Fools Gold – week 1

Joke: An Australian man comes to Oregon during the great gold rush knowing of a location where tons of gold has yet to be discovered. Keeping it as secretive as possible, he comes alone and needs to hire help as he arrives. He heads to the local bar where many of the miners spend their evenings. He has many conversations with people looking for a group of skilled men he can trust. He eventually hires a massive Englishman strong enough to move rocks and dirt quicker than any other man. He also hires an Irishman skilled with explosives. Lastly, he hires a Chinaman who has connections throughout town and can get anything they need.

He gathers them all in his office and tells each of them their jobs. The Englishman to remove any debris in the way. The Irishman is to carefully blow holes to reach the gold. And finally, the Chinaman is in charge of the supplies.

The boss arrives at the site the next day and he sees the Englishman and the Irishman having a cup of tea. ”Have you finished the work already?” he asks.

The workers both shake their heads and tell him that the Chinaman didn’t bring them any wheelbarrows, axes, or explosives. The boss is infuriated by this and asks the workers if they have seen the Chinaman. They tell him they thought they saw him hanging around the truck. So the boss sets out towards the truck and just as he is getting close to the truck the Chinaman jumps out from behind a wall and yells, “SUPPLIES!”
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Fool’s Gold – Week 1: Worth Its Weight in Gold

There are so many things we think hold value and the reason they hold value is because we say they do.

Think for a moment about the things in this life that you claim to value. Maybe it’s relationships, money, house, possessions, car, spouse, whatever it might be how do you know you value them?  And as you consider those let me ask another more important question: Where do wisdom and direction find themselves in your value system?

What weight has true wisdom and direction in your life. They are two of the most important attributes you can cling to when it comes to your relationship with Christ.

I think it’s time we seek after what the Bible claims is more desirable than gold.

Good afternoon church! I hope you decided to come today because you desire something from God.

Maybe this week has been full of uncertainties which have caught you off guard. And right now, you are seeking to cling to something greater than what this world can offer.

Today, we are beginning a brand new series called “Fool’s Gold.”

I am calling this series “Fool’s Gold” because our world offers us so many counterfeits. Including counterfeit wisdom and the truth is sometimes it looks rather enticing as well.

Wisdom is something the Bible talks a lot about. It’s something few in our world have, and many are seeking tirelessly to find.

But why gold where does it come into play?

For much of human history, gold has been the standard for determining worth or value. Gold is difficult to locate and even more difficult to extract from the earth.

Because of that, it is extremely valuable. As of yesterday when I was finishing up this message gold was valued at $1,654.70 per once.

The Bible tells us there is something even more valuable than a precious metal or a costly jewel. The thing that people should be valuing and that is wisdom.

Our culture, however, seems to be bankrupt in wisdom.

The definition of wisdom according to Oxford is: the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment, the quality of being wise.

In other words not just knowing, but also knowing how to apply and use what you know.

Share: When I first bought my bike and riding it home.

Now, the truth is the world offers us counterfeit wisdom in every aspect of our lives.

So, It’s time we dig deeper and find the wisdom offered to us by God Himself. It’s time we stop falling for “Fool’s Gold” and demand the real thing! So that’s what we are going to do. That is why we’re here today.

If you have a Bible, a Bible app on your phone, or just want to follow along on the monitors I want us to begin in the middle of the Bible, in the book of Psalms. I know you were thinking Proverbs weren’t you? We will hit a few verses there in this series as well, as it’s jam packed full of Scriptures on wisdom, but for today let’s begin in
Psalms.

Today we are looking at a few verses from Psalm 19 — one of the Psalms that King David wrote. He’s writing in great reverence for God, and here’s what he says starting in verse 9. . .

Psalms 19:9 – The fear of the Lord is pure.

Let me pause for a moment and show you another from Proverbs. See I told you I would hit that book as well says

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV): The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Fear here is not talking about being scared of God, but rather being in awe, in reverence of Him. Which is what David is talking about in Psalm 19.

Back to Psalm 19. . .

Psalm 19:9–11 (NIV): The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

David says a lot in these three verses. He seems to highlight both reverence for the Lord and the Law or decrees of the Lord as pure and true, noting that they are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.

I want us to talk about what these two things are, why they are important, and ultimately figure out why we need to have them in our lives.

So first, let’s talk a little bit about reverence for the Lord.

Let me start by asking you a question: who is somebody you would love to meet? It can be anyone.

I personally would love to meet Chuck Norris. If I did I must admit I’d probably be at a loss for words. I would be stunned to be that close.

Now, I’ve met Heidi Baker, Shawn Bolz, and I few other spiritual leaders I admire, I wasn’t star struck but I did have a deep respect for them. I’ve also been up close to a couple former MLB players. I even had the opportunity to share a 20 minute or so conversation with one. That was pretty cool.

Maybe you have had a similar encounter. You went to an NBA game and got to see Micheal Jordon, or more recently LeBron James play live. Maybe you went to a Justin Bieber concert with your family and took like 10,000 pictures.

Whatever it was in your life, you got to see someone up close whom you respect. Maybe they have even impacted your life in some form or fashion. You keep up with them like the Kardashians and watch them from afar.

And no I’ve never watched that show.

This concept of having a deep respect for someone is what reverence looks like.

But when it comes to God, our reverence is meant to be taken to a whole new level. David says that reverence for God is pure and lasts forever. But why do and should we have reverence for God?

Well, I think one reason is because of what He did for us.

Since the beginning of time, God’s been at work because He truly loves His people (that’s you and me). In fact, the Bible makes it clear that He loved us so much, He was willing to send His one and only Son (Jesus) to this earth to live a perfect life, die a brutal death, and three days later be resurrected from the grave.

Why did He do all of that? So we could have a personal connection, personal relationship with Him, even amidst our sin and the ways we fall short. That is why we can and should, have reverence toward God.

But often, like I’m sharing in this series, many times, things try to take the place of our reverence for God. We sometimes fall into the trap of worshiping what the Bible defines as “idols.”

Maybe this is someone famous you want to be just like. Or maybe it is the idea of getting super rich so you can have as many material possessions as possible.

Regardless of what it might be, we all have a temptation to worship something.

I love what Will Smith said about possessions. He said, “We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care.”

And God makes it clear: Worship nothing else, He also let’s us know that by us choosing to worship Him it will ultimately be the greater choice. It’s actually the only choice.

These other things may promise us temporary satisfaction, but only God offers, and true to His Word, gives us eternal satisfaction.

Paul even talks about this in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, he says…

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV): So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I am convinced if we were to look hard enough, we would be able to find a counterfeit version of pretty much everything God offers us.

And hear this church, this is important, our enemy the devil is not original, God is, and the enemy will counterfeit what God has created to draw us away from God and towards what sometimes looks like God.

Any let’s be honest it is only things of value we tend to counterfeit.

That’s why you find fake Rolex watches, Gucci handbags, Air Jordon sneakers, and $100.00 bills to name a few.

God creates, Satan counterfeits.

The whole idea of a counterfeit is to get us to believe what we have is true and real, when it actually is not true or real but worthless.

God created love so Satan counterfeited it to lust. God created confidence and so Satan counterfeited it into arrogance and pride.

God created angels so he made demons.

And so Paul addressed it for us. . .

2 Corinthians 11:14 (TPT): That doesn’t surprise us, for even Satan transforms himself to appear as an angel of light!

Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the real thing!

And just so you know Coke isn’t the real thing. . . Pepsi is.

Just kidding Jesus is.

This is why David says that reverence for God is “pure.” Because the world offers us the opportunity to give reverence to many different things and people.

When we choose to look through the lens of God Himself, that’s when we find true purity.

But David doesn’t seem to only be focused on where we give reverence or what we give out, but also what we take in.

He says the Truth we can find in this world is God’s word.

And church, if there is one thing being counterfeit right now in our world, it’s that. Truth.

The truth is meant to provide us with wisdom and direction.

Later in this series, we are going to look more closely at how this happens. But before we get there, I don’t want us to miss this point.

Jesus Himself says it so plainly in John 17 He shares what the truth is in our world.

John 17:17 (NIV): Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

So, if God’s word is the truth, why do so many people want nothing to do with it, or spend so little time in it?

But, instead they try and find their truth any where, but there?

I think one reason might be because the word of God has a tendency to convict us and contradict one’s lifestyle.

For others it might be they think it’s boring, and to that I say no no, you just might need to truly meet the Author.

STORY: I can remember a friend and I were teaching a Bible study in my house (got beer – tell story) – We ended up dumping it down the sink. The Holy Spirit convicted us.

And when the Holy Spirit convicts you it rocks your world. It doesn’t feel great when it happens. It may even frustrate you. But then comes the time for a decision. And unfortunately this is the moment when many walk away from truth, from God’s plan for their life, and maybe even from God himself. They don’t choose the
wisdom God is leading them to.

In those moments of conviction, will you choose to make changes based on what God points out? Or, will you turn the other way and keep living your life as you have been?

I chose to make the change.

Now hear this church, The Holy Spirit may convict to cause us to change, but the enemy will condemn to try and cause you to ask why change?

So if you feel shame or condemnation know that is not God.

However, if you make a decision and feel conviction it just might be the Holy Spirit trying to woo you to walk in your true identity as a son or daughter of God.

And if you are here today, and you are searching for true wisdom and direction for your life. There’s only one place it can be found.

James 1:5 (TPT): And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.

And God has opened the door for you to come into this space.

Now is the time for you to accept it as the truth. After all it is His Word.

Our woke culture will try and get you to run from the truth of God’s word. Our woke culture will tell you there is no absolute truth.  But that is just not true.

David makes it clear in this Psalm that finding the truth, reading the truth, understanding the truth, and living by the truth are more desirable than gold. And, if we choose to live by the truth, the Bible says that the truth will. . .

John 8:32 (NIV): Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

David closes this passage in Psalm 19 by telling us what else is in store for those who decide to live by the truth and give reverence to God. He says there is a great reward for those who choose to obey.

Psalm 19:11 (NIV): By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Now, here’s something else encouraging for you. The New Testament talks a little bit about a reward to come.

Look what Jesus Himself says in Matthew 5. . .He’s sharing what we know as the beatitude’s. . .

Matthew 5:10–12 (NIV): Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10–12 (TPT): 10 “How enriched you are when you bear the wounds of being persecuted for doing what is right! For that is when you experience the realm of heaven’s kingdom. 11 “How ecstatic you can be when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me! 12 So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.

There are so many more instances like this where we read about a reward in heaven based on our faithfulness to God here on earth.

However, the reward David is speaking of seems to be a present one. Because he knows those who choose to  revere and follow

God now will reap the benefits of it now.

They are not counterfeit things, but the real deal.

If you choose to learn about wisdom in God’s word now, as we will do in this series, you will benefit from growing in wisdom now. If you choose to seek direction from God now, the Bible says that He will direct your steps now.

We serve a God who is not just focused on our “one day,” but is also focused on our “right now.” Jesus said in John 10:10:

John 10:10 (TPT): 10 A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!

Jesus came to give us life. Not just eternal life for the future, but also abundant life for the present.

And church, I am here to let you know from personal experience, that the way to experience abundant life is to revere the Lord. It’s to learn what is inside His Word.

It’s time to worship Him with everything you’ve got, not settling for what’s counterfeit, but seeking after and desiring the real thing.

I want to invite you, as we close, to take some sort of step in your faith today. Maybe for you, today is the day you take the first step, a step of faith declaring that you want to follow Jesus personally.

For someone else, your step forward requires you to recognize your tendency to chase after counterfeit things in our world, and today is the day you stop chasing after counterfeits, and you pursue the real thing.

Maybe for another, your step is bowing in reverence, or simply opening God’s word for the first time in a long time. Whatever it may be, I want to invite you to do that now. Take a step of faith today.

Even a small step of faith can produce immeasurable fruit in the future.

You need to understand that our God is worth everything we could possibly give Him and more. You can never out give God.

And His wisdom, His direction, His love, mercy, and grace. Is worth its weight in gold. Even more than gold.