Proverbs 3:11-18

See instances of Jesus saying “Peace”

“If scientists can discover the roots of the differences between sinner and saint, maybe more of us can move into the latter group.” This statement was written in a recent issue of Newsweek magazine. If scientists can figure out why some people are sinners and some people are saints, maybe more of us can become saints. That makes sense, right? If we can figure out a vaccine for polio and measles, if we can discover how to rid the world of small pox, then why can’t we find the gene that makes us sin? If we do enough brain scans, perform enough tests, if we explore and expand our scientific knowledge, we can turn sinners into saints.

And imagine a world of saints, where we all get along. Where people are looking out for each other, sacrificing time and money for the care of other people. Imagine a world where no one is causing another person pain. Imagine everyone forgiving each other. If the writer of this article in Newsweek is right, then paradise, a world full of saints, is just a few scientific tests away. A beautiful world, a safe world, a healthy world, a happy world…a world of peace can be discovered.

We want what this author wants. We want peace. We crave the same kind of world that she describes. We want people forgiving and caring and protecting and loving, just like she does. The problems is, we know that the way to this life, the way to turn sinners into saints, is not found in science. We know that experiments and brain scans and tests are not going to be the answer. Science can’t bring us back to paradise. Science can’t bring us a world of peace.

But while we know that science is not the answer, we often get the answer wrong, as well. Instead of experiments, we often think that hard work will change this world. If we all do our part, if we get involved, if we try hard to do the right thing, and if we try hard to get other people to do the right thing, then finally we all can enjoy peace. If we act right, and if we make sure that everyone else acts right, then this world will be right. It’s simple math. Our goodness plus the goodness of others equals a good, peaceful world. So then, when others are not acting good, then we hand out the punishment, we condemn, we judge, because that’s what it takes to form a perfect, peaceful world.

But neither our condemnation and judgment, nor our hard work at being good, will have any more effect than scientific experiments. The way of peace is not found in our knowledge or our hard work or our criticism. There is only one way to find peace. It is the way of wisdom. This is our second week as we find peace, shalom. We saw last week that we can live in unshakeable peace because the Lord surrounds us. We are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, because Jesus is our rock.

This week, we’re looking for the way to get to this peace. What is the way to that rock solid, unshakeable peace? How do we find it? What do we have to do? And the answer that will give us hope, and the answer that will frustrate is, “Nothing. There’s nothing we can do to find peace. It’s all been done for us. It’s all being done for us. The way to peace is the way of wisdom. And the way of wisdom is Jesus.

And the way of wisdom begins with the Lord, not us. The way of wisdom is not something that we can study and memorize. The way of wisdom is not found by searching really hard until we find it. The way of wisdom, the way of peace happens when God acts, when He steps into our life. The way of wisdom begins when God introduces Himself to us, when He makes us aware that there actually is a sovereign God reigning over the world. The way of wisdom begins when He makes His will known, and when He begins to reveal how we have defied that perfect will.

So, as we begin on this way of wisdom, the first step is often a painful step. When we begin to realize that we haven’t done so hot on running our lives, it hurts. We embarrassed. We start to realize that the way we’ve treated other people was not so great, the way we’ve talked to others, the way we’ve talked about others, the way we’ve avoided them, the looks we shot at them. We start to realize that the image we had of ourselves as basically good people was pretty far off, that we are not basically good, that we are filthy people who think filthy thoughts and say filthy words. Words that tear down rather than encourage. Words that ruin instead of build. Our filthy words may not be cuss words or swear words, but our words are filled with selfishness and bragging and pride. Filthy words.

When we recognize our failures, it hurts. But when we recognize our failures, we’ve taken the first step on the way of wisdom. So, verse 11:

Do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

That first step of wisdom, the realization that we haven’t been so wise, that we’ve actually been pretty stupid, that harsh reality is an act of love by the Lord. Because He knows that once we’ve admitted our stupidity, then we’re ready for His wisdom.

And, verse 13:

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

Because wisdom brings peace, and peace is a more precious commodity than anything. Verse 14:

for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

A life without peace is a hard, vicious life. You can have the money, you can have the home, you can have the cars, but without that sense of peace, the money and the home and the cars are irritating and heavy burdens. You can have the power, you can have the great reputation, you can have the respect of everyone who knows you, but if you don’t have that contentment, that certainty that no matter what happens, you’re okay, then you don’t care at all what people think of you. You just want peace.

And the person who finds wisdom, the person who gains understanding is a very blessed person, because that person knows peace. But we have to be careful. “Finding wisdom”, “gaining understanding”, these are good things to do, we think. Okay, if finding wisdom will lead us to peace, then let’s go find some wisdom, right? Today, right? Right now, right? Tell us something we don’t know. Tell us something that will make us wiser. Speak some truth, dish out some information, some facts, some knowledge that makes the light go on in our minds, that puts the pieces of our lives together, that makes sense of everything, that gives us peace. That’s the kind of wisdom, that’s the kind of understanding that we need. Where do we find that? What book do we need to read, what sermon tape do we need to listen to, what famous preacher will give us that wisdom and understanding?

I’m sorry. There is no preacher that can give you peace. There is no book that can give you wisdom. Not even this book, not even the Bible. I know that sounds wrong, I know that sounds heretical. After all, this is God’s word, right? Where else can we find wisdom if not in God’s word? But the problem is, there are millions of people who actually do read this book, and when they’re finished, they are no wiser than when they first began. They read the words, the even understood the words. At least, they knew what the words meant. But all the words couldn’t bring them wisdom, all the words couldn’t give them understanding, all the words couldn’t provide peace.

Unless they came to the final Word. The last Word that God spoke. The Word that was wrapped in flesh and blood and hair and bone. The Word that was God, who made His dwelling among us. Jesus. And if you have heard that Word, if that Word has entered your mind and your heart, then you are finding the wisdom and understanding that you need. You’re on the way of wisdom, the way to peace.

But again, Jesus is not a fact to study. He’s not a historical figure to research. His life is not a series of events to memorize. He’s not even a role model to copy our lives after. No, Jesus is wisdom made into a Person. Jesus is understanding made into a living being. So, for us to have wisdom, for us to gain understanding, this Person, this Living Being has to be actively in control of our mind and our hands and our mouth and our eyes and our feet and our stomach and everything. Jesus has to grab on to our bodies and begin to move us as He wants. Wisdom Personified has to be in control of us if we are going to be wise.

And Jesus takes more control of us when we spend more time with Him. Call it devotions, call it quiet time, call it meditation or study or alone time with Jesus, whatever we call it we have to do it. We have to take the time to listen to the voice of Jesus, spoken by the Father, made hearable by the Holy Spirit. And this is where this book, the Bible comes in. We have to read this book. Not just a devotional, where another person gives us their opinion about this book. We have to read this book, ourselves. We have to hear God speak directly. And then when we’ve read it, we need to put it down and let the Holy Spirit make His words sink in. Sit in quiet. Let Him do His work. Be patient with Him as He applies the words. He’s only going as fast as we can handle, so let Him go at His speed. Let Jesus speak through the Holy Spirit. Let God explain what He meant when He said what you just read.

But again, be careful. We’re not reading this book in order to memorize facts. We’re not spending time with the Bible, chapter after chapter, to stuff ourselves with information. But by reading this book, we come to know a Person. We come to know God, who was made visible and knowable in Jesus Christ. When we read the story of David and Goliath, we’re not just reading a cute story. And we’re not just getting information about what do when we face a giant. Instead, we are getting to know the God who made that giant fall. And when we know that God, then the giants begin to fall in our own lives. When we read the 10 commandments, we’re not just receiving a list of things to practice and perform until we get them perfect. Instead, we are getting to know the Lord, who brought us up out of the land of slavery. And when we know that Lord, when we know God, through Jesus, then we begin to walk free. We become free to use God’s name wisely. We become free to honor our fathers and mothers. When we know the Person of Wisdom. When we know Jesus.

And as we get to know Him better, as His wisdom takes over our lives, it shows. His wisdom makes our bodies act wisely. Our bodies don’t eat things that are bad for them. Our bodies don’t take unnecessary risks. His wisdom makes our mouth speak with wisdom. His wisdom keeps our mouth shut instead of rattling on about things we don’t know. His wisdom keeps us from gossiping. His wisdom moves us to speak words of kindness and encouragement.

This is the life of wisdom. And this is the life of peace. Verse 16:

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Often, most of the time, a life led by wisdom, a life led by Jesus, is a rich, long life. Many of us here can testify to that. There are times, yes, when this earthly life ends short. But for those who know wisdom, for those who know Jesus, then long life has just begun. Eternity is gift of wisdom. Eternal life is the gift from Jesus.

Do you want peace? Then you want wisdom. Do you want wisdom? Then you want Jesus. Know Jesus, spend time with Him, get to know Him, and you will know wisdom. And the ways of wisdom, verse 17:

are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

This morning, after the worship service, get away, shut the door to your room, open up the Bible and get to know Wisdom. This afternoon, before you take a nap, close your eyes, and let Wisdom speak to you. Tomorrow, don’t let too much time go by before you stop and spend some time with Jesus. This is the life that you’ve been looking for, the way of wisdom, the way of peace. Verse 18:

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.