Wise Up!
Part 2: The Blessings of Wisdom
by Louie Marsh, 10-12-2025
Intro. Donald Duck last slide - Anyone remember Mr. T, a guy who made an entire career based on this phrase - "I pity the fool!" Only in America!! But he was right - foolishness is to be pitied and avoided! Which is why we're talking about wisdom. The Bible teaches us that wisdom is the key to happiness. So why should we be wise??
1) What Wisdom Will Do For You.
· Wisdom Makes Us BLESSED (FULFILLED).
"13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding," (Proverbs 3:13, ESV)
· Wisdom Makes Us PROFITABLE .
"14for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her." (Proverbs 3:14–15, ESV)
Hebrew word means a good return on a trade. Wisdom will help us to get a good return on the work we do in our life. Wisdom makes our life worthwhile - not wasted. Therefore wisdom gives us a profitable life.
· Wisdom Makes Us HONORABLE .
"16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor." (Proverbs 3:16, ESV)
The world could use more honorable people.
· Wisdom Makes Us COMPLETE/WHOLE.
"17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." (Proverbs 3:17, ESV)
The word here is Shalom - the Hebrew word for peace. But it means far more than just the absence of conflict. Instead it refers to the peace that comes from being whole - from having every part of your life in harmony with God, you and others.
· Wisdom Makes Us SPIRITUALLY ALIVE.
"18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed." (Proverbs 3:18, ESV)
The Tree of Life is a symbol of spiritual life - wisdom shows us how to take our Bible knowledge and turn it into reality - thus bring us spiritually alive.
2) How To Become Wise…
· ASK For It.
"5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, ESV)
Two important things to understand about this verse:
1, It doesn't say HOW God will give wisdom
2, It doesn't say WHEN He'll do it!
· SEARCH for It.
"3yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures," (Proverbs 2:3–4, ESV)
"7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7, ESV)
o Seek - like we said a LIFELONG process.
o Knock - BOLDLY requesting what you need.
· IDENTIFY It (Prov. 2:5)
"5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:5, ESV)
Biblical Wisdom is different from all others - because it is always linked to and flowing from God! We've got to understand that and never sever wisdom from God.
· LIVE It.
"28And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.' "" (Job 28:28, ESV)
Notice that wisdom is something that show in what you do not just in what you say. Notice also that wisdom is avoiding sin. A wise person is someone who avoids sin.
3) Where Wisdom Begins…
· CHRIST is Our Wisdom.
"18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."… "24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, 24, ESV)
· RESULTS Prove Him True.
"19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."" (Matthew 11:19, ESV)
· ACCEPTING Him Is the Wise Choice.
"5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way." (Ecclesiastes 8:5, ESV)
"2For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV)
