Seek Wisdom, Not Fear
Seek Wisdom, Not Fear
Or “The Coronavirus Special”
We are going to take a break from Daniel today in order to address the topic we just can’t get away from, because it has disrupted so much in our lives. We must reclaim our focus and our time from fear. Specifically, for the moment, many are afraid of this guy pictured here. This is an illustration of COVID-19, or the commonly called ‘coronavirus’. No, this sermon is not all about the virus, and no, this is not a read-Revelation-and-tremble type sermon. In fact, this is the opposite of that.
To begin, here are some paraphrased stats. The World Health Organization keeps records of outbreaks by year going back to 1996. When I went to their site, I wanted a refresher on what viruses were the “it” viruses the media freaked out about. I was reminded how bad a newsroom’s tunnel vision can really be. Each year there have been numerous outbreaks all across the globe. This new pandemic is garnering attention for reasons that have very little to do with health. Because, if the media were really concerned about health matters, they would be outraged over the fact the Republic of Congo has been on every year’s list of outbreaks since 1996 for a wide variety, many times at once, diseases.
Now, I am not saying the COVID-19 virus is not bad, I’m simply reminding us that disease is a part of life, and in the global picture, this disease is garnering far more attention than it should. The flu has killed more people each year than COVID-19. But, we all know how to deal with it—stay home, drink fluids, and wash your hands a lot.
Now, for another stat. 124 times (at least) the Bible tells us not to worry in some phrasing or another. Consider:
37 times “do not fear”
2 times “be courageous”
10 times “be strong and courageous”
33 times “do not be afraid”
33 times “fear not”
1 time “nor be worried”
8 times “do not be anxious”
I have heard it said, the Bible has 365 instances of some “do not worry”, but I quit counting after 124. This outbreak has caused many Christians to forget a very important lesson from Scripture—don’t worry. If you have attended any sort of “How to Read the Bible” class, or read any book on the Bible, you undoubtedly heard “If it is repeated, it is important.” If the statement, “Do not be afraid” occurs in the Bible so many times that no one is actually sure how many times it occurs, I think we safely say it is an important lesson!
So, with that in mind, I would like us to turn to the book of wisdom inside our book of wisdom, Proverbs. Specifically, we are looking at Proverbs 3:21-35. Because what we need today is not just a reminder to not be afraid, but also a reminder of what it means to walk in wisdom—which does not go with fear.
Walk in wisdom, not fear : 21-26
My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3:21-26
Verses 21-22 have two very important words I would like you to highlight.
“Sound wisdom” - tuseeyah - wisdom that makes one successful, sound judgement
“discretion” - mezimmah - planning ahead, plotting a course, discernment
These two words put together a simple, but profound statement: “Keep your eyes on the plan”
To live in a state of fear distracts us from God’s plan.
Now, motivational speakers love this sort of saying, because they can sell lots of books keeping it vague. Whatever your plan is, just stay on it, and you will succeed! That sounds great, but what plan should the Christian have?
Our plan is to stay with God’s plan. What’s God’s plan? To seek and save the lost. Jesus came so that we can have eternal life. He gives us the Great Commission as our task being His disciples. So the real question for how we respond to this (sort of) crisis is how can we demonstrate the gospel abundant life Jesus offers so that others see Jesus?
Keep your eyes on the plan and it will be “life for you.” The abundant life of Jesus comes when we keep our eyes fixed on Him. Jesus in John 14:27 tells us He gives us peace, so “Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid”.
To live in a state of fear drains life from us.
Keep your eyes on the plan, and you will not stumble but go in safety. If you think about the last time you found yourself stumbling through life, there is a strong chance you were distracted by something before the stumble. It happens to the best of us. It especially happens in fitness.
“I was focused on my weight loss goal, but then I saw cake. “
“I was focused on paying off debt, but then I saw a shiny toy.”
“God was leading to do something, but then I saw this thing I really wanted.”
It is when we take our eyes off the prize that we lose. Every coach says the same thing. When a team starts winning, they can be thrown off course by the distractions of success. People give them praise, and their heads get bigger. Then, as we know, pride comes before a fall. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by fear, we will miss out on the successes God is bringing our way.
And, look again at 24. When we keep our eyes on the prize of Jesus, our sleep will be sweet. It is that wonderful sleep of a kid safely cuddled with his parents. Resting in the arms of Christ is the best place to rest.
Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
To live in a state of fear ruins our sleep.
Highlight it, write it on your mirror, get a tattoo if you have to, but take note that the Bible explicitly says, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror or the ruin of the wicked.”
Do Not Be Afraid!
Natural disasters, viruses, disease, crazy weather, telemarketing calls—these are all symptoms of a lost and dying world. This world is falling apart, and yes, the end is coming, but that is not a call for Christians to be afraid! It is for our benefit this world goes away. We know Christ is coming to restore all things.
Fear makes us forget who Jesus is.
Rather than worrying about the disasters that come and go in this world, live in the confidence that Jesus is King. Live knowing the Lord gives us confidence to face any trial. Live knowing that even if I die, yet shall I live!
Respond to fear with Generosity : 27-28
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
Proverbs 3:27-28
These next verses begin a series of warnings for the wise son to avoid. Now, the central point of the warnings comes in verse 31, don’t be like the violent man, because the Lord detests the perverse man. This point then rolls into the main lesson of 21-35 which is repeated in verses 21-22 and 33-35—keep focused on sound wisdom in order to be honored and receive life. Do not be distracted by fear and evil, because the Lord has placed a curse on the house of the wicked. Wisdom is good, but fools are put to shame.
But, for today, as we consider our response in this time of confusion, pandemic, and general anxiety in human existence, I would like to focus on verses 27-28 for a bit more.
I heard a pastor the other day say, “The soil for missions is generosity.” It is when we become generous givers that we can pursue the mission of God. Consider what it costs to bring the gospel to the lost.
It costs for travel. It costs for materials like bibles or information literature. It costs time. But consider it cost Jesus His life, and the Father, His Son. We give because He gave. We proclaim eternal life because Jesus gave us eternal life.
When we begin to give to others in tangible ways, it helps us focus our minds on the right priorities, and it helps others see the generosity of God who sent His Son so that we might live.
To live in a state of fear is to deny the generosity of God.
James 4:17 reads, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Fear itself is not a sin, but it can lead to sin. It is natural for us to feel fear of things that do us harm. But, the proper response to fear is to listen to God who is at your side. Whatever step God gives us, that is what we do. We do not follow the common adage
When in fear or in doubt
run in circles, scream and shout!
No, we remember the Lord is on our side, and we remember what He told us through James, if we know the right thing to do, then do it! Consider what God told us through Micah in 6:8:
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, and to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with you God.
Micah 6:8
Even in fear, do good and seek the Lord!
There is no need to react in fear when the Lord of Heaven and Earth walks with you.
But, there is one thing that does deserve our fear. That is found in Matthew 10:28.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28
If you have anything to fear, it is God’s wrath, but for the Christian, we know that we need not even fear that. Why? Romans 8:1 promises us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
The real question for us today is not whether or not we have some virus, but whether or not we are in Christ Jesus. Have we trusted in His work on the cross for eternal life? Have we asked Him to forgive us of our sins and give us eternal life? For the Christian, we have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. But, for anyone who has not trusted in Jesus, they have every reason to fear. Come out of a state of fear, and enter into the rest of Jesus Christ.