Christian Character - Wisdom

WISDOM First, I want to ask you to tell me one book that was a favorite of yours when you were a kid. How many of you know the story of curious George? What is the story about? What is George like? What makes the story funny? If you read the first Curious George story, you’ll learn that George was a good little monkey and always very curious. In this book, George falls overboard off a ship and has to be rescued, he uses a telephone and calls the fire department by accident, and ends up in jail! He reaches for one balloon, but ends up with them all and floats way up in the sky until he lands on a stoplight, and his friend in the yellow had rescues him. We laugh at Curious George because nothing bad ever really happens to him. He always ends up safe. It’s funny to see grownups get all hot and bothered over his fun. But is real life like the Curious George story? Do you have fun? Why is it not? This spring we’re looking at if you and I are followers of Jesus Christ, then how we act matters. We looked at how having faith matters, having hope, and love. Today, another way we look like Jesus is by acting wisely. Maybe some of you know there is a whole book of the Bible that talks just about this idea - how do I live wisely. What is that book? Let’s think about Curious George again (put his pix on the board and make list on board) - what does Curious George do that is funny, but not wise? The bible calls someone who is not wise a fool. So let’s think - What is the opposite of being foolish? It’s being wise. Sometimes people think a picture of an owl is a good one for wisdom. Sometimes we talk about being as wise as Solomon. So let me put a crown up here to remind us of him. But what does it mean to be wise?- Does it mean the same thing as to be smart? [WRITE ON BOARD - Wisdom = Smart?] Not really. Help me - If I say I know everything about Mt. Everest: how tall Mount Everest is the villages at the bottom who has climbed it the weather I am smart about Mt. Everest. But what if I say, I may not know how tall Mt. Everest is, but I have climbed Mount Everest over 20 times, in good weather and bad, as a young boy and a man, I know how to protect myself during a sudden storm, I know where the streams of water are when I’m thirsty. I really know Mt. Everest, What’s the difference? Wisdom is not the same thing as knowledge but really “understanding” - This man really understood Mt. Everest in a way far, far better than the smart man. The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom and foolishness. The Bible says the opposite of someone who is wise is someone who is a fool. And the Bible says that one particular type of person is the world’s biggest fool. Look at Psalm 14:1 [SO LET’S PUT THIS SIGN HERE - God with circle through it] But what does the Bible say about being wise? (1) Wisdom isn’t the same thing as being smart (2) First, The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord - Prov. 9:10 (3) ( Curious George thinks he knows best and -> trouble - One of the worst times in the Bible was a time when everybody did what was right in their own eyes) You will understand what is right and just and fair - Prov. 12:15 (4) If you get wisdom, you are a rich, rich person - Wisdom is better than rubies or jewels - Prov. 3:14&15 But how do we get it? ASK - Prayer (Col.. 1:9) - James 1:5 (Asking for wisdom pleases God - see Solomon I Kings 3:5, 7-15) LEARN - Learning what pleases God - set your heart on understanding (not just getting smart about) the Bible!!! FRIENDS - Being around wise people - Prov. 13:20 Close in prayer