Live Wisely!

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14      Ephesians 5:15-20                                 Rev. Todd B. Freeman

Bethany Presbyterian Church, Dallas                                                           August 17, 2003

Have you ever done any really unwise things in your life? I certainly have, like when I was around 4 years old I took a Q-Tip, while taking a bath, and ran it through my eardrum. In elementary school, just to prove to my older brother that I wasn't scared, I jumped off the roof of our house. In the 7th grade (still one of the worst years of my life_ I stole the gym teacher's stopwatch from his desk – during gym class. That was just plain wrong. The unwise part was showing it to friends because I wanted them to think I was cool – not because I stole something, but because I had a stopwatch. (The gym teacher found out, and therefore, so did my parents). In the early 80’s, when I was a single, 25 year old geologist, I bought a new 4 bedroom, 2 story, custom build French Tudor home on a 1/4 acre lot in The Woodlands (just north of Houston) – when the mortgage interest rate was 16 1/4 percent, making my total house payment nearly half of my salary. When the oil industry took a dive, my career didn’t last – and neither did my house. About 4 years ago now, I thought that I could get away with driving my car after having a bit too much to drink.

Do you have any past regrets resulting from unwise choices? I have to admit, however, that I am wiser today, partly because of previous unwise decisions. That just seems to be part of the process of gaining and growing in wisdom.

What is wisdom, and how do you get it? How should people, especially in leadership positions, exercise wisdom? What does the Bible have to contribute to this discussion? What is the difference between human and divine wisdom? These aren't just rhetorical questions. The answers may help you and I to live life more fully. And by the way, why do you think I hang out with Ann Jacob so often?

This morning’s Old Testament story from 1 Kings sheds some light on this topic of wisdom. It begins with the report of King David's death and the succession to the throne of his son (with Bathsheba), Solomon. Solomon's first act is to go to a "high place" of worship. The Temple had not been built yet in Jerusalem, so he goes north to a place called Gibeon and offers sacrifices to God. Solomon then falls asleep, but it's not just because he's tired. In ancient days there was a practice called "incubation." A person would intentionally sleep in a sanctuary or sacred place in hopes of receiving a divine revelation. (Somehow I doubt that's the reason why people often fall asleep in churches today.) Just in case it does work, however, perhaps next year’s Long Range Planning Retreat should start with a sleep-over here in the sanctuary!

As Solomon dreamed, God came to him in a vision and said, "Ask what I should give you." How would you answer that if God were to ask you? Perhaps God is asking! Haven't we all, at some point or another, thought about that old time favorite genie-in-a-bottle story and wondered what 3 wishes we would wish for? Again, what would you ask God for?

Solomon answers God, "Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind (a different English translation which is closer to the original Hebrew calls it “a listening heart”) to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil." In other words, wisdom.

The biblical text tells us that God was so pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom to govern, putting the people of God above himself, that God grants his request and more. Because Solomon did not ask for long life and riches God decides to give him these things as well.

Notice again how wisdom is defined in the context of this passage. Wisdom is the capacity to serve God and the people with an eye focused on justice and the ability to make appropriate and wise decisions. Decisions based not so much on “right and wrong” but rather that which is wise and appropriate to the situation and circumstances.

We find another plea for wisdom in the New Testament lesson from Ephesians 5. Here the biblical understanding of wisdom is expanded from the role of leadership to include daily living. The Apostle Paul opens with a word of caution, "Be careful then how you live" (v. 15). The readers of this text, including you and I, are called to exercise appropriate discrimination concerning our own behavior.

How you should behave is not something I mention very often from this pulpit, primarily because I don’t believe it’s anyone’s right to dictate to others how they should live their lives. That being said, however, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t called to behave in a responsible, appropriate and wise manner.

Paul admonishes us to behave "not as unwise people but as wise" (v. 15). He then rephrases it this way, "So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (v. 17). In this biblical passage, the opposite of being foolish isn’t simply being smart of knowledgeable, but rather it is the ability to be discerning with respect to knowing and doing God's will. More conservative theologians frame the question of wise living this way, “Does everything you say and do please God?”

Closely connected with the caution about acting foolishly is the injunction to avoid getting drunk with wine (v. 18). That’s something else we don’t talk much about. The Bible never says “Don’t drink alcohol.” But there are many warnings about drinking too much. Or as we Presbyterians have long been fond of saying – do all things in moderation.

The Apostle Paul presents an alternative to being filled with wine, "Being filled with the Spirit."  In other words, seek spiritual intoxication, not physical intoxication. In Paul’s context, for example, meaningful worship – especially singing – is an appropriate alternative to inebriation. As one commentator concludes, "For Christians, only the Spirit produces real ecstasy."

Today’s message, then, is simple: strive to lead careful lives, marked by wisdom not foolishness, making the most out of the opportunities you face. To live wisely is a call to decency, common sense and sensible, appropriate conduct. But it is also more.

John Calvin, to whom we as Presbyterians trace our roots, began his enormous theological treatise, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, with these words, "True and substantial wisdom principally consists of two parts: the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of ourselves." And he admits, "But while these two branches of knowledge are so intimately connected, which of them proceeds and produces the other, is not easy to discover."

This is an important concept to remember: Wisdom involves knowing both God and yourself. So, as you can see, being wise is more than just being smart or clever. Wisdom involves making appropriate decisions based on your understanding of God and yourself.

Now, if you're interested in learning more about wisdom, I would certainly refer you to the Old Testament book of Proverbs. The book itself begins, "Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings with deep meanings. You will learn what is right and honest and fair. From these, an ordinary person can learn to be smart, and young people can gain knowledge and good sense. If you are already wise, you will become even wiser… Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice."  (CEV)

And for those of you really serious about wanting to live wisely, let me also refer you to the New Testament book of James, a book filled with practical guidance for ethical living. James asks, "Are any of you wise and understanding? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. But if your heart is full of bitter envy and selfish ambition, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth. That kind of wisdom doesn't come from [God]. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom that comes from [God] is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy."

That, then, should stand as a measure of wisdom for our lives, individually, as church leaders and as a congregation: being humble, being gentle, being willing to yield, being compassionate, doing good deeds, and becoming free from all prejudice and hypocrisy. This is how to live wisely!

That is the kind of family of faith we hope and strive to be. I know it’s the kind of person I want to be. And it’s working, in part, for I am now careful with Q-Tips, I won’t be jumping off of any more roofs or stealing stopwatches or buying a house I can’t afford or, with God’s help and grace, driving after drinking.

How have you learned to live life more wisely? In what areas of your life could use an extra measure of wisdom?

I encourage you, therefore, to follow Solomon’s lead: pray for wisdom - it’s always a wise thing to do! May God help us all to live wisely!

Amen.