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

2. Vv32-33: Listen and Guard So now, sons, listen to me, For happy are they who guard my road Listen to instruction and be wise And do not let it loose (PARAS)

3. Every Word 1.Every word in the Bible is significant. Every word is conveying the meaning of the complete thought. 2.The difference between reading our Bibles and studying our Bibles is the difference between panning for gold and mining it. 3.The two central thoughts in vv32-33 are: 1.Listening to the information must go hand-in- hand with guarding it. 2.Happiness cannot be separated from God’s Wisdom.

4. 4. It is our unfortunate nature to forget and reject the truth in exchange for lies. 5.The command “to guard” deals primarily with retention of information or REMEMBERING. 6.The commands to hear, SHEMA, and guard, SHOMER, both imply obedience.

5. Why We Need To Guard Wisdom Romans 7:14-25

6. v34 Happy is the man who listens to me In order to keep watch upon my door day by day In order to guard the doorposts of my doorways

7. Happiness Begets Happiness 1.The Bible’s perspective on our motivation is that man has been designed to function in happiness. 2.Having been made happy by listening to and obeying the thinking of God, we are then motivated to listen more. 3.Now “guarding” shifts from the internal policing of thoughts and actions to vigilance at Wisdom’s door. 4.The happy believer is motivated to return to the source of enjoyment in life. 5.So the believer is characterized by a vigilance of two orientations: inside and outside.

8. 6.Our priorities have radically changed to reflect two key mutually-supporting endeavors that amount to Scriptural Saturation: Acquisition and Retention. 7.Acquisition (listen) and retention (guard) make a man happy; happiness motivates more acquisition. 8.So vigilance for a believer reflects one’s priorities; we pursue and protect that which we truly value. 9.The principle of Separation flows from the principle of “guarding:” any influence which compromises your vigilance should be rejected.

9. VV35-36 For the one who finds me finds life And then as a result he obtains favor from the LORD But he who misses me treats violently his own soul All those who hate me love death

10. Who is “Me” in Proverbs 8? 1.Because of v35 we can say that God’s Word is your life. 2.There can be no higher priority, no greater demand on our time and energy. 3.Finding life is synonymous with finding favor with the Lord because God designed every human being for a relationship with Him. 4.Therefore life as a concept is theological in every case.

11. So now, sons, listen to me, For happy are they who guard my road Listen to instruction and be wise And do not let it loose (PARAS) Happy is the man who listens to me In order to keep watch upon my door day by day In order to guard the doorposts of my doorways For the one who finds me finds life And then as a result he obtains favor from the LORD He who misses me treats violently his own soul All those who hate me love death Listen Guard Happy Guard?

13. Wisdom’s Power Demonstrated Mt 4:1-11

14. Round 1: The Lust of the Flesh 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”

15. Round 2: The Pride of Life 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

16. Round 3: Lust of the Eyes 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

17. Temptation and Sanctification 1 Jn 2:15-18: 15 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. 15 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. 16 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, but is from the world. 16 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, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.