The Foolish Way of Wisdom: The Desert as a Place of Revelation

Matthew 7:24-29 NLT
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷ When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

Two sources of wisdom: wisdom & wisdom

Earthly wisdom: is rooted in

– Self
– Self
– Selfish  

Godly wisdom is: rooted in

– Counter-intuitive
–
– Rooted in  

Job 28:1-28 NLT
“People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold.² They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. ³ They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore. ⁴ They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth. ⁵ Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire… ¹² “But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? ¹³ No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. ¹⁴ ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea. ¹⁵ It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver… ²⁰ “But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. ²² Destruction and Death say, ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’ ²³ “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, ²⁴ for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. ²⁵ He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. ²⁶ He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. ²⁷ Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. ²⁸ And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

is the source of wisdom.

“Wisdom is not to be confused with our present-day fascination with positive tips and life hacks and five-step strategies for learning how to navigate life more successfully… wisdom is more specific… wisdom is found as we worship – and only as we worship – Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.”  Daniel Grothe  

Grow in wisdom—

1. Our journey must begin in . 

Proverbs 9:10-12 NLT
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.¹¹ Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. 12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

2. and His words

Proverbs 8:1-7 NLT
Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! ² On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. ³ By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, ⁴ “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. ⁵ You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. ⁶ Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, ⁷ for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. 

3. Live an life

James 3:13-18 NLT
¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

What it might look like to set our hearts on gaining Godly Wisdom:

• Could you set a stricter limit on screen time this week to reduce the echo chamber of other voices influencing how you should live?
• Could you listen to a Christian audiobook, podcast or the Bible on your commute, filling your mind with wise words to ponder?
• Could you have a go at memorizing Scripture—making sure God’s word is available in your mind and heart for when you might need it?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NLT
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. ¹⁹ As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent…” ²³ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. ²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Answer Key: earthly , godly; self; preservation; interest; ambition; Jesus; sacrificial; humility; Jesus ; worship; listen, obey; honorable