Wisdom: Living the Christ-Life

...living means living for Christ...  Phil 1:21 

 If you aren’t living for Christ, you aren’t living. 

 

Getting wisdom (Christlikeness) is the most important thing you can do! Pro 4:7a* 
 

 In him (Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:3

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.

Use his words to teach and counsel each other... Col 3:16a 

Teach the wise (Christlike), and they will be wiser (more Christlike)...

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Christlikeness).

Knowledge of the Holy One (Christ) results in understanding. 

Wisdom (Christ) will multiply your days and add years to your life. 

If you become wise (Christlike), you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom (Christlikeness), you will be the one to suffer.  Pro 9:9-12

To acquire wisdom (Christlikeness) is to love oneself ... Prov. 19:8a 
 

Loving your neighbor means you want him/her to acquire Christlikeness also. 

Wise (Christlike) people treasure knowledge... Pro 10:14a

A wise (Christlike) person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash. Pro 15:33

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom (Christlikeness),

but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. Pro 17:24

...the wise (Christlike) listen to others.  Pro 12:15b 
 

“Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening ...
when you'd have preferred to talk”. 
 D.J. Kaufman
 

"Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another
that both attracts and heals." J. Isham 

...a wise (Christlike) person learns from instruction. Pro 21:11 

 The Christlike person loves, listens to others, and learns.  
 

A wise (Christlike) teacher’s words spur students to action and emphasize important truths.

The collected sayings of the wise (Christlike) are like guidance from a shepherd.  Eccl. 12:11 
 

 The Christlike teacher shares important truths and encourages students to live by them– to put them into action. Knowledge is foundational to wisdom, but Christlikeness is doing something with what you know.
 

Christ came. He did many things but I want to emphasize three:  

He loved, He listened, He learned.  Are we like Him?

Spiritual growth can only occur in the open minded. We need to be sensitive to the Spirit of God if we would discover deeper truths. He will lead us into all truth as we follow like a loving young child who is willing to listen and learn. Nothing we have ‘learned’ from other sources in the past is as important to us as what the Spirit of God reveals to us through the Word of God now. We must be open minded to receive the Word of God if we would continue to grow spiritually.  

Intelligent(Christlike) people are always open to new ideas.

 In fact, they look for them. Prov. 18:15     

"If we watch ourselves honestly we shall often find that we have begun to argue

against a new idea even before it has been completely stated." - Wilfred Trotter  

 

Jesus Christ was an ‘out of the box’ thinker.
He was open to new ideas.

In fact, sharing His ‘new ideas’ is what made
the religious people mad at him.

*Religious people are not open to new ideas.

*Extremely scrupulous or conscientious about ritualistic customs and traditions.  

Jesus said, “You have heard it said, but I say”...  
And that’s when they got mad. 

Let’s look at the Wisdom of Jesus in Matthew.

You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You shall not murder…’

but I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgement!

If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court.

And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 5:22

You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed

adultery with her in his heart. 5:27-28

You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows...’

but I say, do not make any vows! 5:34 

You have heard that the law says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy

but I say love your enemies! 5:44 

Do not judge others and you will not be judged.

For you will be treated as you treat others.  7:1-2

First get rid of the log in your own eye;

then ... deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 7:5

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.   7:12

I want you to show mercy...  I have come to call... those who know they are sinners.   9:13

Fear only God...  10:28

...you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. 16:24

Only those who do the will of my Father in heaven will enter (heaven). 7:21

When you pray, don’t babble on and on...  6:7

Don’t store up treasures here on earth... 6:19a

It’s not what goes into your mouth…

you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth. 15:11

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant...  20:26 

Wisdom (Christ) lights up a person’s face, softening its hardness. Ecclesiastes 8:1b

Water is fluid, soft, and yielding.

But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield.

As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard.

This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.   Lao-Tzu (600 B.C.) 

 

  True Life is the Christ Life! It’s a good life filled with wisdom and knowledge and spiritual growth.  It’s a life of good deeds that glorify God.  It’s a life of servanthood.  It’s a winsome life that draws others in mercy toward the truth.  It’s a life of loving, listening and learning. 

 Getting wisdom (Christlikeness) is the most important thing you can do! Pro 4:7a