Don’t Be Foolish: It Is Wise To Be Wise In The Ways Of Jesus

Word-Of-The-Day:  ‘The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.’ (Ecclesiastes 2:14); ‘There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.’ (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25); ‘Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore, fear God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:7)

We all have our moments of wisdom, where we find ourselves in a situation that requires some thought and perhaps some planning in order to resolve an issue, we or someone we know, is encountering.

The opposite is also unfortunately true, as well. A situation arises and we jump to conclusions at first glance. We act before we think and before we can plan our response. Our response, we usually find, will not resolve the situation. This is usually after money is spent, effort is expended, and now the issue is now ‘issues’, the issue that we started with, and the new issue to undo our ill-fated response.

Usually, it is not the lack of knowledge that causes this, but our lack of wisdom in taking a step back to analyze the facts. If it is a case of simply not knowing, and the Lord uses these moments to teach us to be reliant on Him, and to learn what we should know. But often we react with how we ‘feel’ about the situation, ignoring or overlooking the facts and chasing a ‘rabbit’ down a dead-end hole, only to find the ‘rabbit’ was a shadow and nothing of substance.

There are times we must realize that we cannot change the outcome of the issues that we face. The old ‘Alcoholics Anonymous‘ Serenity Prayer is a petition to God, for Him to ‘grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.‘ I would add that one should add ‘and wisdom‘ in front of ‘serenity‘ and ‘courage‘.

Wisdom is the realization of what one can do, the limitations that come with that realization, and the fortitude to act upon that realization. One can know what to do or what not to do, but then not act. Not acting on what you know is as bad as acting without wisdom or forethought.

I think of the fictional story of Peter Parker, with his ‘Spiderman’ powers, failing to stop the thief that he knows has done wrong – only to find later it was the thief who killed his ‘father figure’, uncle Ben. He knew he should have taken action to catch the thief, but at the time didn’t and it cost his uncle’s life for his failure to act at the appropriate time.

So, it is ‘wise’ to ‘be wise’, to know the Lord’s Word and His Ways. ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ is the right question when seeking wisdom – His Wisdom. It is not only proper but Righteous to ask the Lord for His Wisdom.

The wisest man ever (except for Jesus, of course) was Solomon.  Solomon proved he was very wise by answering God by asking for more wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-10).  Thus Solomon discusses wisdom often in the books (or portions of books) he wrote, especially in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. 

Ecclesiastes is a book written on perception; man without God perceives much of what life is to be meaningless.  ‘Why work your fingers to a nub when you’re going to die anyway?’  or ‘If I’m going to be pushing daisies someday I might as well go live in debauchery and be happy!’ is the perception of those who do not know God (or those who think they know God but really don’t).

Solomon, however, makes it clear that perception is not necessarily always reality; your life means something to God, but you must fear God and obey Him to have meaning in your life (Ecclesiastes 12:13).   

Can perception turn into reality?  The old saying is often true, “If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is most likely a duck.”.  If we perceive an issue (good or bad) in a situation, the ‘fool’ may run with that perceived reality.  The wise who ask God for discernment or are in tune with the Holy Spirit who will guide in discernment will see the perceived issue and, while perhaps the Lord may not give the answer outright (is it real or not?) will provide caution. 

The ‘fool’ will run without trepidation head-first, thinking they are right and nothing will change their mind – until it is too late; the quacking may be a hunter’s duck-call from a duck blind with a floating duck decoy and the foolish duck runs into the field of fire – BAM! Oops!.  The wise, in tune with God and the Holy Spirit, will take cautious steps, perhaps preparing for the perceived reality, until it is determined what the reality of the situation really is. 

People, even good Christians, can run with a perception that is later found to be false.  Do not act rashly or without the guidance of the Holy Spirit – the Truth will eventually come to light, but don’t act or react, speak or accuse based on perception.  Make your steps based on God’s Reality.