Zambia Hunt

Introduction

We are not teaching our students at Central Africa Baptist University how to make a living; we teach them how to live. Listen to our purpose statement: “Training the next generation of servant-leaders in Africa for Great Commission living.”

You might be wondering how we can achieve that purpose. We do so through four key values:

• Honesty – Being transparent with God and others.
• Obedience – Doing what I should do, when I should do it, how I should do it, with the right heart, attitude, and spirit toward the authority asking me to do it.
• Wisdom – Skill, ability, and insight gained from God’s word for the purpose of living a life that honors and glorifies God.
• Service – Investing my life (personal relationships, personal plans, or priorities, and personal possessions or pleasures) in ministry for the good of others rather than for the pleasure or advancement of self.

Psalm 78:70-72 tells us that God chose David from following sheep to shepherd his people Israel. How did David shepherd? “With upright heart and skillful hands.”

What is Wisdom?

Wisdom is the skill, ability, and insight gained from God’s Word for the purpose of living a life that honors and glorifies God. It means to think biblically. Wisdom is not something we are born with; it must be received through exposure to the Word of God. Wisdom is something we pursue, take hold of, and grow in.

Wisdom is more than knowledge. It has been said that some people are educated beyond their intelligence. In other words, though they are brilliant and have a head full of information, they do not have the necessary wisdom to accompany that knowledge; thus, they make life choices that lead to destruction!

The opposite of a wise man is a fool. To call a man a fool out of anger and as an insult is dangerous indeed. Matthew 5:22 states: “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hellfire.”

We are born foolish – Proverbs 22:5 tells us that foolishness is bound up in the heart. Wisdom is not something that you can get from the world! The world’s wisdom is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 3:19). This is evident in theories like Evolution, Psychology, Abortion, etc.

Wisdom is not something that you acquire by being human – the flesh has no ability to gain this wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12). Just read social media! Our worldview—our overall perspective from which we see and interpret the world—is the filter for our decision making.

The Source of Wisdom (Proverbs 2:6-8)

Wisdom Comes From God

Wisdom is a gift of God’s grace given to us in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30). The wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. He gives wisdom in abundance to the upright – only those who love Jesus Christ and delight in His word can obtain it. He stores it up!

Wisdom is a Work of God

Wisdom is God’s work to protect his own. It serves as a shield from external enemies that would deceive and destroy. It protects our person as a shield and guards our path. Wisdom is also God’s work to preserve his own, shielding us from internal spiritual sickness that would deceive and destroy, and securing us as we walk through life.

Conditions for Obtaining Wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-4)

To gain wisdom, we must first keep our ears open and incline them to wisdom. This means we need to listen more than we talk. God’s wisdom flows to those who are receptive and attentive to His voice through His Word.

We must also be serious in our study of God’s Word by applying our heart to understanding, as 2 Timothy 2:15 encourages us. The word “apply” here refers to stretching out, like the net rescuers use to catch a falling person. This suggests an intentional, focused effort to grasp and internalize God’s truth, not merely skimming the surface.

Another condition for obtaining wisdom is cultivating a deep longing for it. We should cry out for discernment like a baby desires milk, as mentioned in 1 Peter 2:2. This desperate hunger demonstrates our recognition that wisdom is essential for spiritual survival and growth, not optional.

Prayer is also crucial in our pursuit of wisdom. We must lift our voice for understanding through earnest prayer, as James 1:5 reminds us that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God who gives generously. Through prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on God as the source of all true wisdom.

Finally, we must recognize wisdom’s immense value. We should seek and search for it as something extremely precious, like the woman in Luke 15:8 who diligently searched for her lost coin. The pursuit of wisdom requires hard work, sacrifice, commitment, and consistency. The Titanic that sunk in April 1912 was searched for by many underwater adventurers, but wasn’t discovered until September 1985. Wisdom is like that… the search for wisdom may take time but is worth the effort.

This depth of wisdom doesn’t come through casual devotional reading of Scripture. We must treasure it up, involve our ear, apply our heart, cry after it, lift up our voice, and search for it as one would hunt for hidden treasure.

The Effect of Wisdom on Those Who Find It (Proverbs 2:5,9)

When you find wisdom, you will understand the fear of the Lord, which is where wisdom begins (Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 119:10). You will also find the knowledge of God, and this “knowing” speaks of intimacy.

Wisdom enables you to understand righteousness, justice, and equity (fairness). You will be able to make correct judgments that line up with God’s priorities. You will understand every good path, for God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:165).

The Rewards of Wisdom

A Promise (Proverbs 2:10-11)

When we seek, we will obtain wisdom. Wisdom dwells in the heart. When knowledge becomes sweet and delightful, then discretion will preserve you. Discretion is the ability to discern between two things—to tell right from wrong. It enables the believer to detect the evil motives of men and women. With practice, it helps us evaluate courses of action and consequences (Hebrews 5:14). Then understanding will watch over you and guard you.

Delivers Us from Evil Men (Proverbs 2:12-15)

Wisdom delivers us from those who speak perverse things, leave the path of uprightness (indicating they were once on it), walk in ways of darkness, rejoice in doing evil, delight in the perversity of the wicked, whose ways are crooked and devious.

Delivers Us from an Immoral Lifestyle (Proverbs 2:16-19)

Wisdom protects us from the “evil woman” whose characteristics include being a seductress, flattering with her mouth, forsaking her commitment to her husband (whether already married or future husband), and forgetting her covenant with her God.

Conclusion

Here is God’s conclusion (verse 20): Walk in the way of goodness (see the contrast with verse 13) and keep to the paths of righteousness.

What is your choice? (verses 21-22) The wise man will dwell and remain in the land, while the fool will be cut off and uprooted (like a tree).