BUILDING GODLY LIVES

Pro. 24:3-6 – (NJK)

(tPt) – Wise people are builders – they build families, businesses, communities. And through intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure. Because of their skilled leadership, the hearts of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom and the pleasures of spiritual wealth. Wisdom can make anyone into a mighty warrior/hero, and revelation-knowledge increases strength. Wise strategy is necessary to wage war, and with many astute advisers you’ll see the path to victory more clearly.

Three Necessary Ingredients to Successful Building:

1) Wisdom – (Strong’s #2451) chakmah; skill in war, administration, religious and ethical affairs, and in business.

• Wisdom is the capacity to make use of the knowledge one has to its best end. It incorporates discernment, judgement, discretion/prudence, and skill.

a) How do you recognize wisdom in your life?

• You know how to ‘build’ or establish something from its conception to its end. This often requires the skills of those around you.

• James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally.

• Consider the building of the Tabernacle in Ex. 36:1-2 – And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded. Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.

• When God is involved in the building, he gives the skill needed, the strategy of wisdom for how to start and proceed by giving the plan. He helps gather the necessary items and people for the task ahead.

b) Understanding – this is knowledge and perception coupled with skill and discernment (Strong’s Concordance #8394 – taw-boon’)

• Understanding is the ability to grasp the meaning and importance of ‘how’ to apply what’s necessary.

• How does understanding come to us?

• Pro. 2:6 – The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

• I Ki. 3:9, 11 – Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?...Then God said to him: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself; nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart…

o When God calls you to a task, He equips you with the understanding required to do it.

• Ps. 49:3 – My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

o Meditation here is simply musing and speaking to yourself quietly about what God has put in your heart – his words, his ways, his assignment.

c) Knowledge – the perception, skill, and discernment needed (S.C.#1847 – dah’ath)

• It is a clear perception of fact, truth, or duty that comes through the senses and through our intellect.

• It means we can discriminate to recognize what the “how” of a situation is by what we’ve learned and experienced through instruction, observation, and through insight.

• The first mention of knowledge is in reference to the Tree of Knowledge (Gen. 2:9) of good and evil – we should obtain discernment between good and evil from the Lord, not from the world.

• Pro. 12:1 – Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge.

• Pro. 24:10-14(KJ) – 10 – If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small – v. 13-14 – My son, eat honey [the Word] because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a reward, and your expectation (hope) will not be cut off.

Tying these three together:

Luke 6:44-49 – a tree is known by its fruit; what it produces.

• We are ‘trees of righteousness’ and what we speak identifies the treasure of our hearts, what’s planted therein.

1. Built – grounded on the ROCK of Christ, v. 48-49, who is the living Word of God.

2. Established – made firm, stable, secure, settled upon the Word as we obey His commands.

3. Filled – inward parts of man’s heart full of good; accomplished in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

a. Pro. 17:27 – He that has knowledge spares his words; and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. A spirit that is valuable, bright, costly, and prized.)

4. Increases – abundant in being mentally and physically

a. alert to courage;

b. being steadfast in mind;

c. secure in who you are (identity); and

d. assured with confidence towards the Lord and his equipping of you.

e. Pro. 15:14 – The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge.

5. Strength/strong – to be firm or hardy with a capacity to produce.

a. Pro. 24:10 – If you faint (slacken) in the day of adversity, your strength is small (narrow or cramped).

b. Building on sand causes continual shifting and instability.

c. Building on the ROCK causes stability and endurance to stand against all forces.

d. You are God’s masterpiece created for good works (Eph. 2:10); equipped a hedge of protection; a vat of wine for joy; and a tower of strength to endure with stability (Mt. 21:33)