The Key to Happiness: The Key to Happiness: Wisdom Gained and Retained:Wisdom Gained and Retained:

Vv32-33: Listen and GuardVv32-33: Listen and Guard

So now, sons, So now, sons, listenlisten to me, to me,

For For happyhappy are they who are they who guardguard my road my road

Listen tListen to instruction and be o instruction and be wisewise

And do not And do not let it loose let it loose (PARAS)(PARAS)

Every WordEvery Word

1.1. Every word in the Bible is significant. Every word Every word in the Bible is significant. Every word is conveying the meaning of the complete thought.is conveying the meaning of the complete thought.

2.2. The difference between reading our Bibles and The difference between reading our Bibles and studying our Bibles is the difference between studying our Bibles is the difference between panning for gold and mining it.panning for gold and mining it.

3.3. The two central thoughts in vv32-33 are:The two central thoughts in vv32-33 are:

1.1. Listening to the information must go hand-in-Listening to the information must go hand-in-hand with guarding it.hand with guarding it.

2.2. Happiness cannot be separated from God’s Happiness cannot be separated from God’s Wisdom.Wisdom.

4. It is our unfortunate nature to forget and reject 4. It is our unfortunate nature to forget and reject the truth in exchange for lies.the truth in exchange for lies.

5.5. The command “to guard” deals primarily with The command “to guard” deals primarily with retention of information or REMEMBERING.retention of information or REMEMBERING.

6.6. The commands to hear, SHEMA, and guard, The commands to hear, SHEMA, and guard, SHOMER, both imply obedience.SHOMER, both imply obedience.

Why We Need To Guard WisdomWhy We Need To Guard Wisdom

Romans 7:14-25

v34v34

Happy is the man who Happy is the man who listenslistens to me to me

In order to keep watch upon my door In order to keep watch upon my door

day by dayday by day

In order to guard the doorposts of my In order to guard the doorposts of my doorwaysdoorways

Happiness Begets HappinessHappiness Begets Happiness

1.1. The Bible’s perspective on our motivation is that man has The Bible’s perspective on our motivation is that man has been designed to function in happiness.been designed to function in happiness.

2.2. Having been made happy by listening to and obeying the Having been made happy by listening to and obeying the thinking of God, we are then motivated to listen more.thinking of God, we are then motivated to listen more.

3.3. Now “guarding” shifts from the internal policing of Now “guarding” shifts from the internal policing of thoughts and actions to vigilance at Wisdom’s door.thoughts and actions to vigilance at Wisdom’s door.

4.4. The happy believer is motivated to return to the source of The happy believer is motivated to return to the source of enjoyment in life.enjoyment in life.

5.5. So the believer is characterized by a vigilance of two So the believer is characterized by a vigilance of two orientations: inside and outside. orientations: inside and outside.

6.6. Our priorities have radically changed to reflect two Our priorities have radically changed to reflect two key mutually-supporting endeavors that amount to key mutually-supporting endeavors that amount to Scriptural Saturation: Acquisition and Retention.Scriptural Saturation: Acquisition and Retention.

7.7. Acquisition (listen) and retention (guard) make a Acquisition (listen) and retention (guard) make a man happy; happiness motivates more acquisition. man happy; happiness motivates more acquisition.

8.8. So vigilance for a believer reflects one’s priorities; So vigilance for a believer reflects one’s priorities; we pursue and protect that which we truly value. we pursue and protect that which we truly value.

9.9. The principle of Separation flows from the principle The principle of Separation flows from the principle of “guarding:” any influence which compromises of “guarding:” any influence which compromises your vigilance should be rejected.your vigilance should be rejected.

VV35-36VV35-36

For the one who finds me finds For the one who finds me finds lifelife

And then And then as a result as a result he obtains he obtains favor from the favor from the LORDLORD

But he who misses me treats violently his own But he who misses me treats violently his own soulsoul

All those who hate me love All those who hate me love deathdeath

Who is “Me” in Proverbs 8?Who is “Me” in Proverbs 8?

1.1. Because of v35 we can say that God’s Word is Because of v35 we can say that God’s Word is your life. your life.

2.2. There can be no higher priority, no greater There can be no higher priority, no greater demand on our time and energy.demand on our time and energy.

3.3. Finding life is synonymous with finding favor Finding life is synonymous with finding favor with the Lord because God designed every with the Lord because God designed every human being for a relationship with Him.human being for a relationship with Him.

4.4. Therefore life as a concept is theological in Therefore life as a concept is theological in every case.every case.

So now, sons, So now, sons, listenlisten to me, to me,For happy are they who For happy are they who guardguard my road my road

Listen tListen to instruction and be wiseo instruction and be wiseAnd do not And do not let it loose let it loose (PARAS)(PARAS)

Happy is the man who Happy is the man who listenslistens to me to meIn order to keep watch upon my door In order to keep watch upon my door

day by dayday by dayIn order to guard the doorposts of my doorwaysIn order to guard the doorposts of my doorways

For the one who finds me finds For the one who finds me finds lifelifeAnd then And then as a result as a result he obtains he obtains favor from the LORDfavor from the LORD

He who misses me treats violently his own He who misses me treats violently his own soulsoulAll those who hate me love All those who hate me love deathdeath

Listen

ListenGuard

Guard

Happy

Guard?

Wisdom’s Power DemonstratedWisdom’s Power Demonstrated

Mt 4:1-11

Round 1: The Lust of the FleshRound 1: The Lust of the Flesh

          11Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. be tempted by the devil.

          22And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. then became hungry.

          33And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

          44But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” the mouth of God.’ ”

        

Round 2: The Pride of LifeRound 2: The Pride of Life

    55Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, stand on the pinnacle of the temple,

          6 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, Yourself down; for it is written,

‘‘He will command His angels concerning You’; He will command His angels concerning You’;

and and

‘‘On On their hands they will bear You up, their hands they will bear You up,

So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”

          77Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

        

Round 3: Lust of the EyesRound 3: Lust of the Eyes

   88Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;

          99and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” You fall down and worship me.”

          1010Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ” ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ”

          1111Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. began to minister to Him.

Temptation and SanctificationTemptation and Sanctification

1 Jn 2:15-18: 1 Jn 2:15-18:

          1515Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

          1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. but is from the world.

          1717The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. who does the will of God lives forever.