Proverbs: Everyday Wisdom - Growth

Sermons Blog - Calvary

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PDF Sermon Manuscript: Proverbs Everyday Wisdom - Growth

There's a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge." In response Socrates led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into the water. Then he asked the young man, "Now tell me, what is it that you want?"

"Knowledge, O wise Socrates," said the young man with a smile.

Socrates put his hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under the water. Thirty seconds later the wise philosopher lifted his pupil out of the water. "What is it again that you want?" he asked. "Wisdom, O great and wise Socrates" the young man said under labored breathing.

Socrates again took the man and held him under water, this time longer. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five, forty, forty-five. Finally, Socrates let him up. The man gasped for air as Socrates asked him, "What do you want, young man?"

He labored to answer. "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful . . ." To this response Socrates then plunged the man under water, this time holding him for close to a minute. As the young man came up panting for oxygen, Socrates asked him, "What do you want?” "Air!" the young man screamed. "I need air!” Socrates responded, ”When you desire wisdom as you have just desired air, then you will have it”

I think most of us would probably say that we desire wisdom. But how desperate are you for it? Is it as important to you as the air you breathe? Our passage in Proverbs this morning tells us that we should be desiring wisdom—seeking it with great intensity. But why?