0305023 HeartSmart

We're going to continue today. Our smartheart series that Pastor John is working through. I'd invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 3:13 is where we will be looking. And today, I want us to think about finding the value of life. Did you know that during the second continental congress in 1876? Just 11 years after the end of the Civil War that there was a metal? There was awarded to each of the national Representatives that attended that first World's Fair, there were 134 bronze medals and there will be a test. After this song is so pay attention to the details. There were 134 bronze and metals minted and awarded by the unit. And distributed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. In fact, President Ulysses, ask Grant also known as General Grant's, right? The same General Grant that brought an end to the Civil War by accepting the unconditional surrender of the Confederacy from General, Robert E Lee. He is the one who presided over the ceremonies So here's my question. Don't get too comfortable when I when I move away from the pulpit or down. But here's my question to you. Where is the value for a bright? Is it, is it in the story I told or is it in the metal itself? What do you think? It's in the.

But could I add more to the story if I made it? A real tangible thing to you? Could I hear the one of those novels? 134 of them given out. Take a look at it. That's the one of the actual metal tree in the hole. Right, is very heavy, right? Take a lot.

This means something else, right? When you can when you can hold, right. It means something more, right? Because it's real, it's tangible. Right. You weren't expecting that. Were you? Might take a look at it. What do you think? Got a nice patina on it, right.

In the same way, this is how our Salvation needs to be. It needs to move from an intellectual knowledge of, what's in your head and as it moved to what's in your heart and needs to become a real tangible thing. This is where we struggle in Christianity, to be honest with you, a lot of people know, a lot of things about Jesus, you can ask him, they'll tell you sometimes, they bring his name up and kind of weird ways. I know, it sounds like they do, like they know him but they don't.

Knowing Jesus lived, knowing that he died, knowing that, he died for sins, knowing that he took the place of Sinners knowing that he ascended to the right hand of the father, none of that means anything. Unless it's applied to your heart. None of that means anything unless you Embrace that wisdom and accept Jesus as your own personal savior until you make Jesus, your savior salvation is not a tangible thing. It's just a story.

You've heard of the bluff, right? Maybe the bottom line up front. Nobody's heard of that.

Here's the bluff of the message, the bottom line up front. Here's what I'm going to talk about, right? So if you need to leave early, you're getting the whole message up front. But I'm going to be watching you if you try to leave early. Just so, you know, don't do it. The things of this life will never surpass, the joy. You will gain when you accept Jesus as your savior. This is going to be my challenge to you today as you go from here out into the community. What is valuable in your life. Is it your stuff? Or is it your savior? What's the value of the treasure you're taking into your community, your stuff or your savior? What's the most valuable thing you own or possess? Think about that for a moment? I won't ask you to answer.

Are you willing to give it away?

In a recent study, conducted in 2017, Harvard researchers, found something that probably not surprising to you and I. Are you ready, those with 10 million dollars are more happier than those without 10 million dollars. Write shocker there. No surprise. But maybe there is because the study goes on to say, That the importance of the money is not with the money and I'll get to that later in the message. But the study found this quote, Quote because increases beyond the point of $75,000 in income and assets once you exceed $75,000 The increased beyond that point likely won't exert as much of a larger impact on your life to live comfortably. In other words if your assets and income are $75,000 or more you are just as happy as those with 10 million dollars. Because you're no longer worried about, typically you're no longer worried about. How are you going to make a living? How are you going to feed your family? Are you going to pay your rent, pay your bills? So it's not really the money that's making them happier. We're going to get, like I said to that, in just a moment. Let's look at our text in Proverbs 3, starting a verse 13 if you would stand in honor, the reading of God's word, Proverbs chapter 3 starting in verse 13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire. Cannot compare with her, Length of days is in her right hand and her left hand riches and honor her ways are pleasantness, and her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those that. Take, hold of her and happy are all of those who retain her. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, Lord, as we begin this study today, we just ask that you would open our hearts. Make us receptive to your word, Lord impact us, right, where we're at. Or if there's somebody here today that doesn't know your son is Lord and Savior. We ask that today that your Holy Spirit would burden them and that today they would find eternal life. So we asked that we not trust in our stuff, but we trust in our savior today and it's in Jesus name. We pray, amen. You may be seated, please. I want you to think of a time when you were very happy for some of you. That's right now, and that's great. Brothers of you, that could be some point in the not-too-distant past. Maybe it was years ago. But let me ask you that thing that made you really really happy. My guess is it wasn't materialistic. It was a day I wasn't event. It was a circumstance. It was an act of compassion was an act of generosity. It was something relational. Can I text today? We are looking at the discovery in the value of wisdom. As we continue through this study in Proverbs. Our first point, today is the value of wisdom. What is the value of wisdom? We seeing our texts and verse 13, that the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding is happy. And we've been studying to the Book of Proverbs for a while and Lord willing, we'll keep studying through it. You're going to see this idea over and over and over again. That wisdom is with bringing happiness contentment piece, right? If it's bringing all those things that you want. So the first thing we must do, if we want wisdom, is we need to discover with them and we need to gain understanding and both of those, there needs to be a willingness to accept the wisdom and needs to be a willingness, to accept the understanding, how many times have you talked to somebody and you're hoping that they gain an understanding and whatever you're talking about, and it's like one year, you know, in one ear and out the next, right? That's that's what the comparison is here, right? We want that wisdom to go in. Stay and then we give it back out. There needs to be this willingness, there needs to be a pursuit of wisdom and a desire to have understanding you can. You can want with them all day. But if you're not willing to receive and you're not willing to go out and look for it, you're probably never going to find him. So there's a logical question then write it. If, if we are to gain understanding and discover wisdom, then The Logical question is, where does that come from? Where does wisdom and understanding come from? I'll look in your Bible. Psalm 111 verse 10. the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding, have all those who do his Commandments, His praise endures forever. When you were younger. After young people in the room and you don't want to hear the answer or see the answer to this question from an older person Shield your eyes right now? I'm warning. You here's the question. When you were younger did you know more than you do right now? Anybody. The phone for one hand to go up to make an example. No, you didn't right. There needs to be a beginning to your gaining of understanding and wisdom. We begin with a with knowing the Lord, right? And if you've been through grounded for gross with Pastor John, you know, this, the swoop that he talks about right, there needs to be a beginning but it's not the end. It's the beginning, right?

Thanks made another one. Has anybody ever seen a swing like a swing that you would sit on and it goes is anybody unfamiliar with a swing? Okay, good. So imagine your life, right? Your your life in Christ as a swing set, if you. Alright. And so there's a playground right over here. If if afterward you want to go over there and experiment with this, you can do this swing. As you begin your Christian walk, it's back right? And as you were going through your Christian walk, it's moving and moving and moving, and it's going to keep going, right? Until you and this life and you move on to the next. Here's what you need to know though. Some of you, right? Maybe, have you ever jumped off a swing? You know, right? What's the best time to jump off the swing?

When it's moving forward, right? At the highest point where she can get the most are right? So you can impress the most people that are watching, right? If you jump off or fall off, or tip over backwards over here, it's definitely going to be on YouTube, but it's not going to be impressive. Right. Here's the same with your Christian walk as you're going through it. You could get off the swing. They're shiny objects around, there's a merry-go-round, right? I'm you could spend somebody so fast on a Merry-Go-Round that they would maybe fly further than they would on the swing, right? There's a see-saw, there's a slide, there's all this other stuff. But that's not where you should be, right? You should stay on the swing and this is how our Christian walk needs to be. That we stay on it and we're growing and maturing and we're gaining wisdom and understanding and as we keep going, others are going to see that, right? And they're going to want to know what's going on. Like tell me about your Christian walk. Tell me the tangible thing that you're holding on to as your hope.

Many will say that they know God. But they haven't applied that wisdom to their hearts. They continue to pursue that which is unprofitable for all of eternity. Having wisdom is useless. Unless it's applied to your heart. Here's an example for you. Picture yourself driving down the road and you see that as you approach your house, but there's a house on fire.

You're obviously very concerned, it could be your house but as you drive up to the senior realize it's not your house. Thank God. But it is your neighbor's house until you're frantically looking for your neighbor amongst all the fire trucks and responding personnel and you don't see your neighbor and you go up to the fire chief and you say hey my neighbor is still in the house and the fire chief. Asher's you no no no no. There's nobody in the house we searched the house or nobody in the house. I promise you. There's nobody in the house until you looked and you said, no, he's, he's not out here. I don't see him anywhere. His bedroom is right there on the front left of the house, just go up. And look, it's about this point. The firefighters can no longer go in the house so they extend a ladder but the latter can't quite reach the window. A firefighter goes out to the end of the ladder, a into the window. And sure enough, there's a person laying in the bed, sound asleep. So, the firefighters starts yelling to him, wake up, wake up, hitting the glass, the guy gets up.

Firefighters, like what are you doing? Get out of the house. Your house is on fire.

Because I recycle or tell me about the window. What are you doing? I kind of sleep. Are you kidding? It's on fire. You need to get out of the house right now and he's like my house is not on fire. The firefighters will look around. What do you think we're doing here? He's a good man. I don't know. He's at the house even if my house was on fire and I'm not convinced it is. Even if it was guarantee, I'm going to die in the fire. I just go back to sleep. Close the window, goes back and lays in the bed. That sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?

But how many times have you tried to apply the wisdom of Jesus Christ? It's on your heart to give it to somebody whose house is on fire.

And they're unwilling to listen. They don't want to hear it. So what, you know, Jesus doesn't mean I'm going to go to hell.

They didn't apply to the heart. Hasn't become a tangible thing, like it has for you.

In a, we each have these things in our life. if we can't live without, right is real tangible things, we can't live without But here's a fact, one day you will live without it.

So, what's the real tangible thing that you want to hold on to? You might enjoy those things for a time. Sure. No Doubt.

I want us to desire though. The things that are Eternal, the things that cannot be taken from us. Look back at your texts, at verse 14, for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her game than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all things you may desire cannot compare to her. Why is wisdom better? Why is wisdom better than all of these things? Because unlike the things of this world, wisdom cannot be devalued. It cannot be taken.

Did you know that in the early 1920s? Gold was worth about $30 an ounce. Does anybody know what gold is worth today?

Just over $1,800 about $1,900 an ounce. And you know what? that same goal that was were $30 still here and the people that owned it and the early 1900's aren't

and you should be thinking to yourself. Why do I need this wisdom? That's not devalued. You need to ask. What is the purpose of wisdom? Do you know what's significant about this picture right here?

Does anybody know what this is? Does anybody not know what this is? Okay, the better way to ask him.

everybody that you've ever heard of, everybody that you've ever read about in the Bible, everybody who's ever lived, has lived right here.

And almost all of those people. That have ever lived. Here are not here now.

There's a reality that each of us will have a final meeting.

Who in here is wearing a watch. Hold your arm up if you wearing a watch.

Why do we wear these things?

ever thought about,

Kind of mind. I have right? I think it's stupid stuff.

You know why we wear watches?

Cuz we're going to die. Think about it. If you weren't going to die and I say Jason, can we meet so I can meet sometime do you fish? But you do want to.

And you want to go fishing with?

and like, when can we go fishing and you're like, If you had all of eternity to think about that, when do you want to go fishing? Whatever.

I don't write Tom. I want to have a men's prayer breakfast with you. When do you think we can do that next?

How about April 1st?

Why would we do that? Because we don't have infinite time. That's why we wear watches because we're going to die. Write this place. Not going to last forever. Sex is going to keep going on forever. It's foolish to think that and it's fully

What do they think they're going to do when they go from this life to the next?

There's a more direct way to say this. I've never been accused of having a lot of tax so I apologize.

We all have an expiration date.

You've all seen a tombstone. As a beginning, date and end date. And that little Dash in the middle, is your entire life.

Here's what you need to realize.

That dash on a tombstone. Where you think Greg about that long? Maybe. That's your entire life. This just keeps going. This is called your eternity.

What you do here? Impacts here.

What are you doing with that?

There is this reality that one day, we are going to have to leave all of this world behind and you will take nothing with you. whoever this coin was given to, They don't even know that I have it. Don't go telling them either, okay. But look, You have no idea who this point, went through. I have no idea. They left it behind.

FireKeepers.

Here's the thing, we're not taking anything with us. We see in verse 16 that having this Godly wisdom is to obtain Length of days or to have eternal life. And I bring out the word life deliberately. Because there is an inverse. It's called Eternal death. All of us are born once. Some of us will die, once some of us will die twice. for some of us, I'll put it another way for some of us this is as close to Heaven as we will ever get And four others. This is as close to hell as we will ever get.

You must see the numbers 16. The length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand is riches and honor. You must see the correlation here throughout the Bible, the right hand is positionally the place of power to have Length of days in her. Right hand is to have the power of granting Length of days you and I can't add any time to our, he's right? Just like Pastor Johnson last week, we all the same 24 hours in a day. So what is this talkin about Length of days?

When this life is over, will the wisdom you possess? At the end of this life, will it have the ability to overcome sin death and the grave? What this world has given you, will it be able to Grant you eternal life? Where the wisdom and understanding their Grant, you eternal life in heaven? Because there is a wage for sin. And there is a gift of God and you have a choice as to which one you want. Listen, don't look to your possessions for longevity of Life are even worse your eternity. Remember that picture of the Earth? Everything everyone ever owned is still here. None of them took anything with them.

So we desire to have this life. The only thing we can really have or possesses the knowledge in the wisdom of knowing Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior knowing that she is the only way to the father knowing that Jesus Paid the sin debt for us. Nothing we have here is worth anything as a payment to God. You will not avoid God's judgment and wrath with your stuff. Listen. If you're in that camp.

You think that you'll earn your way into heaven, you know, somebody that thinks they're going to earn their way into heaven? I'm going to be really direct and bold with you what you're really sang then. If you think your possessions your stuff is going to earn eternal life. What you're really saying is that Jesus's sacrifice was insufficient.

You're saying that your Works words and deeds exceed the value of Jesus's sacrifice to life.

That's a pretty dangerous thing to say. Especially when you're standing before the Lord saying it.

Listen to things, we do. Should not ask God to prove his Love To Us by granting us salvation. The things we do should prove our love to him who has given us salvation. The power wisdom is in the right hand and all those other things are in the left-hand, there are hundreds of books. Thousands of websites Untold number of people that will tell you how it is to gain, happiness in pleasantness, and peas, and eternal life.

You know, sometimes we even as Christians are like that, right? We look to those things for this. But sometimes look for our happiness and our spouse. And our children are jobs or houses. A bottle. A pill. A desire or money. If you want contentment and peace, if you want happiness, don't look to the world to give you that. Listen to The Heavenly realms for that. The wisdom that brings everlasting life will not leave you long for more. You will not have emptiness when you reach the bottom of your tonic.

What are the proceeds of wisdom? Let's consider those.

This wisdom Godly wisdom brings about what is Godly look at verse 17 and 18. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and her path. Our peace. She is a tree of life to those who take, hold of her and happy, are all those who retain her.

We all know the ruthlessness of those pursuing material things, right? We've dealt with those people. Hopefully, it's not one of you. It's an anything-goes and a winner-takes-all world. What they don't tell you. But they lose it all to. But The Godly wisdom that we're talkin about that Wilson can bring everlasting life that wisdom, that can transform your life that wisdom, that can grant you. An eternity is unable to be destroyed following this wisdom will result in pleasantness and peacefulness. His wisdom will bring about eternal life for all those who pursue her. All those who take, hold of her, all those who grasp, and retain her,

Remember, I'm going to tell you more about the people with 10 million dollars. In that same study, Harvard study for thousand people that had over $1000000 in assets and money. And they said they specifically looked at their level happiness and ask where brings you happiness.

After some of you you might say me. If I had $100,000, I'd be pretty happy right now. Maybe a million dollars. 10 million dollars. A billion dollars.

Do you know the majority of those people said, money has not brought them happiness.

They have the money. The study found that the happiest people were those with the money, but those who gave away the most money, that's what brought them Joy. That's what brought them. Peace

They didn't plan on leaving a large inheritance to their heirs. In fact, those that were the, the happiest. If you look at the study were those who earn the money and not inherited the money. They were happier when they earned it and then gave it away. Is he here? The here is, here's only the facts of the matter you and I those who have found Christ, if you will, those who are in Christ will never be happy with what this world has to offer.

Our happiness should not and cannot be found in the things of this world. I think we all can know in a firm that truth, right? You and I need to take that saving knowledge of Jesus. We need to take it to all those who have put their trust in the things of this world. We need to give the money to give away the wisdom of eternal life as millionaires. That's what brought them happiness, was giving away their wealth. When you and I share Jesus with others. That is where we will find happiness and contentment and peacefulness and Joy, by giving it away. Twin closing. Here's my challenge to you today.

Just going to ask you a few simple questions.

What is your heart pursuing today?

Do you pursue the things of this world? Do you think they'll bring you happiness and contentment?

You and I both know that pursuing the things of this world will not do that.

I'm never satisfy her soul. I don't think that's a wake-up call for anybody, but it's good to hear it every once in awhile to get us. Refocused. Question 2. What are you doing with Jesus?

Embracing real football, you know where they actually throw the ball, not kick it. That one hand hand ball football, whatever it called. in real football, there's a lot of spectators Write the sidelines or goal lines of all this other stuff. I don't watch sports boring. There's another kind of football that I found out about court Arena Football. Are you familiar with this? There are no Sidelines, everybody's in the game.

Christian. Everybody's in the game.

We're not in a spectator sport. It's not just Pastor, John's responsibility to talk to the community about Jesus. SARS 2. It's our responsibility to take that real tangible. Thing to people. Say, this is Jesus.

What are you doing with the knowledge of Jesus? Jesus laid down his life for you. He gave everything that he has for you.

He suffered in your place. If you would just take hold of that wisdom if you will gain understanding that will yield Eternal profits. You will gain pleasantness, peace and happiness. Each day, we will have an opportunity to take hold of this wisdom and share it with somebody. So my third question, are you sharing Jesus with others?

Just like millionaires, our greatest gain is valued and how much we give away. The treasure you store in your heart. You can't be taken away. And it needs to be given without reservation to anyone, anyone who's willing to hear it.

And use words, if necessary.

I'm like this 1876 metal, there is no limit in the production of God tangible truth.

You and I can tell everyone, we meet about Jesus and he'll never run out of life-giving salvation.

Live a life. That is God. Honoring tell others about Jesus's sacrifice and how accepting his sacrifice gained you and Eternity. With the riches of his kingdom. Amen. Osprey.