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Basics of a Skillful Life Character and Mental Acumen Message 5

Basics of a Skillful Life Character and Mental Acumen Message 5 This morning we begin working with the content of wisdom—the stuff of which the skills of life are made. Artisanship and the Lifelong Pursuit of Wisdom. Part I Artisanship: Mastering Your Craft (3 messages)

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Basics of a Skillful Life Character and Mental Acumen Message 5

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  1. Basics of a Skillful Life Character and Mental Acumen Message 5 This morning we begin working with the content of wisdom—the stuff of which the skills of life are made.

  2. Artisanship and the Lifelong Pursuit of Wisdom Part I Artisanship: Mastering Your Craft (3 messages) Part II The Skillful Life (6 messages) Part III The Lifelong Pursuit of Wisdom (2 messages)

  3. Artisanship and the Lifelong Pursuit of Wisdom Part II The Skillful Life (6 messages) • The Wisdom Tradition Basics of a Skillful Life • Character and Mental Acumen • Money, Honesty, and Disciplined Work Habits • Marriage, Children, and an Ordered Home • Emotions, People, and Skill in Conflict • Authority, Respect, and Generational Authority

  4. Do you think well? Is your brain developed? Do you have mental acumen*? *Acumen—sharpness of wit; quickness or penetration of perception; keenness of discrimination Originally from Latin and referred to anything sharp, sharpness; French = to sharpen (OED)

  5. I am convinced that we almost completely misunderstand the idea of the mind and its relationship to developing a skillful life.

  6. Mental Acumen Today Two new books on just this subject. Mental acumen (sharpness) shapes our life choices and our life development/ character.

  7. 65 Question Exercise • Pick a few of your favorite questions. • Discuss them with your spouse. • Discuss them with your children. • Discuss them with a colleague at work.

  8. Building an Answer • The individual questions are important, but a solid basic answer will answer them all at once. • Building a Basic Answer—Wisdom is skill in living; we all need it to become masters of our work. • Expanding Our Answer—Mastering one’s craft must be viewed as part of one’s family, which is to be a prosperous intergenerational unit, with wives accelerating that prosperity. • Completing Our Answer—Mastering one’s profession is part of one’s larger LifeWork, intended to intergenerationally impact the purposes of God.

  9. How can we live skillful lives in our work and homes, our two basic spheres, without the ability to think clearly and biblically about them—mental acumen!

  10. OT Wisdom Tradition • Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: • The first verse demonstrates that this is a tradition. Solomon didn’t write the whole collection. Several other authors contributed. The body of 375 individual proverbs (10–22) are Solomon’s. • Called OT Wisdom Literature, Hebrew wisdom, OT wisdom.

  11. Wisdom The craftsmanship God used to create the world. Base of a broad mind—covering vast subjects. Base for master craftsmanship—professions.

  12. True Wisdom It has been given to us in the Hebrew wisdom tradition. It is given to us in a body of literature— a corpus. As Christians we have in our hands the true wisdom of how the world works—the Divine Code. And we must master it!

  13. Pursuing Wisdom • Pursuing Wisdom Means… • …Mastering the Wisdom Corpus • You will respect (be in awe of) the Lord as you experience that His wisdom excels them all.

  14. The Wisdom Corpus Proverbs Skill in Life Mental Acumen (discipline) (wisdom) Job Crises Fear of the Lord Prov 1:7 Eccl. Meaning (prudence) (insight) (knowledge) (understanding) (discernment) Song of Solomon Marriage

  15. What exactly is wisdom literature?

  16. Forms of Wisdom Literature • Proverb: a very short memorable statement that expresses a • general rule through a specific example. • A proverb is brief. • A proverb is concrete. • A proverb is a general truth. • Proverbs have diverse applications. • (Examples of individual proverbs: Proverbs 10:1–22:16)

  17. Forms of Wisdom Literature • Proverb cluster:anywhere from 3 to 8 line units; it contains a more complex idea than just the individual proverbs. (Examples: Proverbs 22:17-24:34) • Collection of proverbs • unifying theme • single narrator • unified structure and poetic texture • (Example: Proverbs 1–9) • Wisdom portrait: painting a vivid picture with proverbs (Examples: the godly woman, Proverbs 31:10–31 and the drunkard, Proverbs 23:29–35)

  18. Forms of Wisdom Literature Reflective essay:a lengthy essay reasoning to a logical conclusion using a proverbial style. (Example: Ecclesiastes) Dramatic narrative: a lengthy drama reasoning to a logical conclusion using a proverbial style. (Example: Job) Anthology of love lyrics: a series of poetic perocopes (snapshots). (Example: Song of Solomon)

  19. How do you interpret a proverb?

  20. Interpreting Wisdom Literature The distinctive characteristic of Hebrew poetry (and other poetry of the Semitic family of the same period) is parallel thought existing between lines. There are four major types of Hebrew parallelism.

  21. Interpreting Wisdom Literature Type 1: Synonymous parallelisms—repeating The second line repeats the first line in a somewhat altered form in order to express the lesson of the proverb with maximum clarity. 17a he who has a crooked mind finds no good 17b he who is perverted in his language falls into evil

  22. Interpreting Wisdom Literature Type 2: Antithetical parallelisms—contrasting The second line expresses the same idea as the first but is contrasted with the first line in order to bring about maximum clarity. 15:1a a gentle answer turns away wrath 15:1b a harsh word stirs up anger

  23. Interpreting Wisdom Literature • Type 3: Emblematic parallelism—illustrating (cerebral cartooning) • One line illustrates the other line,sort of serving as the drawing to the caption in our political cartoons. One line is the illustration (example, concrete image) of the other line, which is in the stated wisdom principle. • Like clouds and wind without rain • Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. • Proverbs 25:14 • As in water face reflects face, • So the heart of a man reflects man. • Proverbs 27:19

  24. Interpreting Wisdom Literature Type 4: Synthetic parallelism—building on first line The second line advances the thought of the first line rather than repeating, contrasting, or illustrating it. Many types: classifying, lesser to greater, better than; or statement followed by consequence, application, basis, or purpose. He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son. Proverbs 19:26

  25. Interpreting Wisdom Literature • So just ask four questions of each proverb: • Do the two lines repeat each other? • Do the two lines contrast each other? • Does one line illustrate the other? • Does line two build on line one? • The genius of this literary technique is that parallel lines are subtly structured to produce deeper insight with multiple reflections.

  26. …a habit of lifelong learning …character development • character types • character traits • mental acumen Core Life Skills 75 Categories Tool 43 6 …living harmoniously in community …respect for authority and administration …kinds of generations …justice …disciplined in work …honest and fair practices …good use of money One leading a skillful life 6 …dealing wisely and fairly with people …control of emotions and words ...handling conflict …well ordered home …an excellent wife …discipline of children 14 6

  27. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development 1. One leading a skillful life . . . is developing a habit of lifelong learning as well as consistently applying what is being learned— habits that lead to the development of character.

  28. Core Life SkillsA Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development • Overarching concepts . . . • We must be committed to a lifelong learning process, recognizing that at each stage in life, we need to be growing to be able to handle the things that come our way. 1:4–6 • As youth, we need experience. • As mature, wise individuals, we need • specialized skills.

  29. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development 4  for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5  let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6  for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Proverbs 1:4–6

  30. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Several key books on the mind. Building a disciplined mind demands education with virtue. Creating minds are minds that develop tremendously— 10-year projects.

  31. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Overarching concepts… b. The learning process requires hard work on our part, although we can expect the process to become more and more natural and enjoyable as we go along wisdom’s path. 2:1–5; 4:18; 9:9; 14:6

  32. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development 1  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2  turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4  and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5  then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1–5

  33. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development   The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18   Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:9   The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Proverbs 14:6

  34. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development • The wise person… • Continues to perfect his “life skills” (still works hard). • Adds to his “body of learning.” • Finds the development process easier and easier. • Possesses an “intuitive aptitude” (Waltke) for what to seek. • Finds his life getting brighter and brighter.

  35. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Overarching concepts… c. Part of the learning process involves reproof and correction, which are key to developing and maintaining a teachable spirit, without which a person will not stay in the learning process or on wisdom’s path. 12:1; 15:31–32; 17:10; 19:20

  36. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development     Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:1 31 He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. 32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Proverbs 15:31–32

  37. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development      A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. Proverbs 17:10 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20

  38. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development • “Mid-course correction” skills • Learning from the correction of life • Accepting discipline • Listening to advice • Learning from teachers • Absorbing a painful rebuke

  39. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Overarching concepts… d. Most issues and decisions in life are complicated, with no easy answers, requiring careful thought and planning, and only those who are genuinely in the learning process will be likely to approach them with the skill necessary to think clearly and decisively. 1:6; 20:5

  40. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development     for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Proverbs 1:6 The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Proverbs 20:5

  41. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development • Overarching concepts… • The learning process follows a logical developmental pattern, moving from youth to wise to wiser. 1:4–6 • Youth—gain common sense; shrewd, world-wise behavior; and planning and a clear head. • Wise—overall skill to manage life and people. • Wiser—ability to see issues below the surface; acquire and assimilate complex counsel; solve tough problems.

  42. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development 4   for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5   let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6   for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Proverbs 1:4–6

  43. Two Paths of Life Wiser Proverbs 22:17–24:34 Proverbs 25:1–29:27 Proverbs 30:1–31:31 Wise Proverbs 10:1–22:17 Youth Proverbs 1–9 Naive Fool Fool Scoffer

  44. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development • Overarching concepts… • We will only continue to progress from naive to wise to wiser as we put into practice what we learn, as can be seen by those negative caricatures who are visualized for us (i.e. the sluggard), who think themselves to be wise, yet are actually on the wrong path. 4:1–27; 14:6; 26:16

  45. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Proverbs 4:10–15 10   Listen, my son,acceptwhat I say, and the years of your life will be many. 11   I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12   When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. 14   Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk inthe way of evil men. 15   Avoid it, do nottravel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

  46. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Proverbs 4:18–19 18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19  But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

  47. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Proverbs 4:20–27 20     My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21     Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22     for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. 23     Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. 24Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25     Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26Makelevel paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 27Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

  48. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development     The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Proverbs 14:6    The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. Proverbs 26:6

  49. Core Life Skills A Lifelong Habit of Learning, Character Development Overarching concepts… g. The proverbs are designed to produce this developmental progression; therefore, we ought to cycle through a major study of them at least three times in our lifetime. 2:1–5; 22:17–21

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