Decisions 101
“Intro to Wisdom”
Proverbs 2:4-5
Four guidelines for making decisions:
1.Where God commands, we must obey
2.Where there is no command, God gives us freedom and responsibility to choose
3.Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose
4.When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we trust God to work all things together for our good
“Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.” –J.I. Packer
Wisdom enables us to make great decisions
Wisdom will enrich our:
•Spiritual lives
oProverbs 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,
•Relational lives
oProverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
•Vocational lives
oProverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
•Financial lives
oProverbs 8:18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
•Futures
oProverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
oProverbs 22:3-4 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. 4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
How do we get wisdom?
1.We have to get our heart right before we are able to grow in wisdom
a.Reverence for God (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
b.Humility (Proverbs 11:2) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
c.Teachableness (Proverbs 9:9) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
d.Diligence (Proverbs 2:4-5) if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
e.Uprightness (Proverbs 2:7) he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
f.Faith (James 1: 5-6) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
2.We pursue wisdom by learning from others, our own experiences and life
What is my personal growth plan? (Spiritual, relational, vocational, financial etc.)
3.Wisdom comes from the pursuit of God; The struggle to align our lives with what is pleasing, honoring, glorifying in God’s sight