Choose Wisdom
A Sermon on 1 Kings 3:9
Scripture
9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Sermon Description
Everyone is given the choice of wisdom or pleasure in this life. This is the choice Solomon was given and he chose wisdom. In this sermon on 1 Kings 3:9, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that when the world is chosen over wisdom, humanity is guaranteed to experience emptiness. Humanity was created to be fulfilled most fully in the Lord and Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that to choose anything but wisdom is short-sighted and, in fact, an insult to humanity’s nature. So what is it that makes a person choose wisdom? When a person truly understands the greatness of the task ahead in this life, wisdom is chosen. The world will call for attention and promise its comforts, but it will not satisfy. God alone is strong enough to guide through this life and into the next.
Sermon Breakdown
- Life is a series of choices and decisions we make. We are always choosing between God's way or the way of the world.
- There are only two fundamental choices in life: God's way or the world's way. We must choose one or the other.
- All of our choices are made in the presence of God and under His judgment. God sees and knows all of our choices.
- The vast majority of people choose the way of the world, the flesh and the devil over God's way.
- Choosing wisdom, as Solomon did, is essentially right. It is the intelligent choice. Choosing the world's way is unintelligent and insulting to human nature.
- Choosing the world's way is selfish and self-centered. Choosing wisdom considers others.
- Choosing the world's way is short-sighted. Riches, long life, and victory over enemies are all temporary. Only God's wisdom transcends this life.
- The greatness of the task confronting us and realizing our own weakness in the face of that task should compel us to choose wisdom.
- The task includes understanding life, living morally, and facing death. We are helpless to accomplish this task without God's wisdom.
- Those who choose wisdom, as Solomon did, receive wisdom and also riches, honor, long life, and peace as a bonus.
- God's wisdom is found in Jesus Christ, who becomes our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
- The Christian life is one of enlargement, joy, and true riches in Christ. It is a thrilling life.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.