Use Your Brain, That's Why God Gave it to You: a Sermon Based on Proverbs Chapter One

A Love Works Daily Commentary

There are those who would say the book of Proverbs and the advice given in it is old fashioned and not politically correct.

There are others who would respond, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

And yet others who would state, this is word of God. Who am I to question the word of God?

Proverbs is a collection of sayings, primarily about wisdom. Man's wisdom and God's wisdom. Who's wisdom to do you trust more?  

[Bible Quotes From The NLT - New Living Translation]

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.

3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Long and the short of it; this is the stuff that works.

Verse seven makes it clear, our relationship with the Lord is the way to salvation.

Faith in Him, trust in Him, and a powerful sense of awe of who he is, what he is and has done for us, and what has been promised through Jesus Christ, is the key to life everlasting.

Not knowledge. Not wisdom. Not discipline.

But ... God put a brain in our heads for a reason. So we can think, and learn, and teach. So we can understand and do what is right, just and fair. So we can have insight and discernment. So our lives will be ordered, productive and we can sometimes make wise choices.

Solomon was known for his wisdom, after all, it was his trademark. His calling card; The Wisdom of Solomon.

God was very pleased with Solomon for asking for it as we read from 1 Kings Chapter 3.

5b God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"