The spiritual condition of America, Politics, Culture, and Current Events Analyzed Through the Lens of Scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. Wisdom. What is it? And how important is it that we seek wisdom?
Hi, Alex McFarland here. You know, in Proverbs chapter 3, and Proverbs is the Bible's book of wisdom, 31 chapters. I encourage you to read Proverbs, you know, at least once a year because it's better than a college education. But Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 is one of the most well-known verses, very dear to many, many Christians. And it says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, and all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
But verse 7, which follows this, is very important. It says, Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your body and marrow to your bones. Wisdom.
You know, we live in the information age, and it's pretty amazing. Several years ago, I was teaching on what the Bible says about wisdom, and at that time, it was said that for every man, woman, boy, and girl on the planet, there were 125 terabytes of information. And that was a lot. You know, they measure data, and maybe you've gotten to the point where your computer is almost maxed out, the hard drive. But data is just growing exponentially.
And there are right now, in early 2026, 8.3 billion people in the world. That's according to the UN, that's according to the US Census Bureau. And the population is just over eight billion people. And there are tens of thousands of terabytes of data created per person annually. And the one hundred twenty five terabytes of information Stored on hard drives around the world and servers.
It's grown.
Now there is estimated to be 100 zettabytes. For every person. And right now there are over a hundred and seventy-five zettabites. And a zettabyte being a trillion gigabytes, it's amazing. Maybe your computer has a 100 gig hard drive.
Well, it is estimated that if if some person were immortal, and they could read non stop To try to read everything on the internet right now. And no doubt by the time you hear this, this will have grown. But it would take several trials. trillion years. to read all that's on the Internet because of the billions of pages and the sheer volume of new content added daily.
Just reading Wikipedia itself, forget all the other websites, trillions of websites. And there there is something called the Internet Wayback Machine. Websites that have gone dormant are stored. You can find old things that even if Google says error 404 and a page doesn't exist anymore, the Internet Wayback Machine Probably has taken a snapshot of all old websites that you may have not surfed in years. But over one trillion websites are stored just on the Internet Wayback Machine.
But even if you could read nonstop and you would read Wikipedia, just that one website, it would take a hundred years. But you'd never finish because new articles are being added daily.
So we live in a time of an explosion of data. INFORMATION content. And yet, one of the most scarce commodities in the world is true wisdom. And I want to, on this early 26 show, I want to challenge all of us, myself included, to seek wisdom. The Bible says in Proverbs that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
But fools despise this. That's Proverbs 1, verse 7. And Proverbs chapter 3 has so much to say about wisdom. And we are to walk in wisdom, and we are to seek wisdom like precious gold. It goes on in verse 15 of Proverbs chapter 3 that God's revelation, and that's true wisdom, it's worth more than rubies.
It's worth more than jewels. And it's been said that wisdom is to see life from God's perspective. And James talks about in James 1, verse 5, if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. God gives abundantly and does not withhold.
So I want to give you some characteristics of a wise person in terms of what God says. It's been said that wisdom is to see life from God's perspective. And what I want to do, based on Proverbs chapter 3, which really is about the discipline of wisdom, I want to give some characteristics. And we'll go through these verses. And for every one of these characteristics, God's Word really gives an admonition, a promise, a principle, and a result.
Now an admonition which is That's really a directive or a caution. a warning. The Bible admonishes us to follow God. And there are promises, there are principles, which is just good common sense, and then results. And I would submit to you, and really I want to hold myself to this as well, that the wisest thing we can do, in other words, the best favor we could do for ourselves, is to build our life, our positions, our perspectives, our priorities.
on what God's Word says. And so, number one, the wise person follows God's Word. We do not lean on our own understanding, but we trust what God says. I was in Connecticut several years ago and was at an event speaking and A very famous news person was there who had recently become a Christian, and we were backstage. And this is a name that every one of you would know.
I assure you, one of the most well-known newspapers there is. And I'm going to respect their anonymity. But this woman asked me, she said, I've become a Christian, and she said, I've got two issues. And she said, trust me, I believe what the Bible says. But why is God against gays?
And why is God's word against abortion? And we talked about that. And I said, look, you know, for one thing, marriage is a picture of the gospel, and marriage is a picture of Christ in the church. And then, of course, abortion is wrong always because life belongs to God. And unless it's self-defense or national defense, none of us has the right to take another person's life.
And so we talked about that. And this person said, you know, I believe what God's word says, but I'm not going to say that. They were a brand new Christian, and they were just It was taking time for them to realize that we all have our opinions, our biases. Our blind spots, but the wise person, number one, follows God's Word. Psalm 111, verse 10, which is almost a verbatim quote of Proverbs 1:7.
Psalm 111, verse 10 says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We've got to take a break, and we're going to come back, and we're going to talk more about the discipline of wisdom. And what the benefits are of trusting what God says about life. And eternity. More about God's take on wisdom after this.
Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Would you invest a financial contribution to see young people saved, people give their lives to Christ, and people care about God and country? If you would please make a donation securely online, you can give at alexmacfarlane.com or please mail a check to TNG P.O. Box485 Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, 27313.
Your gift will be faithfully handled, fruitfully used, and we thank you in Jesus' name. Over the last several decades, it's been my joy to travel the world talking with children, teens, adults, people of all ages about the questions they have related to God, the Bible, Christianity, and how to know Jesus personally. Hi, Alex McFarlane. I want to make you aware of my book, The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity. You know, we interviewed hundreds of children and parents and families to find out the questions that children and people of all ages are longing to find answers for.
In the book, we've got practical, biblical, real-life answers that they have about how to be a Christian in this modern world. My book, The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask, you can find it wherever you buy books or at resources.afa.net. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program.
Alex McFarlane here. We're talking about wisdom, and the admonition is that we are to follow God's Word in Proverbs 3. The promise is longevity and peace. The principle that from our heart, the inside of our mind, our emotions, our moral will, decisions flow, actions, attitudes, and we are to be filled with and led by. God's Word.
And what is the result? Favor with God and man. Proverbs chapter 3, verse 4 talks about this. And it's quoted, you know, it says that we will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:4.
Do you know this is quoted in Luke 2:52, speaking of Jesus, that Jesus grew in the favor in the sight of God and man.
So Christ, our example, followed God's word, which is the wisest thing we could do. Secondly, a wise person seeks God's will. In Proverbs 3, 5 through 8, and we've read, of course, some of those famous verses about trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding. And what is God's promise to us?
Well, He will direct our paths. I don't know about you, but the idea that Almighty God, in all of His wisdom and goodness, And benevolence and grace, that He would lead my life. What a blessing that is. And that if we acknowledge Him. and we're not self-conceited and we we do shun evil.
What will it be? Health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones. That speaks of the physical benefits. Of walking in God's ways and the spiritual blessings as well. And of course, one of the most famous verses in the book of Proverbs is five and six, which I've already quoted about trusting in God's word.
And a right relationship with God begins with trust. Do you know we talk about faith, putting our faith in Jesus?
Well, the word faith, the Greek word pistuo, means trust. And we'll define faith this way: it's the response to God's revelation. in which the believer amends their practices, their beliefs, their feelings, their whole life in favor of God's revelation. To sum up, faith is a confident assurance in the face Of That which is not seen with the human eye. In fact, Jesus Christ and his place in our life is the most real thing ever.
The most real reality, the most tangible thing in our life is our relationship with God. And you know, this is the opposite of Romans chapter 1, 22 through 24, which talks about an unbelieving, very immoral world, quote, became wise in their own eyes. And it talks about in Romans 1 how they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. and they died. They became sick.
And not only physically ill, but spiritually dead as well.
Well, this is the opposite. Of seeing life from God's perspective. And the irony of our times is there is so much data, so much information, and yet. We're just vacuous. We're ignorant.
uh the world that has rejected God. And Taken God's revelation out of not only life but law and culture. And what's rushing in to fill that vacuum, the empty space created by our rejection of God's revelation?
Well, things like Marxism, things like wokeness, things like transgenderism and Sharia law. and the wisest thing we can do is to turn away from the assumptions of the world and get back to the revelation of God, which is not only written on the printed page, the Bible, but God's law and God's truth, written on every heart.
Well, a wise person, thirdly, acknowledges God's ownership, You know, James McIntosh said it is right to be content with what we have, but not be content with what we are. We're to grow. In God, acknowledging that He, our Maker and Redeemer, owns us. Malachi 3 asks the question: will a man rob God? Actually, we can't rob God because God owns everything, and yet we do live.
as if we have the right to claim ownership over anything. And Malachi 3 says, we have robbed God in our withholding our tithes and offerings. But in Proverbs 3:9, it says, honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase. That's why we teach that we are to tithe off the gross. And that does take faith and trust.
But I assure you, you're better off. Have the 90% with God's blessing. than to try and withhold and keep a hundred per cent. and be in a state of disobedience. Proverbs.
three ten says, So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine. The wisest thing you can do. And I mean, this is the best financial move you'll ever make: to acknowledge God's ownership. Fourthly, the wise person submits to God's correction. Verses 11 and 12.
We are not to despise the chastening of the Lord. We are to humble ourselves because the one that the Lord loves, He corrects, even as a wise, loving Father corrects His children.
So the admonition, we are to submit to God's leading wherever that takes. And the promise is that His motivation for chastening us and uh disciplining us is his love. God's authority over us. Is related to the fact that He made us. We have a relationship with Him, and He always works for our good and His glory.
Even if we've sinned, God acts redemptively. in our lives if we will allow him. And the principle, we're to face trials and even corrections. with a umbel God-given appreciation and patience. And what is the result?
Growth and blessing. 1 Peter 5:6 says that we're. To humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt us in due time. God always, as my friend Andrew Womack says, God blesses us forward. If we humble ourselves before God, the result we come out on the other side, always in a better place than we were.
Now, in the middle of Proverbs 3 from 13 to 18. is really a poem. In praise of wisdom. The fruit of wisdom is happiness. The value of wisdom, according to verses 14 and 15, is priceless.
And wisdom, living God's way, promises longevity, prosperity, even reputation in verse sixteen. Length of days is in her right hand. And in her left hand, riches and honor.
Now, you might not think that you care much about your reputation or your honor, but God gives you that. Believe it or not, if you're walking with God, people may not tell you, but they respect you. I've heard it many times. I've even had unbelievers tell me. They say, look, I don't agree with everything, but I respect you.
You've certainly got convictions.
Well They're based on God's word.
Now we've got to take a break. We're going to come back and we're going to talk about wisdom as used by God. God acts wisely. And so should we. Stay tuned.
More about the life of wisdom after this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Would you like a book to help you understand the biblical prophecies, the passages about the end of time? Hi, Alex McFarland.
You know, for well over a decade, Bert Harper and I have been on the nationally syndicated AFR show, Exploring the Word. Over 3,000 shows we've done together, and Bert and I have a brand new book as of fall 2025: 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times. You can get it at booksellers everywhere. Our brand new book, Bert Harper, Alex McFarland, Exploring the Word, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times, published by our great friends at Broad Street Publishing. Check it out, and we believe it will help you understand how to live and thrive in these last days.
Mm. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here.
We're talking about wisdom, and we'll resume our look at Proverbs 3. And gods. Admonition to live wisely in just a moment. But I want to remind you that we've got a lot going on this year. We'll give you some just blockbuster information about our speaker series in the next few days.
We have some very exciting things. And do you know, even as I record this, and please be in prayer, there are 142 Election seats across this nation, mayoral races, city councils, school boards. Senate races where Muslims are running for office, and more and more Muslims are calling out for Islamic Sharia law in America. This, folks, this is more dire than cancer in one's body. And I want to challenge every person listening.
First of all, if you're not a Christian, you need to give your heart to Jesus like yesterday and be saved. But if you're a believer, I beg of you to intercede for America. You know the reformers like John Wesley and Martin Luther believed that when Mahommedism, as they called it, but it's Islam, when Islam came into a country, that was a sign of God's judgment. And as American Christianity has become weak and watered down, and in many circles, really apostate. and apostasy is the Greek word for riot, really, a theological free for all, as people have been very selective about what in the Bible they do or don't believe.
Into the vacuum created by the absence of Christianity has come two things, Marxism and Muslims. And really, Christianity in our nation is like the body's immune system. as people were Christian and they lived Biblically, and they voted from a biblically informed worldview, and morals were affirmed and upheld. This was like our immune system for our culture. And into the vacuum created by the abandonment of biblical truth, wisdom, has come so many things.
And there are two forces, I've said it many times, two forces arm wrestling for the future of America. One is Marxism. and a socialist police state. And the confiscation of wealth and the redistribution, just this degradation of not only the culture but the economy as well, but also Sharia. And the word Sharia means straight path, the iron fist of socialism, the iron sword of Sharia.
And folks, that's why I beg of you to pray for our nation.
Now, we've started something in our ministry called United in Prayer. It started out with a few dozen people, then hundreds and now thousands of people. And we send you once a week a devotional of things to pray for. And I want you to please go to alexmacfarland.com and sign up for United in Prayer. Spread the word in your church to all your friends.
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It's July 17 through 19. I'll be teaching Daniel and Revelation. Where are we in history and prophecy? You know, just two months ago, I released my 21st book, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy. By the way, you can find it at Amazon, Books a Million, Barnes and Noble.
Please go to your local bookstore and ask for this book if they don't have it already. But I will be teaching at the Billy Graham Training Center July 17 through 19. And then I'll be back July 27 through 31 with Gary Habermas, the world expert on the resurrection of Christ, ancient evidence for the life of Christ. Habermas, he's spoken for us. Countless numbers of times in our conferences.
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Well, before the break, we were talking about in the middle, verses 13 through 18, there is the benefits of wisdom to man, and then 19 and 20, the use of wisdom by God. Wisdom is really personified, kind of given this independent existence. And wisdom predates creation. Proverbs 1:20, 24 through 30, all of Proverbs 8 talk about how wisdom is really basic to life. And it says, using wisdom God created the universe.
And God wants us to use wisdom to live in this universe that He created. And again, we've said it, the wisest thing you can do, the best favor you'll ever do yourself, is to live God's way.
Well, number seven, a wise person maintains God's perspective. It says, Do not let wisdom depart from you, verses 21 through 24. And it will be life to your soul, grace to your neck. In other words, there are spiritual and physical blessings. And the result uh direction, protection, preservation, peace.
And renewal. I love this in verse 23 and 24. Uh you will walk in the way, not out in the ditch, but In God's way. There'll be safety, your foot will not stumble. That's preservation.
Peace, you'll not be afraid. and renewal. Your sleep will be sweet. You know, it's been said that wisdom is the ability to think through the mind of God, see through the eye of God, hear with the ear of God. and live through the heart of God.
It goes on, it says you'll be secure in God's protection. Verses 25 to 26. There are 35 verses in Proverbs 3. I would encourage you to read all of them. The wise person also not only is secure in God's protection, but fulfills His obligations.
And it says in 1 John 3.17, Whoso has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts his bowels of compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? In other words, the wise person is generous. And Proverbs tells us that we're able to be generous because we are prospered and blessed with enough. that we can give others. And we fulfill obligations and even more.
We're able to give and to help others. There there have been many times in life where Angie and I we needed help. And I'm not poor-mouthing, as we say down south. God's been so good to us, but I well remember. In graduate school, when we were paying tuition, and Angie was finishing nursing school, and I was in seminary and grad school.
And I mean, we ate sliced bread and drank water out of the tap. And then. God blessed us. And in those days, I mean Well, even today, tithing, it's a walk of faith. tithing, and more.
But God will bless you. It's been said you give to God with a spoon, He'll give back to you with a shovel. That's really, really true. And I want to challenge you as we're early in this new year to live wisely. not live by convenience.
but live by principles. And what is the foundational principle? To obey God and trust His Word. Let me give you a contrast as we close. We're almost out of time.
Much of the world They live by feelings. Christians are to live by principles. We're not to be emotion-based, but character-based. We don't ask what is easy, we ask what is right. And we are not to live by just a selfish mindset, but a servant mindset.
That's wisdom. That's what God has offered us. That's what God has revealed to us. And so, We are to live wisely. And 1 Corinthians 1, 24 through 30.
Really says that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of wisdom, Jesus, the living Word. invites us to grow in our knowledge of Scripture, and for that written word, His revelation, to be in us. Because Jesus Christ is God incarnate, and His word is truth. And Jesus is truth incarnate. And we're called to live.
Truthful, wise lives. It will be transformative. Begin to live wisely. before God today. Alex McFarlane Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you.
For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth. Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarlane.com. You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-Y-E-S-G-O-D-1. Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show. Um
