1. The Way of Wisdom Proverbs 4:10-27

2.  In our last lesson (Proverbs 2-3) we saw how to get wisdom:  You must value wisdom and diligently search for it (2:4)  You must trust what God has to say above what you might naturally think based on our own understanding or background (3:5-8)  And we saw that as a Christian, wisdom will not only make you competent, it will:  Draw you into a closer relationship with God (2:5)  Enable you to live a holy life and protect you from the pitfalls that come with sinful living. (2:9-19)

3.  Today we will be looking at Proverbs 4:10-27 where we are told that wisdom is like a “way” or a “path”.  In fact, our passage talks about two ways or paths:  “the way of wisdom” (11a) also known as “the path of the righteous” (18a)  “the path (or way) of the wicked” (14; 19a)

4.  The Bible frequently describes life as walking on a path – even in the New Testament:  …you must no longer walk [NIV – “live”] as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (Eph.4:17b)  Look carefully then how you walk [NIV – “live”], not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16)  This is because the main way that we make progress in life is though a series of small, seemingly insignificant daily decisions and activities – like taking steps as you walk down a path.

5.  Attaining wisdom is like walking on a path: the main way that you grow in wisdom is through a series of small steps over the course of a long period of time.  It takes time and continuous effort to become wise – more on this when we get to verse 18.

6.  Wisdom is like a good road – travel is generally smoother and you are likely to go much farther than you would on a bad road: Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (Proverbs 4:10-12) Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness [or “straight paths”- NIV]. 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (Proverbs 4:10-12)

7.  Like staying on the good path, living a life of wisdom requires deliberate effort:  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. (Proverbs 4:13)  Along the way you will have choices to make (like when you come to a fork in the road):  Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. (Proverbs 4:14-15)

8.  If you go down the wrong path and cease to live according to godly wisdom, you may soon find yourself becoming an “evilholic”:  Do not enter the path of the wicked … 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (Proverbs 4:14a;16-17)  They are so addicted to evil that it has become their sedative by night and their food and drink by day (Waltke, p.286)

9.  The attainment of wisdom is not instantaneous, it is very gradual – like taking steps on a path or gradual emergence of sunlight at dawn:  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (Proverbs 4:18)  Because we are part of the “microwave generation”, we often are unwilling to invest the time and effort required to learn wisdom and we settle instead for cheap substitutes that don’t work!

10.  If you settle for a cheap substitute in place of wisdom you are choosing by default to go on the way of the wicked – and if you stay on that path, you will end up in such darkness that you won’t even know how much trouble you are in or why you have the trouble that you do:  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (Proverbs 4:19)

11.  If you are going to walk in the way of wisdom, your first priority must be to allow wisdom to take root in your heart (your thoughts, beliefs, desires, priorities, affections, and feelings):  My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:20-23)

12.  The evidence (to yourself and those around you) that you have truly taken wisdom to heart, is that you will begin to live out that wisdom:  24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. (Proverbs 4:24-25)

13.  Give careful consideration to what is going on in your life – your thought life (vss. 21-23) as well as your external behavior (vss. 24-25). Are you on the right path?  26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:26-27)

14. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me… And you know the way to where I am going.” “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me… 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1, 4-6) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1, 4-6)