Wisdom Study Session 2—Proverbs 1:1-6: wisdom comes from outside us

The language of Proverbs 1:1-6 makes it clear that wisdom is something beyond our self, that it is something we do not innately possess. Verses 2 and 3 speak of us “gaining” and “receiving” wisdom and instruction. In other words, of us obtaining something we don’t already have. Verse 4 speaks of the Proverbs “giving prudence … knowledge and discretion to” someone, likely someone that does not already have those things. Verse 5 tells us to “listen” and “discern,” implying that the teaching to come comes from outside us.

That is consistent with the rest of Proverbs and the other wisdom books.Proverbs 2:1-5, 4:5-9, 8:17, 32-34; Wisdom 6:12 & 17, 8:2; and Sirach 14:20-27 discuss wisdom as something that we need to acquire, seek after. Proverbs 1:20-23, 8:1-6, 9:4-6; Wisdom 6:12-13, and 16 ; Sirach 4:17-19; 15:2-5, and 24:19 describe wisdom as something outside ourselves that calls to us or guides us. Proverbs 2:6, Wisdom 8:21, and Sirach 1:1 speak of wisdom as something given to us by God.

That is also consistent with Jesus’ teaching. He stated that we cannot really comprehend Him or incorporate Him into our lives on our own, but can only do so through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. John 3:1-8, John 13:8, John 16:12-14. See also John 15:4. Although Jesus did not use the term “wisdom” in those statements, the concept is the same: that we do not innately have what we need to properly walk in God’s ways. Further, Jesus was speaking of our need for Him in those passages and other parts of scripture state that Jesus is wisdom itself. 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30.

Scripture as a whole  reinforces the fact that we do not innately possess true wisdom by contrasting what we do innately possess (human wisdom) with true wisdom. See Isaiah 29:13-14, Jeremiah 8:9-10, Matthew 11:25, 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, James 3:14-19

So how do we respond to that reality? Two ways come to mind

First, we should actively look for, seek after, wisdom. We need it, but don’t have it, so we ought to humbly seek it. Scripture makes it very clear that we can obtain it—God wants to give us wisdom. Proverbs 8:1-6, 9:1-6; Wisdom 6:12-13, 16 ; Sirach 15:2-5, 24:19; Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 7:7-11 ; Luke 11:9-13; John 6:34-35, 7:37, James 1:5.

Second, we need to beware of false, worldly, wisdom. True wisdom is always consistent with scripture, so we should measure what we are learning against scriptural principles. See 1 John 4:1

Wisdom Study Session 1: Why study Wisdom

There are multiple reasons to study wisdom. 

First, it is one of the primary ways God “deliver[s] us from evil.” The scriptures tell us that wisdom protects us from evil & evil folks. Proverbs 1:33, 2:12-19, 4:6, 14:26; Ecclesiastes 7:12 and Sirach 15:4, 24:22. Scripture also tells us that wisdom helps us avoid mistakes & missteps. See Proverbs 3:21-26, 4:11-12.

Second, wisdom is a key way that God delivers blessings. Scripture tells us that wisdom. It helps our health. Proverbs 3:1-3 , 13-16, 4:10; Sirach 1:18. It gives us peace & patience. Proverbs 1:33, 3:17-18, 19:11, 29:8; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Sirach 1:18, 6:28, 15:4; James 3:17. It gives us hope. Proverbs 24:14; Ecclesiastes 8:1. It gives us dignity. Proverbs 3:35; Sirach 11:1. It strengthens our families. Proverbs 10:1, 14:1, 15:20, 23:24, 24:3, 29:3. It makes us more effective in what God calls us to do.1 Kings 3:5-12; Proverbs 21:22, 24:5; Ecclesiastes 7:19, 9:16-18; Wisdom 9:11-10. It helps us help others. Proverbs 11:30, 12:18, 14:35, 15:7, 21:11; Ecclesiastes 9:14-15. It helps us deal with the powerful. Ecclesiastes 8:4-6; Sirach 11:1

Third, it is available even if we have messed up. It is comforting to know that wisdom is available to folks who have been unwise, foolish, in the past. Proverbs 1:20-23, Proverbs 8:1-6, Proverbs 9:4-6

So how do we get wisdom? Look at the verbs in Proverbs 8:32-36 & Proverbs 9:4-6 and do those things. Keep thinking about, “chewing on,” scripture throughout the day. See, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2; Philippians 4:8

God in the Ordinary

Two times in the last month God has let me unambiguously experience His acting in otherwise ordinary circumstances. Let me describe them and try to explain what I think the lesson is.

Several weeks ago I was coming home from work and came across a disabled fellow parishioner whose car had broken down on a busy road at a time when his cell phone wasn’t working. I was able to push his car to the berm and we used my cell phone to get AAA on the case. That had to be God—one member of His body at the right time and place with the right resources to help another.

Today Dave, one of the guys that rotates as a teacher in our adult Sunday school class, was teaching. It was my week off, so I did not prepare and in fact slept in too late to pray/read the Bible before class.  But God got Dave and I into a groove that could only be the work of His Holy Spirit. Dave would make a point in his lesson, and I would be lead to a verse that dealt with the same concept in a just different enough way to perfectly complement Dave’s point. And to top it off, we had a full house, including several new folks.  That too had to be God.

So what’s my point?

I’m not totally sure, but I think it shows how God gets things done and how we should react.  He unexpectedly, but unmistakably, uses us to deliver very good things in otherwise ordinary circumstances, and then life moves on. No burning bush,  no pillar of fire, no blinding light, just God’s good stuff being delivered in ways that are unmistakably beyond our own plans or abilities. I guess we just need to open our eyes and realize it’s happening.

Work session & Bible Study this Saturday Morning, April 20

We’ve got a lot of weeds to pull, and an appropriate Bible passage to study—the parable of the Wheat & the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43).  There is a study on that passage here if you would like to get a head start.

As usual, we’ll start working at 9:00 AM and start the study at 10:30 AM.

Feel free to just come for the study if that’s all you have time for. We’ll be in the prayer room inside the Mill Run Church.  Come to the side door on the south (garden) side of the building.

See you there!

Garden Themed Bible Studies--updated April, 2017

Looking for a garden themed Bible study?  Over the years we’ve posted quite a few on the UALC Community Garden blog and related blogs.  We’ve collected them here because their varying dates and locations can make them hard to find. The update precedes the body of the orginal post.

We hope they’re helpful to you. 

UPDATE:

Praying about rain

John 15--Growing God's Joy

John 15--On the other hand

John 15--Don't fire the gardener

John 15--Unfruitful Branches, part 1

John 15--Unfruitful Branches--Part 2

John 15--pruning, part 1--What is pruning" 

John 15--Pruning, Part 2--We all need pruned

John 15--Pruning , Part 3--Removing obstacles to God's light

John 15--Pruning, part 4--Pruning through adversity

John 15--Pruning, Part 5--How to respond to pruning through adversity

John 15--Pruning, Part 6--Pruning through counsel

John 15--Pruning, part 7

Prayer, Compost & Composting

Fruit from weeds--Insight 1--its much better to prevent weeds than to have to pull them

Fruit from weeds--Insight 2--Don't put it off 

Fruit from weeds-Insight 3--Start with the biggest weed

Fruit from weeds--Insight 4--Pull straight up

Fruit from Weeds--Insight 5--Don't get discouraged, stay focused on what's right in front of you, and enjoy what you can

Fruit From Weeds--Insight 6--Enjoy it     

Fruit from weeds--Insight 7, One weed at a time

Fruit from weeds--Insight 8, Its easier to weed well tended soil and its easier to pull one weed after you have pulled another

Fruit from weeds--Insight 9--even weeds can be redeemed 

What we can learn about the Christian Life from Composting--Part 1--The end product is greater than the sum of its parts

What we can learn about the Christian life from composting--Part 2--Good things come from humble ingredients

What we can learn from Mark 4:26-32

What we can learn about the Christian Life from composting--Part 3--the ingredients must be transformed by something beyond themselves

 

What we can learn about the Christian life from composting--We have to go through tough stuff, but God gets us through

Lackluster crops & Laodiceans--Part 1--blocking the Son

lackluster crops & Laodeceans--part 2--Recovering from Mistakes

Lackluster crops & Laodeceans--part 3--Turning mistakes to the good

Confession is a lot like weeding

Confession also seems to be a lot like composting

Learning from the Mustard Seed--part 1--Surrendering to transformation

Learning from the Mustard Seed--Part 2--Extending beyond ourselves in love

Learning from the Mustard Seed--Part 3--Trusting in God's providence      

Learning from the Mustard Seed--Part 4--being open to blessing on multiple levels

What we can learn from earthworms

Another insight from composting--Utility

Another insight from composting--Transformation  

Another insight from composting--Beyond the dramatic

Another insight from composting--Multiple fruits 

Another insight from composting--Credit where credit is due

Side dressing prayer

What can we learn about service from a wheelbarrow--Part 1

What we can learn about service from a wheelbarrow--part 2   

Responding to Blessing--Part 1--Consider how we got here

Responding to Blessing--Part 2--Savoring the the blessing & Praising its source

Responding to Blessing--Part 3--Passing it on  

 Merry Last day of Christmas

What we can learn about a productive Christian life from a garden hose--Part 5  

Jesus spotted at the UALC Community Garden

Consequences: Genesis 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, & 9

Preliminary Work: What we can learn from Joseph & Daniel

Psalm 1

What we can learn from a "tree planted near streams": Psalm 1

There's usually more going on than meets the eye: Proverbs 13:11

What we can learn about discipline from Tomato Cages (Mostly from Proverbs)

Wise Counsel (Based on Proverbs)

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2

Mediations of Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: God calls us to Him

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: Fruitfulness sometimes requires hardship

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: Fruitfulness requires healthy responses to pressure

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: We must get rid of "stones" to be fruitful

Lenten Meditations of Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: The good stuff comes from God

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: Protecting our fruitfulness

Meditations on Fruitfulness based on Isaiah 5:1-2: God is looking for fruit

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares: Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

Making "Good Soil": Matthew 13:8, Mark 4:8 & Luke 8:8

More on making "Good Soil"; Matthew 13:8, Mark 4:8 & Luke 8:8

A prayer for "Good Soil": Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

Becoming Good Soil: The Process of Becoming Fruitful    

Weeds: Luke 8:7

John 5:1-17

Planning the Garden (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 & 14)

Filling In Spaces: Galatians 6:8-18

What we can learn about being transformed from our tomatoes

Unexpected Fruit from Long Dormant Seeds

What we can learn from our Okra: We are blessed so we can bless

Appreciating Rain

More About Rain

A Gardener's Prayer

What we can lean about being productive Christians from a garden hose: Serving our true purpose

What we can learn about being productive Christians from a garden hose: Being connected to the source

What we can learn about being productive Christians from a garden hose: Problems that limit productivity

What we can learn about being productive Christians from a garden hose: solutions to those problems

Growing our roots

What we can learn from Dandelions: the importance of being well rooted

Cutting back the grasses

Making the most of spare minutes

Digging through the dirt

Pornography is like an invasive plant