“What Wisdom Wants” - Proverbs 17:25-18:5
[25] A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
[26] To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
[27] Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
[1] Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
[2] A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
[3] When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
[4] The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
[5] It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
BIG IDEA: Wisdom is good and does good
Pursue
[25] A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
[26] To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
[27] Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
[1] Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
[2] A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Cultivate
[3] When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
[4] The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
[5] It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
Spotlight on Christ: Luke 13:22–30
[22] He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ [26] Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ [27] But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ [28] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. [29] And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. [30] And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)
Applications/Uses:
Discussion Questions:
1. What was the big idea of the sermon? Is it faithful to what the text says?
2. What struck you most about the passage as you listened?
3. How does this passage help or motivate us to live for God through Christ?
4. Assuming you have parents, guardians, or someone else who takes care of you and wants what’s good for you, are you on track to be a grief and bitterness to them or a joy and a pleasure?
5. What are some ways you are tempted to use what influence you have to get away with what’s not fair or right?
6. Do you take pleasure in understanding or only in expressing your opinion? Why?
7. Do you consider to be wisdom something good and desirable? Why or why not?