1 Kings chapter 3
… God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” … Solomon responded, “Give an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 4:29–30 (ESV)
29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
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Title: More Profitable Than
Gold
Text: James 1:5–8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
What is wisdom?
James 3:13–17 (ESV)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and

selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
1 Corinthians 3:18–19 (ESV)
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is
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4   folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Job 28:28 (ESV)
28 … ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ”
Psalm 111:10 (ESV)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. …
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 2:1–12a (ESV)
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of
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6   justice and watching over the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil,
…
Proverbs 3:13–15 (ESV)
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious

than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
Proverbs 8:11 (ESV)
11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the
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8   knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)
33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 16:16 (ESV)
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Proverbs 24:14 (ESV)
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

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5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
But let him ask in faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe
(completely trust) that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. with no doubting
Mark 11:22–24 (ESV)
22 And Jesus answered them,
“Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you
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11   have received it, and it will be yours.
James 4:3 (ESV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts

is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1 Kings 18:21 (ESV)
21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is
God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” …
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Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. …
James 4:4 (ESV)
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Revelation 3:16 (ESV)
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

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8 he is a double-minded man
James 4:8-9 (ESV)
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9
Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. unstable in all his ways.
2 Peter 3:16 says that the unstable twist Scriptures to their own destruction

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Wisdom! How we all desperately need it. More Profitable Than
Gold! May we seek her without doubting.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Proverbs 3:5–7 (ESV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be

16   not wise in your own eyes; fear the
LORD, and turn away from evil.