Chapter 33

Wisdom

Sections

1. Being Wise
   1. Prologue: The Precedence of Godly Wisdom
      • Godly wisdom is superior to anything else
      • Worldly wisdom is flawed and inferior to the wisdom of God
      • Worldly wisdom and knowledge are ultimately futile, even detrimental
      • So get godly wisdom and be wise . . .
      • . . . Seek out wisdom and knowledge
   2. Wisdom through God
      • Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom
      • Ask God for wisdom . . .
      • . . . For it is God who gives wisdom
      • Obeying God’s commands brings wisdom . . .
      • . . . Those who have wisdom and understanding keep God’s law
      • Note: Wisdom involves doing what is right – and shunning evil
   3. Wisdom through Others
      • Pay attention to instruction . . .
      • . . . Wise people listen to and learn from instruction
      • Listen to advice – which is important for making plans
      • Accept reproof
      • Additional insights on accepting reproof and discipline
      • Outcomes of ignoring reproof and discipline
      • Further advice and insights on gaining wisdom
   4. Wise Speech (I): Instructions
      • Be quick to listen and slow to speak
      • Be careful when speaking
      • Use few words – in contrast to fools
      • Speak gently
      • Speak graciously
      • Do not sin in what you say
      • Note: Instructions and insights on giving rebuke
   5. Wise Speech (II): Insights
      • The righteous speak wisely . . .
      • . . . One’s words are determined by the “heart”
      • Wise speech is of great value
      • The speech of the wise imparts wisdom and knowledge
      • Further ways wise speech benefits others
      • Other ways one’s words can be beneficial
      • Beware: The tongue has great power, capable of evil and destructive effects
   6. Wise Personal Practices
      • Be self-controlled . . .
      • . . . Self-control comes from God and wisdom
      • Do not act in haste
      • Work hard . . .
      • . . . Ensure you have adequate provisions
      • Do not be idle . . .
      • . . . Idleness leads to poverty and associated troubles
      • Enjoy life and so be joyful

2. Antitheses of Wisdom and Knowledge
   1. Foolishness
      • Fools spurn and lack both wisdom and knowledge
      • Foolishness involves failure to comprehend God and his ways
      • Foolishness involves failure to comprehend other spiritual truths
      • Foolishness involves acting contrary to God
      • Foolishness encompasses sin
      • Foolishness encompasses wickedness and doing evil
      • Further characteristics of fools
      • Results of foolishness . . .
      • . . . Ultimately, foolishness results in ruin – even death
   2. Foolish and Ungodly Practices
      • Being quick-tempered is foolish and ungodly
      • Indulging in pleasure is foolish and pointless . . .
      • . . . and indulging in pleasure is ungodly
      • Drunkenness and gluttony are unwise, causing one trouble . . .
      • . . . Drunkenness should be avoided, particularly as it leads to ungodliness
      • Further ungodly practices that are notably foolish
      • Further practices typical of fools
      • Unwise practices comparable to foolishness
      • Note: Warnings against putting up security for another’s debt
   3. Spiritual Ignorance (I): Causes and Results
      • Spiritual ignorance is caused basically by sin and ungodliness
      • Spiritual ignorance and lack of perception is caused partly by the ungodly being closed-minded . . .
      • . . . God and Jesus Christ may even judicially blind ungodly people
      • Thus, the ungodly lack spiritual sense and knowledge . . .
      • . . . and the ungodly are in spiritual “darkness”
      • Spiritual ignorance results in further sin and ungodliness
      • Spiritual ignorance and lack of spiritual perception result in unbelief
      • Spiritual ignorance and lack of spiritual understanding culminate in dire consequences
   4. Spiritual Ignorance (II): Knowledge Lacked
      • The ungodly do not know God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit
      • The ungodly do not comprehend God’s word
      • The ungodly do not know how God wants them to live . . .
      • . . . and they do not know or understand many other spiritual truths
      • The ungodly are ignorant of and deceived about their sin
      • The ungodly are misguided about their standing with God and Jesus Christ
      • The ungodly are skeptical of God knowing their deeds and of his judgment
      • The ungodly are largely oblivious of God’s pending punishment – which they will bear
   5. Epilogue: Blessings of Wisdom
      • Understanding and insight . . .
      • . . . and discernment
      • Prudence and discretion
      • Knowledge – including knowing what to do
      • Righteousness and justness
      • Protection . . .
      • . . . and life
      • Strength and success
      • Prosperity
      • Honor
      • Further blessings of wisdom
      • Note: Living without wisdom has harmful consequences

 ➜Major headings in: 33. Wisdom (and all of Unit G)

Pray for persecuted Christians