The value of wisdom
Ecclesiastes
10 verse 10 of the new living translation
“Using a
dull axe requires great strength so sharpen the blade. That's the value of
wisdom it helps you Succeed.”
Knowledge is
not wisdom unless it is in applied in the godly way.
We all have
access to various forms of knowledge whether its the internet or its books in a
library.
These
resources can give us well informed instructions on succeeding in the things we
do in life.
But it's no
use having knowledge if it is not understood and applied.
As
Christians we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the meaning of scriptures
we do not understand.
Having a
Bible will not help us succeed if we leave it on the shelf do not read it or we
do not do what it says we should do. It's like being a warrior who goes into
the thick of battle with his with his sword in its scabbard Expecting to win a
fight without a drawn sword.
It's also
like expecting forgiveness without repentance.
Wisdom God's
wisdom can seem foolishness to men even the gospel is foolishness to those not
being saved. That's right God can ask you to do something that sounds
ridiculous.
He told Ezekiel to eat bread bake on human poo
not just for one day but for 390 days whilst lying on its side in front of a
model of the siege of Jerusalem. Fortunately, Ezekiel spoke to God and he said
he could bake it with cow poo instead.
Ezekiel 4:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 And
thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh
out of man, in their sight.
When David
Faced Goliath with a sling and a stone the giant mocked him – yet it was David
who succeeding by holding up the severed head of the Goliath removed with the giant’s
sword.
1 Samuel 17:42-44 New Living Translation (NLT)
42 sneering in contempt
at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a
dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed
David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over
here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
Success is
not having accumulated great wealth after all there are many self-confessed man
and women who have sold their souls to the evil one. But even this is
foolishness for you cannot sell something that does not belong to you in the
1st place since Jesus Christ was crucified and paid the Devils ransom for all
the souls of men.
Success is
not having the most beautiful wife beauty is only skin deep, but ugliness comes
from the heart.
Success is
not being president nor having the biggest company, we can't take our riches
with us when we die nor, can we take our status because God is no respecter of
persons.
But don't
get me wrong God can surely make you rich if he wants too, give you a beautiful
wife and make you president. But things are not the measure of success.
If we apply
wisdom we will have treasure in heaven.
Matthew 6:20 New Living Translation (NLT)
20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and
rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
I remember having a job interview and
the person interviewing me told me I just want to be successful at the time I
did not give him the answer to my regret.
But that was
then today I am here to Tell you what success is living in the will of God.
For example,
look at Joseph he lived life by honouring God in obedience to his wisdom, he
lived in the will of God, he walked the will of God, and spoke the will of God.
He was the
best son some may think him a tell-tale and a boaster, but he was responsible
he told his father the truth and did not hide the truth to his father but to
his cost in respect of his brothers.
He was sold
into slavery by his brothers, but he became the best Slave his master could
have he ran the whole household Except his master's wife.
When he
refused to sin, and as a result he was thrown in jail but despite that he
became the best prisoner and ran affairs of the whole prison. When the time
came he used his gift of interpretation and gave both a good report to one and
bad report to another he was forgotten. But when the time came news of his gift
reached pharaoh he became prime minister of Egypt his obedience to the will of
God meant that his life was responsible for the deliverance of not just of
Egypt but the whole region, his own family and nation.
Who wants to
be a joseph?
Why is
success so important well when you live in the will of God and do what he tells
us today there are rewards in this life and the next. The cost of disobedience in
the face of temptation with Potiphar’s wife would have meant the starvation and
the collapse of a whole region.
Recently I
paid the price for not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit he told me
in my heart I should manage my money better. But I didn't Obey I spent some
money on buying a computer game and some cokes. The folly in this is I now have
less money for my other responsibilities. So ignoring wisdom will cost you.
So, when God
gives us knowledge it not only benefits us it benefits everyone. Receiving
instructions from God can sound strange and carrying them out can be painful
and difficult at the times – but in the long term and in eternity its more than
worth it a million times over don’t let selfishness disappoint you so It’s
better to obey God than fear or please man.
I believe
there are a few Josephs here today?
Many people
don’t take risks and say its unwise, but faith is all about taking risks. Jesus
did say I am going out into all the earth to preach the gospel no he
commissioned us too. So, don’t think you are not a messenger of the Good news.
Or its someone else’s job to speak the truth.
Often its
easy when trouble comes to say why me? The Holy spirit said to me’ why Joseph?
Joseph's journey with destiny started by being
sold as a slave for telling the truth yet that's not how his life ended with God.
Jesus had to
become a man in order to pay our ransom and he had to be crucified to be
glorified.
Joseph was a
slave and slaves are expected 2 obey orders and whose slaves, are we? Are we
not slaves to righteousness?
God has
given us the tools of wisdom God has given us knowledge and he's given us the
spirit of truth to guide us. The bible is a weapon of spiritual warfare
designed to get men’s hearts to consider eternity.
But the
truth is powerless if we do not apply to our lives and personally to the way we
walk. But the truth will always be there to tell us I told you so.
God says
live within your means, but I said no and wasted money on computer games and
coke.
What do we
think God will say if I claim I did not know the prices were going up this week?
He will say
but my spirit warned you to be more responsible with your money, its now your
fault you don’t have enough.
One day he
will ask me and all of us, what did you do with what I gave you?
Did you read
your Bible?
Did you do
what it says?
Did you obey
my spirit?
These are
the questions we don't want to face. We who have knowledge the knowledge of God
and of salvation have no excuse we will not be able to argue with God's
judgment of not applying knowledge, that he has given us to succeed. God did not
give us the bible to fail he gave us the bible to help us succeed.
Joshua 1:8-9
8 Study this Book of
Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to
obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all
you do.
9 This is my command—be strong
and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
So, what is the good news it's so distressing well if we
apply the knowledge God will reward us he will say well done good and faithful
son or daughter. I gave you $10 and you have returned $1,000,000. I saved your
soul and I turned your heart and you turned the hearts of many.
Matthew 25:21
21 His lord said unto him,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord.
You’re not alone God wants to help you succeed.
Bruce said at the beginning of the week that he spoke to a
policeman he said “you know God loves you don’t you?”
Now who
wouldn't want to hear that?
We cannot Blame the evil one 4 giving into
temptation we can only blame him for temptation. But if we sin we must take
responsibility for our actions. What use is the word of God if we don't use it to
fight the good fight.
If we blame the devil
for our sins, God will say it was not the devil's fault I gave you a sword to
fight the devil and those who follow him did you not use it? and I gave you
armour did you not wear it? The armour
of God Is putting on character of Jesus Christ The Lord.
Thankfully
God will never put us through temptations trials or difficulties we cannot
handle or overcome.
We cannot
say it's OK for people to practice things that God has told us, he will not
allow those who do them into his Kingdom. That is those who practice things
like lying, adultery, fornication, Homosexuality, Witchcraft, Worshiping other Gods
and Extortion.
We cannot do
these things and expect God to give us the promised eternal life.
God has faith in his people because he said in
the old testament my people are perishing through lack of knowledge.
God
has now given us the knowledge that we need He knows we can be successful and
be wise by applying that knowledge to our lives. So, lets fear God, be prepared
to tell people the truth even if its uncomfortable and let’s not be foolish let’s
apply the knowledge God has given us in our lives for this is the value of
wisdom it brings us success. Let’s help each other by having the strength to
tell truth to each other.
With God
there is forgiveness of sin through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, that he
paid our ransom in his blood by his crucifixion and the repentance of our sin.
The Bible
says there is forgiveness with God that he may be feared.
So, if we
humble ourselves and pray, repenting of our sins by confessing to God will
forgive us, repentance is humbly accepting we have sinned and there by agreeing
with God, saying sorry and turning our back on those things that offend him.
It's very
clear in in the gospel what the fruits of repentance is, when Jesus visited the
house of a tax collector the tax collector paid back all the money he stole and
4 times as much back to those he benefited from by extortion. Jesus said today
Salvation has come to his home. When Jesus salvation is in your house then it
is clear to everyone.
The sad things is the people who said they
were God’s servants were the very ones who put Jesus through an illegal trial
and made sure he was executed, they were the people Jesus said didn’t practice
what they preached.
Matthew 23:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT)
2 “The teachers
of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of
Moses.[a] 3 So practice
and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t
practice what they teach.
To benefit from knowledge and to be successful we must apply it
to our lives, otherwise it just takes up space in our homes gathering dust can
we cannot expect to be successful in living out Our fathers will for our lives
if we don’t do what the truth says. True Prosperity is living in God's will, it’s
not having all the richest things in the world. Wisdom is not effective unless
it is applied.
Ecclesiastes
12 verse 13 says,
“That's the
whole story, this is my final conclusion, fear God and obey his commands for
this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including
every secret thing whether good or bad.”
The
application of knowledge is the value of wisdom for it helps us succeed in short,
I repeat;
Ecclesiastes
10 verse 10 of the new living translation
“Using a
dull axe requires great strength so sharpen the blade. That's the value of
wisdom it helps you Succeed.”
The Lord
says,
The Axe Doesen’t
sharpen itself.
As you can
see I have not given you many scriptures this time its time to draw your swords
or should I say dust of that bible, open it, read it and obey then you will
know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Good Day,
and God bless you.
So, if today
you feel like a blunt axe and you want us to pray for you please step up prayer
is free.
Or if today
you want to get some sin of your chest please step forward I know I need it too
you can pray for me too; the bible says if we confess our sins God is faithful
and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Success is
know the truth and knowing that the truth lives in you and is with you.
The account
of Josephs life can be found in Genesis chapters 37-48.
Good Day,
and God bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment