“Essentials For Walking Wisely”
(Proverbs 2:1-7)
I. Introduction.
A. Life is a journey. In talking about some of the great men
and women of faith, in Hebrews 11, the writer says of
them: “These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of
them, embraced them and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (verse 13).
1. By definition, a “pilgrim” is, “one who journeys to
some sacred place from religious motives.” Or,
“any wanderer or wayfarer.”
2. The journey of life on earth should also lead to a
“sacred place.” Our goal is Heaven, the place
where God dwells.
B. Our journey may have many difficulties, but whether we
reach the goal is a matter of choice – and only two choices
are ours to make. We can journey (walk) wisely, or we can
journey (walk) foolishly. To choose to walk wisely means
there are certain things we are obligated to do. These are
the essentials of such a choice.
C. There are certain ways to think, certain things to believe,
certain actions to pursue if we are to follow the wise
course – to live according to Godly wisdom.
II. The Six Essentials.
A. Essential number one is to commit to walking wisely. Just
becoming a Christian does not insure a person is committed
to walking wisely. Remember, wisdom is a choice, not an
automatic assumption. Becoming a Christian is a first step
in choosing to pursue Godly wisdom, but only a first step.
But, becoming a Christian does give us the benefit of the
guidance of God, through His Spirit, to help us make wise
decisions.
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1. The types of decisions we must make changes over
time. Some involve our physical health, some
work, some family, others devotion to God – time
alters our condition and our circumstances, and
creates new situations. That’s why we must seek
God’s guidance daily.
2. The commitment to walk wisely comes from our
reliance upon the omniscience of God, and a desire
to draw upon that omniscience for our
decision-making.
3. People may say they believe God’s word is right,
good, true, wise, and always for their benefit, but
still they “second-guess” God, and choose to go
their own way. They argue: “I tried God’s way,
and it didn’t work.” Or, “I don’t think God is
concerned about that area of my life.” Or, “The
Bible was written thousands of years ago and times
have changed.”
4. The person who walks wisely must trust God, that
His way is best; that He does care about us and
every aspect of our lives; that His word is as
relevant today as it has been in all generations.
5. Faith is a part of every choice we face. We cannot
know the full result of any decision in advance of
making it. God does know, and tells us to trust
Him.
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6. Whether God’s way makes sense to us is irrelevant.
It didn’t make sense for Joshua and the Israelites to
march around the fortified city of Jericho to capture
it. It didn’t make sense for Gideon to send
thousands of men home and attack the Midianites
with only 300 soldiers. It didn’t make sense to send
a boy, David, out to meet the Philistine Goliath as
the champion of Israel. But, the only wise choice
was, and is, to obey God.
7. To seek God’s wisdom is to commit to walking
wisely – that’s the message of Proverbs 2.
B. Essential number two: Pray for wisdom. Do so with an
attitude of humility and faith.
1. Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes
shame: but with the humble is wisdom.”
2. Those who remain unyielding before God, choosing
to rely upon themselves and their own conception of
what is good and right, will suffer the consequences
of their errors and sins.
3. Those who are humble will face up to their
weaknesses, admit they don’t know everything,
seek direction and guidance. They will pray for
God’s help – pray for wisdom.
4. Our prayers must be humble, but, also, filled with
faith. Go, again to James 3 (read verses 5-7).
5. What causes our faith to waver? First our own sin.
Then, also, doubt about God’s love, mercy, and
forgiveness. Third, our own feelings of self-
disapproval and self-condemnation. All keep
people from praying for wisdom from God in
humility and faith.
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C. Third, it is essential to read and study God’s word. We
need to use God’s word as the gateway to each day.
Then, what we read and think about should be brought
to mind throughout the day.
1. Joshua found himself at a turning point in his life
one morning. Moses was dead, and Joshua had
been among those who mourned his death for 30
days. Joshua had been Moses’ top associate during
all the years of wandering in the wilderness. Not
only had he served as Moses’ chief assistant, but as
commander of the Israelite army. Now, God
reveals His plans for Joshua’s life.
2. READ Joshua 1:2-3. What a challenge God gives
to Joshua! But, along with the challenge comes a
promise (read Joshua 1:5). This promise was
followed by words of comfort and assurance
(read verse 7-8).
3. Not understanding all we read is no excuse to stop
reading. In fact, that should be the very reason we
commit ourselves to regular Bible reading and
study. The command to know God’s word should
be paired with the results of such knowledge
(Read Psalm 119: 97-105).
D. The result of a knowledge of God’s word – actively
obeying and applying God’s word. This is point number
four.
1. Hearing God’s word, reading it ourselves, thinking
about it, means we can apply God’s principles and
commandments to our everyday lives.
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2. Look, again, at Proverbs 2:6-7 (RE-READ). God
has provided, through His word, all we need to
know, but we still must choose to obey, to “walk
uprightly.”
3. Proverbs 2 begins: (re-read, verse 1). Here is a
two-step process: to read the scriptures as if every
word applies to us, personally, and to value the
scriptures so much, that we do what we are told to
do.
4. Our growth in understanding is cyclical. We read,
or apply, we read again, we apply again and, as we
do so, we grow in our understanding. And, the
more we understand the more confident and
comfortable we become in appreciating the
scriptures and the more we want to read and study.
5. Real wisdom shows in our application and
obedience of what we learn. How can we know that
God is faithful to us if we never trust Him? How
can we ever know what God will do with our lives
if we never step out, in faith, to do more? How can
we ever become wise if we don’t apply God’s
commands to our lives?
E. Essential number five: observe God’s work. We can know
God not only through His word, but through His work.
Every part of God’s creation, every law of nature, every
event, contains lessons about how God works, what He
desires, His unchanging nature.
1. Proverbs 6:6: “Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise.” What could we
learn from ants? How about cooperation,
perseverance, diligence in working, sacrifice,
strength in working together, unity of purpose.
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2. In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus used the
natural world as an example:
(Read Matthew 6:26-30). Jesus didn’t tell
disciples to study the writings of some famous
scholar in order to understand God’s wisdom. He
said, “Just look around. The world is filed with
lessons about God’s provision and faithfulness.”
3. To walk wisely, pay attention to God’s creation.
F. And, the sixth essential for walking wisely: associate with,
and learn from, wise people. Build relationships and
associations with people you believe are walking in
wisdom with God.
1. Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with wise men will
be wise. But the companion of fools will be
destroyed.”
2. How do we know someone is walking wisely? Just
apply the five principles. Are they committed to
walking wisely, by being a person of prayer,
reading and studying God’s word, actively obeying
and applying that word in their own life, and being
alert to the lessons of nature and their application to
their own life? If they are, then they’re the type of
person we should want to be with and learn from,
ourselves.
III. Conclusion.
A. Remember God’s counsel to Joshua: “Be strong and of
good courage, . . . “ (Joshua 1:6). It takes strength, and
courage to walk wisely in the world.
B. We don’t have a promise from God of a life without
difficulties. We do have the promise of His presence,
His help, and His rewards for our obedience.
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C. Changes of any type require courage. God requires us to
have the courage to take a step – not the courage to run the
full race before we start.
1. Moses may have thought God was calling him to
fail. He had fled Egypt forty years earlier. Was it
wise, now, to return and demand the release of the
Israelites, who had, themselves, rejected his
leadership in those past days?
2. Moses argued against going. “I’m nobody.” “I
don’t know what to say.” “I can’t speak very well.”
He feared no one would believe him, or listen to
him. He pleaded with God to send someone else.
3. Finally, Moses obeyed. He took that first step.
And, step-by-step he proceeded to lead his people
out of Egypt.
4. Never did God reveal to Moses all that he would
have to face in his obedience. But, always, God
assured Moses: “I am with you. I am leading you
to the place I’ve prepared for My people.”
D. That same promise is ours. Trust Him, step-by-step.