The Sweetness of Wisdom – Proverbs 24:13-14

Are you a wise person? What is wisdom? How does a person get wisdom? Is wisdom all that important? These are important questions for us today.

Wisdom is the God-given ability to make right choices. A person who lacks wisdom will make foolish choices. He will fall for temptations. He is easily deceived. He will not know how to govern his family. Many of the problems in our homes today are due to lack of wisdom.

In the book of Proverbs, God places a HUGE emphasis on wisdom. The book of Proverbs mentions wisdom in 53 verses and wise in 62 verses. Here is a small sample of what God tells us about wisdom. Wisdom comes from the Lord (Pr 2:6). It brings true happiness (Pr 3:13). God calls wisdom the principle thing (Pr 4:7). Wisdom is better than rubies (Pr 8:11). Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD (Pr 9:10). The humble often have wisdom (Pr 11:2). Those lacking wisdom despise others (Pr 11:12). Getting wisdom is better than getting gold (Pr 16:16). Those who get wisdom love their own soul (Pr 19:8). Wisdom is too high for a fool (Pr 24:7). Fathers rejoice when their sons love wisdom (Pr 29:3). The rod and reproof give wisdom (Pr 29:15). The opposite of wise person is a fool (Pr 29:11).

Transition

This evening we are going to study Proverbs 24:13-14 and find out what these verses say about wisdom.

Wisdom like Honey is Desirable

Honey has a natural goodness (v.13).
1. People eat honey because it is good. It tastes nice. It is beneficial. It is healthy.
2. Honey and honeycomb are enjoyable because of their sweetness.
  ² “Honey entered largely into the diet of the Oriental, and was regarded not only as pleasant to the taste and nutritious, but also as possessed of healing powers.” Pulpit Commentary
  ² Peter Steveson comments, “Honey is good in that it serves as food (2Sa 17:29). It is suitable as a gift (Ge 43:11), it refreshes (2Sa 14:29), it adds sweet flavour (Eze 3:3), and it has monetary value (Eze 27:17). The ‘honeycomb’ is the source of honey and is also good to eat.” Commentary on Proverbs, p. 334
God compares wisdom with honey.
1. God often uses honey to describe good things.
  1. (Ex 3:8) milk and honey described the quality of the Promised Land
  2. (Ex 16:31) manna tasted like honey
  3. (Ps 19:10) says the Bible is sweeter than honey
  4. Here in our text, gaining wisdom is like eating honey.
2. The word “so” (Pr 24:14) connects this verse with the previous verse. The wisdom of v.14 is shares similar qualities with the honey of v.13.
  1. Wisdom is profitable to the soul like honey is profitable to the body.
  2. Wisdom is good and beneficial. That God-given ability to make right choices is very beneficial in life.
  3. Wisdom is sweet and pleasant. It is pleasant both to the one having it and to those affected by it.
  4. Wisdom is valuable, more so than rubies or gold.

Wisdom like Honey Must be Found

No one is born with wisdom.
1. At birth, every child lacks wisdom.
2. Children are naturally foolish. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom.
  (Proverbs 22:15) “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Wisdom is found through searching.
1. Repeatedly Solomon admonishes us to get wisdom.
  (Proverbs 4:5) “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”
  (Proverbs 4:7) “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
  (Proverbs 16:16) “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”
2. How can we get wisdom?
  1. It begins with having a genuine fear of God – having a respect for God’s authority over your life. A person truly begins to fear God when he trusts the Lord as his Saviour. An unbeliever cannot get God’s wisdom.
    (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
  2. Before we can get God’s wisdom, we must give up our own wisdom.
    (Proverbs 23:4) Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
  3. We must humbly desire wisdom from God.
    (Proverbs 14:6) A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. [A scorner is a proud boastful person.]
  4. We must apply our hearts to wisdom.
    (Psalm 90:12) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
  5. God gives wisdom to those who diligently seek it in his Word.
    (Proverbs 2:1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; (2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; (3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; (4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; (5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (6) For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom like Honey is Beneficial

There will be a reward
1. The reward of honey is good, but that of wisdom is much better.
2. God’s wisdom is the God-given ability to make right choices. It will keep us from the heartaches of life.
  Proverbs 2:10-20
The expectation (hope) of wisdom will never end
1. The benefits of eating honey only last for a brief time.
2. On the other hand, the benefits of wisdom will last for a lifetime and on into eternity.

Conclusion

How much of God’s wisdom do you have? If you are truly saved, you can fear God and that is the beginning of wisdom. But that is only the beginning.

How much effort to you daily put into gaining God’s wisdom? You can gain much more of God’s wisdom by spending time with God and in his word. All excuses for not having a daily habit of studying the Bible are sin. If you have no desire to study God’s Word, something is seriously wrong in your heart. You can never get God’s wisdom without studying the Bible.

If you often make wrong decisions that lead to sin or get you into trouble with God, you lack wisdom. God’s wisdom will keep you from sin. Get wisdom!

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337
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The Sweetness of Wisdom
15 March 2015 pm – Proverbs 24:13-14 – Scott Childs