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THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Wisdom "To Go"

Proverbs

            Last week, I talked about the Psalms as a way to engender our hearts for God.  The Psalms give us words, often words we are afraid to say, to speak to God in the good and the bad, the high and the low, times of our lives.  Through praise and lament, through confession and thanksgiving, the Psalms deepen our relationship with God. 

            You may be thinking, however, that that sermon was a little to “touchy-feely,” that I talked too much about our relationship with God.  You may be not so much of a relater.  You may be more of a doer.  You may feel more comfortable with action.

            If so, then this sermon is for you, because today I’m going to talk about Proverbs, the book of wisdom.  In Israel , as in most ancient cultures, wisdom was not about information or intelligence.  Someone was considered wise if they were able to make the right decision in the right situation at the right time, a decision that would honor God and lead to a better life, an enhanced life.  Folly was to be avoided, not because it showed you were not as smart as other people, but because folly did not lead to an enhanced life.  Wisdom leads to an enhanced life by cultivating an understanding mind and a discerning heart.

            The person that we most identify in the history of Israel with wisdom is King Solomon.  At the beginning of I Kings, King David dies.  After some palace intrigue, David’s son, Solomon becomes king.  He prays to God, “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people who you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

            So Solomon asks, not for long life or for deliverance from his enemies, but for an understanding mind, able to discern between good and evil.  And that is what God gives him.

            This gift is on display immediately when two women, who are prostitutes, come to him for justice.  The rich and powerful can always get justice.  But these prostitutes aren’t rich or powerful.  They are likely slaves, sold into slavery by their impoverished parents. 

            They are slaves, but they are also mothers.  Each has a child, one of whom died in the night.  They are now contesting whose child the living one is.  When Solomon, in his wisdom, asks for a sword to divide the child equally between them, the true mother reveals herself by her willingness to give the child away in order that it might live.

            So Solomon was renowned for his wisdom.  And as was the custom of the day, he collected wise sayings, not as some rich and powerful men collect cars or wives.  He collected wisdom to be used in training the people (men) who served in his court.

            What are proverbs exactly?  Proverbs are not laws – they are not commands that must always be followed, like, “Thou shall not steal,” and “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Proverbs are not promises – they are not guarantees that will always come true, like “Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,” or “There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Proverbs are catchy observations about the way things generally are.  They are down to earth and practical and memorable.  They do not tell us what is always the case, but they help us discern the right action for the right situation.  They are training for us in the practice of wisdom.

            Let’s look at some proverbs together.  Again, I had Marcie make a half sheet with a number of Proverbs on it.  So, if you want to get started right away in being a student of wisdom, you can pick one of those up on your way out this morning.

The theme of the book of Proverbs is found in 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  That is, the most important thing to remember is that you are not the source of true wisdom.  True wisdom comes from God.  Honoring God and revering God is the first step.  Proverbs 3:5 is very much like it: Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and do not rely on your own insight.

            So, maybe this week if you have some decision to make, remember this proverb.  It’s not going to tell you what to do.  And remembering this proverb and seeking to rely on God as you make your decision will not guarantee a beneficial result.  But try it out and see what happens.  “Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and do not rely on your insight.”  Or as Eugene Peterson puts it, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure everything out on your own.”

One of the most well known proverbs is 22:6 – “Train children in the right way and, when old, they will not stray.”  As parents, we have tremendous influence on our children.  This is the best wisdom we have about parenting, but it’s not a guarantee.  We shape our children, but they don’t always follow it.  Even Adam and Eve didn’t obey.  Sometimes we need to let go.  Nevertheless, as a general rule, children grow up in the way that we shape them.

Let’s look at Proverbs 10:19 – “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.”  If you want to avoid sin, keep your moth shut.  This is one of the reasons why, from the very beginning of Christian monasticism, silence has been a spiritual practice.  So, don’t always try to get in the last word.  Don’t try to win every argument.  Don’t try to attract attention just by talking.   You’ll realize that you can survive.

But use discretion in applying this wisdom.  When you come home at the end of the day, and the wife says, “How was your day?” it may not be best to say, “When words are many, transgressions are not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.”  She may then quote Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”  Which means, if you don’t start talking to me, I’ll go out and buy jewelry.

            One of my favorites is Proverbs 11:22 – “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.”  If you’re looking for your life’s mate, remember – Good looks don’t make up for good character.  Just because he is a stud or she is a fox isn’t going to make up deficiencies in their personality.  It doesn’t always work out that way, but you’re likely to be happier if you make your decision based on character rather than on physical attractiveness.

            This is true not only of marriage, but of many things.  We think that things will improve our life if we buy them.  This is the constant message of advertizing.  If you buy our product, you will be happier, sexier and the envy of all your friends and enemies.  But after you buy it you realize that the thrill of ownership is short-lived.  Then it becomes just one more thing you own.

            Here’s a good one for Lent – Proverbs 19:3 – “One’s own heart leads to ruin, but the heart rages against the Lord.”  When things don’t go our way, rather than look at ourselves we blame others.  We even blame God.  But look to your own heart. Before dishing out blame, examine your own heart.  Be accountable for your life.  If things aren’t going your way, take responsibility.

Do you have a problem with procrastination or lack of initiative?  Then try Proverbs 19:24 – “The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to the mouth.”   This guy is so lazy (how lazy is he?) he decides that, after he’s dipped his hand into the nachos, it’s too much work to bring them to his mouth.  No life ever gets nurtured by laziness.  Is lack of action or initiative diminishing your life?

Are you having a tough time?  Proverbs 10:25 might help – “When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever.”  Maybe you feel as though you are in a storm right now – you’re going through a divorce, you’ve lost your job, you’re sunk in a depression, you’re struggling with finances.  You wonder if you can make it.  But then you remember – When the tempest passes…  And you think “I’m not going to let go.  I’m not going to give up.  The storm will be over one day.”

            I encourage you to be students of wisdom.  Choose a proverb, either one on the short list I have put together.  Or read through the book of Proverbs for yourself.  Then put it to use.  Give it a test drive.  And see what happens.  See if it increases your understanding.  See if it helps you be more discerning between right and wrong.  See if it enhances your life.

            In his book, Authentic Happiness, Martin Seligman says, “We have invented myriad short-cuts to good feelings: drugs, chocolate, loveless sex, shopping…television are all examples…Positive emotions alienated from the exercise of character lead to emptiness, to inauthenticity, to depression…The positive feeling that arises from the exercise of strengths and virtues rather than shortcuts is authentic.  Strengths and virtues are characteristics that bring about good feelings and gratification.”

            Wisdom leads to right action, life-enhancing action.  It also is character shaping, because with repeated use, wisdom molds our character.  And this leads to happiness.  This leads to joy.  And this is the life that God intends for us.