1. Solomon wanted his son to be wise. What parent wouldn’t want their children to be wise?

2. Solomon seeks to make wisdom attractive to his son. It results in glory!

a. Glory = honor; glory; dignity; good reputation…

b. This is attractive. A wise parent will seek to instill in his child a sense of honor… dignity… respect… integrity…

c. Solomon seeks to make this kind of glory a prize to be sought after. He wants it to be attractive to his son.

d. The world makes its evil ways look appealing and attractive!
• Cf. Prov.1:11-14 – they try to lure with promises of excitement and wealth!
• But what they don’t tell you is that this lifestyle is a trap! (1:17) and they are really laying wait for their own lives! (1:18)

e. The devil made evil look appealing to Eve. He showed her that the forbidden fruit was good for food; pleasant to the eyes… desirable to make one wise!

f. The devil made sin look appealing to Christ. He suggested that He turn the stones into bread when He was hungry. He showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth and their glory.

g. Solomon wants GOOD to look appealing to his son.

3. This is good advice to all parents. Make doing what is RIGHT appealing!

a. This doesn’t mean that we should make it look cool or acceptable to the world! That is a worldly approach.

b. Cool = “in”—acceptable with the “in crowd”. The “in crowd” is not the One we are trying to please!

c. Spiritual things will NEVER be cool with the world. The world hates truth! Darkness hates light.

d. But, as Christians, we should make light (truth; obedience; righteousness) look appealing to our children in a good sense.

e. Parents can do that by holding up and honoring that which is good and pure and holy!

f. Instead of holding up Michael Jordan or some other celebrity a role model, hold up Jesus Christ as a model! Or one of the apostles!

g. Reward good behavior in the home! Praise your children when they make wise choices! Praise them when they do that which is honorable… just for the sake of honor!

h. Make it appealing! It is appealing to God!

i. There ought to be an attractiveness to truth and light to those who are born again!

j. This is what Solomon is doing with his son. He wants his son to know that the wise will inherit glory!

k. He wants his son to know that there is great reward in following the way of wisdom!

4. This glory (honor; dignity) belongs only to the wise. It is their inheritance.

a. Inherit = to get as a possession; to acquire; to inherit.

b. It implies that it might not be acquired immediately.

c. The reward for wisdom is not always immediate… but it is sure.
• For us, the way of wisdom means to follow the Lord. That means suffering and persecution in this life.
• In this life, we may not inherit glory… we may inherit shame—at least in the eyes of the ungodly.
• The martyrs died a shameful death—in the eyes of the world. But they went on to inherit glory!
• If we follow the ways of wisdom, we will not be honored by the world… we will be treated shamefully. (I Thess. 2:2)
• The wise man who lives for the Lord and sacrifices in this life is considered to be a fool by the world. Their motto is “eat, drink, and be merry!” Why pick up a cross? Why suffer? Why sacrifice? The world thinks the godly saint to be a fool! (I Cor. 15:19)
• In this life, we don’t often see the result or the reward of wisdom. But we will in heaven!
• Whatever we suffer in this life for the Lord will seem like nothing compared to the glory that shall follow! (Rom. 8:18)
• When we follow the way of wisdom in this life, the immediate result is often suffering. But when we stand before the judgment seat, the reward will be glory! (I Pet. 1:6-)
• Even if we don’t see it right away, the way of wisdom results in glory! The wise shall inherit glory!
• The straight and narrow way may be quite straight and narrow now—but it leads to everlasting life… we inherit glory at the end!
• The Lord set the pattern—suffering in this life—and GLORY to follow! (I Pet. 1:11)

5. Sometimes, following the way of wisdom DOES result in glory NOW! (or at least profit… a degree of advantage)

a. There IS profit to godliness in this life too. (I Tim. 4:8)

b. Walking in wisdom is the way of godliness.

c. Those who walk in wisdom and follow godliness… will experience a certain degree of “profit” (glory) in this life AND in the life to come…

d. Examples:
• The wisdom in proverbs tells us to be diligent in our work. That usually results in profit!
• The wisdom in proverbs warns us against drinking strong drink. That profits our health… relationships… family life…
• The wisdom in proverbs tells us to be careful with the use of out tongue. That too will be profitable in this life!
• The wisdom in proverbs tells us to avoid evil companions. That too results in profit in this life.
• The wisdom in proverbs demands that we be honest. That will be of great profit too—if we can avoid going to jail!

e. We are rewarded from God at the Bema seat in heaven for wise behavior. But there is also some “glory” or profit to be had in this life.

6. Sometimes when we live godly and follow the way of wisdom:

a. We may suffer and be shamed in this life—but inherit glory in heaven!

b. We may experience honor in this life from following wisdom—and then ALSO inherit glory in heaven!

c. It is better to follow the way of wisdom all around.

d. At least ultimately—the wise shall inherit glory.

e. Psalm 84:11 – He gives grace and glory!

f. Prov. 4:8 – exalt wisdom, and she shall promote thee!

g. Dan. 12:3 – They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament for ever and ever!