Business Owners life group

Wisdom

1. Spiritual Foundation to having a business.

1. Wisdom is Supreme. Above all things we must first pursue wisdom. The bible is very clear as to the importance of this attribute. It is very difficult to pursue anything in life without first having wisdom. Without wisdom we would be like a monkey or a dog.

                                                               i.            The one differentiator is our application of wisdom. Monkeys and dogs have brains. I guess they try to use them as much as possible but their brains are similar to the power in a simple-function calculator. They can add, subtract, multiply and divide. But that is the extent of their abilities. If you try to add and subtract at the same time you will get an error message. If you tell a dog to fetch and stay at the same time they begin to run in circles and get confused. Their brains cannot assimilate conflicting bits of information.

                                                             ii.            On the other hand we as humans have not only been given a brain (as a dog has) but the ability to reason and the ability to apply wisdom to all of our reasoning. The conflict, if you want to call it that, is when we either do not have wisdom or do not wish to apply it. We may all have brains necessary to put a man on the moon but not necessarily know how to walk across the street without getting run over.

Wisdom is the driver behind the brain allowing us to make Godly decisions.

2. Without apply wisdom to our brains we make a decisions just for the sake of it. Many live their lives in this manner. “I want to buy a car. I can finance a BMW. Do I need one? Can I really afford one? Who cares? I just want it.” Or “I am going to quit this good paying job because I don’t like the boss. I don’t have to put up with him. I would rather just move on.” These can best be described as “que sera” reasoning. Whatever will be will be, as long as I am happy. This is great until you are not happy anymore and other “wiser” people are passing you up.

3. The greatest danger is applying “common sense” to our decisions. Common sense is not so common I have heard it said. But Wisdom is even less common. It doesn’t make sense to leave a prosperous fishing business in order to join the ministry that pays nothing (as Peter did). It is just not good common sense to sell all your possessions in order to follow Jesus. (as most of the disciples did)  It doesn’t make sense to throw away a doctoral degree in Judaism in order to chase the wind. (as Paul did)

Decisions that “make sense” are not always the wisest decisions. So we must be able to differentiate between the world’s idea of common sense and the biblical understanding of wisdom.

¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; ¹⁴For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. ¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. ¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Proverbs 3:13-26

Lets start at the beginning.

                                                               i.            A father (David) instructs  his son (Solomon) to get wisdom

¹ Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; ²For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.  ³When I was my father's son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother[1], ⁴He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. ⁵Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. ⁶Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. ⁸Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.  ⁹She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you."
 ¹⁰Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. ¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. ¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. ¹³Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.  Proverbs 4:1-13

                                                             ii.            Solomon asks for wisdom

⁹Therefore 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?" I Kings 3:9

                                                            iii.            Solomon becomes the wisest and richest man in the world

1.       ²³ King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. I Kings 10:23

2.       Received over 25 tons of Gold a year

3.       Revenues from merchants and traders

4.       Had many thousands that he was directly responsible for in his home. Servants, wives, concubines and administrators

5.       4000 stalls for his horses

6.       450 stalls alone at Megiddo which have been excavated

7.       Expert in botany and zoology

8.       Wrote over 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs

9.       Wrote “Song of Songs” and “Ecclesiastes”

4. Wisdom is an attribute that brings:

                                                               i.            Technical Skill. Exodus 28:3

                                                             ii.            Military Skill. Isaiah 10:13

                                                            iii.            Governmental knowledge. I Kings and Proverbs 8:15

                                                           iv.            Victory. Proverb 2:7

                                                             v.            Safety from wicked men Proverbs 2:12

                                                           vi.            A Shelter. Ecc 7:12

                                                          vii.            Safety from the Adulteress. Proverbs 2:16

                                                        viii.            Yields better return than silver, fine gold and rubies. Proverbs 3:14-15 and Job 38:15

                                                           ix.            Riches and Honor. Proverbs 8:18

                                                             x.            Enduring Wealth and Prosperity. Proverbs 8:18

                                                           xi.            Length of days or long life. Proverbs 3:16

                                                          xii.            Pleasant ways and a path of peace. Proverbs 3:17

                                                        xiii.            Understanding Proverbs 8:5

                                                        xiv.            Ability to Administer Justice. I Kings 3:28

                                                         xv.            Prudence (careful about one’s conduct). Proverbs 8:12

                                                        xvi.            Knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12

                                                      xvii.            The favor of the Lord. Proverbs 8:35

                                                     xviii.            Life. Proverbs 8:35

                                                        xix.            Patience. Proverbs 19:11

                                                         xx.            Joy to your father. Proverbs 29:3

                                                        xxi.            Brightens your face. Eccl 8:1

5. Ways to get wisdom.

                                                               i.            Wisdom is given by God. ¹¹ So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. I Kings 3:11-12

                                                             ii.            For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

                                                            iii.            To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26

                                                           iv.            If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

                                                             v.            Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, [ Or Wisdom teaches the fear of the LORD ] and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33 and Psalm 111:10 and Job 28:28

                                                           vi.            Listen to wisdom calling out.  ⁴ "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. Proverbs 8:4 and ⁶ Listen, for I have worthy things to say; Proverbs 8:6

                                                          vii.            Wisdom comes by the Laying on of hands. Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit [ Or Spirit ] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. Deuteronomy 34:9

                                                        viii.            Number your days and gain wisdom. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

                                                           ix.            With Humility comes wisdom. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

                                                             x.            Even Spanking will make us wise!?! The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. Proverbs 29:15

                                                           xi.            Trusting in God’s statutes. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7b

                                                          xii.            Sitting with the elders?????

                                                        xiii.            He who walks with the wise grows wise. Proverbs 13:20

                                                        xiv.            Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20

By making wisdom an attribute to pursue we begin to see the world from a different perspective that before. Common Sense is no longer the goal. Common sense may help you a bit in day to day activities but wisdom will align your life with eternal purpose!

Wisdom will allow you to build something bigger than yourself. Wisdom will allow you to see the eternal ramifications of your decisions. Wisdom will allow you to build for your family and children and grandchildren and many generations to come. Wisdom is an eternal concept. It has the ability to change eternity. Proverbs 8 says that wisdom was with God when he framed the world. Wisdom was the craftsman by his side. Peter’s, Paul’s, and the disciple’s wisdom was the force behind the early Christian church. Their wisdom started a church that continues to grow even today, 2000 years later. We are living in the fruit of their application of wisdom. Wisdom allowed Martin Luther to take a stand against the errors of the Catholic Church in 1517. His decisions didn’t seem wise to many of the time but we as Protestants are living in the fruit of his wisdom. Wisdom has the unique characteristic of being eternal. Wise decisions are eternal decisions. Jesus gave us a teaching to this effect in Matthew 7

6. Be a wise builder. God needs to be the foundation. Build your house on the rock, not on the sand.

                                                               i.            Wise and Foolish Builders

1.       ²⁴"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27

                                                             ii.            Accordingly. A wise builder will build his house on the teachings of Jesus Christ which is as solid as rock. Rock cannot be made. Concrete can be made but it is mostly comprised of crushed rock, water and SAND!? It is important to recognized that concrete is not eternal. With enough pressure concrete will deteriorate. It may last a few hundred years but then it will be gone.

The key to being an entrepreneur is to channel your creative desire with God’s wisdom to make products that serve mankind.