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Do not be wise in your own eyes

Text: Proverbs 3:1-7
13 January 2008

(I) HUMAN WISDOM

1. Own understanding

“…lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5b

2. Wise in our own eyes

“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” Proverbs 3:7a

3. That which seems right in our own eyes

“There is a way that seems right to a man,But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

4. Pure in our own eyes

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes…” Proverbs 16:2a

“…But the LORD weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2b

(II) ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN WISDOM

1. The Fool

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…” Proverbs 12:15

2. The Backslider

“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways…” Proverbs 14:14

3. A sinless man?

“Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?’ ” Proverbs 20:9

(III) EARTHLY WISDOM AND GODLY WISDOM CONTRASTED

The Issue: Who is the one who possesses true wisdom and understanding?

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13

1. The wisdom that is not of God

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:14-16

a) Source of wisdom

i) Earthly

ii) Sensual

iii) Demonic

b) Expressions of this wrong kind of wisdom

i) Bitterness

ii) Boasting

iii) Lying

iv) Envy

v) Self-seeking

vi) Confusion

vii) Every evil thing

2. The wisdom that is from God

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18

a) Source of wisdom

God!

b) Expressions of this right kind of wisdom

i) Pure

ii) Peaceable

iii) Gentle

iv) Willing to yield

v) Full of mercy

vi) Good fruits

vii) Impartiality

viii) No hypocritical

“You will know them by their fruits..” Matthew 7:16a