. Hurtful things done may even leave physical scars. It s a good thing we have a God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
6 It would be a good thing to ask him help us be more like him. Proverbs offers advice on a number of other topics. But I want to conclude with some wisdom offered on the topic of friendship. We often think of friends as those we enjoy, those who make us feel good, those who like the things we like and do the things we do. And all those things can be part of a friendship. But the book of Proverbs probes deeper than just good feelings. A friend, a real friend, will be there for you and with you when life is not easy, when things are going wrong, when you re struggling. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Pr.18:24) Or this one: Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Pr.27:6) A real friend cares enough about you they ll give you the painful truth if it will benefit you. Oh, they won t hit you over the head with it. But they will give you the truth with grace. Like the man who told his friend, The reason you don t have any other friends is You re a negative person. You focus on the bad things that might happen and the difficulties you are experiencing. You assume the worst about other people and their motives. And that s just not much fun to be around. If you d work at thinking about and talking about more positive things, you d have more friends. It s a scary thing to wade into a conversation like that. But sometimes the most loving thing you can do is give them the truth, even if it may hurt to hear it, even if they might get mad and turn their back on you. If you are true friend in the biblical sense, sometimes that s what you ve got to do. As another proverb says, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Pr.27:17) One of the greatest ways to grow as a person is to have a friendship where you share mutual encouragement and accountability, someone who will speak to you with both grace and truth. Do you have a friend like that in your life? Are you that good a friend to someone else? Those are just some of the more frequently mentioned topics in the book of Proverbs. There s a lot of wisdom to be found there. But, frankly, there is wisdom to be found throughout the Bible. As you read the Bible you get to know the character of God. And the better you know God and grow closer to him, you are drawing close to the source of all wisdom. He can surely help you with this common sense thing. So you won t be the one blocking the entire aisle in the grocery store, or running the red light. It says in the book of Proverbs, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Pr.3:5-6) SERMON NOTES:
Proverbs about wisdom (Pr.1:7; Ps.14:1; 53:1; Pr.3:5-6; 14:12; 16:25; 16:2; 1:32; 10:8; 12:15; 17:10) Proverbs about taming the tongue (Pr.17:28; 18:6; 11:13; 12:22; 25:11) Proverbs about marriage (Pr.5:18-21; 2:16-17; 6:26-27; 18:22; 21:9; 25:24; 31) Proverbs about parenting (Pr.13:24; 22:5) Proverbs about money (Pr.22:2; 28:6; 11:4; 22:7; 11:24-25; 14:31; 22:9; 15:16; 30:8-9) Proverbs about anger (Pr.14:16-17; 15:1; 15:17-18; 29:11) Proverbs about friends (Pr.18:24; 27:6, 17) Proverbs 3:5-6 7