We started this year talking about God’s favor in our lives and today I want to start a series that I am calling Be Wise. I want you to look at a neighbor next to you and say, “Be wise.” I want you to say to yourself, “Self, be wise.”

We’re not going to talk about being calm, we’re not going to talk about even being smart. That’s all in the mix, but we’re going to talk about be wise. Say it with me: “Be wise. Be wise.” Say it again: “Be wise. Be wise.”

Favor and wisdom are mentioned alongside each other in Scripture, and both of them are something that we are meant to have in growing measures in our life. So it’s no coincidence that I started the year talking about favor—uncommon favor. This is the year of the Lord’s favor. And now I’m going to move on and join that with the topic of wisdom.

Here’s what Luke 2:52 says: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Now if Jesus needed increasing favor and wisdom, how much more do we need increasing favor and wisdom in our lives?

See, you can’t go where you’re meant to go without God’s wisdom in your life. God has plans for you that can’t be accomplished by yourself. The things He has for your future are impossible without His wisdom. The good news is He gives wisdom to those who ask and those who seek it.

When you’re a child, your parents make decisions for you. As you grow, you start making more and more of your own decisions, which means you need to increase your wisdom. Somebody shout, “Be wise! Be wise!”

You need an increase of wisdom in every stage of your life. When you start dating, you need wisdom. When you consider getting married, you need wisdom. When you get a real job with a real boss, with peers and co-workers around you, you need wisdom. If you decide to start a business, you need wisdom. Life keeps going.

When you become a parent—oh my, oh my—you need wisdom like stuff you never knew before. Can I get any amens? Amen! Some of you parents right now, you need it today, not a week from now, not a month from now—you need it right now. Somebody shout, “Be wise! Be wise! Be wise!”

When choosing who you hang out with, be wise. When choosing who you listen to, be wise.

Be wise in the conversations you have with yourself. Don’t talk to yourself just any old way. Your destiny is too important for that. Be wise with your internal dialogue. Be wise in the attitudes you choose. You can’t afford just any attitude.

I’ve been preaching about the favor of God, and Pastor Manny comes along last week and says, “Favor follows order.” He almost got a little ahead of me, but he was reading into where we were. The idea is that when we preach favor, that is all truth, and God is ready and willing—but you can’t sabotage favor with nonsense.

If you want God’s favor, you’ve got to pause and hesitate a little when nonsense comes into your mind. God needs you to choose what you think, what you say, and to be wise in the choices you make—even when you fail. Somebody shout, “Be wise! Be wise!”

Be wise in the choices you make in your relationships. We need God’s wisdom at all times to accomplish what He has planned for us. Can you shout, “Amen! Amen!” Come on, clap your hands.

Proverbs 9:12 says, “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.” We’re not talking about wisdom as a novelty. Proverbs 8:18 says, “With me (wisdom) are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.” Wisdom will reward you. Your life is different with wisdom than without it. Are you hearing me? The outcome is different when you are wise versus when you are foolish.

Knowledge and wisdom are not the same thing. Some of the most educated people have no wisdom, and some of the least educated are incredibly wise. You can go to university campuses and see this—educated people often take pride in their knowledge and become arrogant. This can be to their own detriment because they haven’t differentiated between knowledge and wisdom.

Some of the greatest wisdom I’ve received in life has come from people who weren’t formally educated. There’s a difference: knowledge is information; wisdom is the right application of that information.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”

A school teacher might know a lot about the subject they teach, but that doesn’t make them a good teacher. Knowing the game of football doesn’t make someone a good coach. The best coaches know how to relate, communicate, and influence their team to be their best.

I love sports, and I watch coaching carefully. I’ve seen both good and bad coaches throughout my life. I want to say to Christian men and women: put yourself in environments where you can receive good coaching. Children in youth programs often endure bad coaching, and there’s a need for wisdom, not just knowledge.

We have to ask God for wisdom as we guide the next generation. Proverbs 1:20-21 says, “Wisdom cries aloud in the streets, in the markets; she raises her voice at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrance of the city she speaks.” Wisdom is not hidden; it’s accessible and available.

Lady Wisdom is right in front of you. She hopes you will receive her words and allow them to guide you.

There are three reasons people are not growing in wisdom, and things you can do to be wise.

First: Blind spots. The Bible calls this ignorance—you don’t know what you don’t know. If you assume you already know, wisdom cannot teach you. He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a student—teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep—wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows not is wise—follow him. The person you want to be is the one who is wise enough to know that there’s still more to learn.

Second: Pride. Pride hinders wisdom. People are often more worried about what others think than growing in wisdom. They see asking questions as admitting weakness. Pride prevents them from learning. Be curious. Ask questions. Be humble. Say, “I don’t know, but I want to learn.”

Third: Emotions. Wisdom doesn’t adjust to accommodate feelings. Real wisdom might make one person angry, another feel insulted, and another afraid. Things that are good for us don’t always feel good to us. Learning to put wisdom above emotions keeps you in the moment and allows you to hear truth without shutting down.

Wisdom leads toward favor and blessing in our lives. God promises to give us wisdom, and it is available to all. Some of you are in new situations, challenges, or crises. God’s wisdom is not far from you; it’s right in front of you.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Let’s pray. Father, we thank You today for Your wisdom. We ask for understanding and insight. Help us to apply Your wisdom to our lives, our families, our workplaces, and our decisions. We receive wisdom now in Jesus’ name. Amen.