CHAPTER 9
WISDOM AND TRUTH “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” Proverbs 23:9
T
he first truth that stands out to me here is this: you and I should go where we are celebrated, not simply tolerated. If you are just tolerated where you work, you know it, and you should consider looking for a place where you will be celebrated. There is another, more basic, truth being discussed here as well. That is the value of wisdom. In Proverbs 4:7, Solomon plainly states, “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” I like to define wisdom as the ability to see beforehand the outcome of a given set of actions. That foresight allows the wise to choose the best path. In many cases, it helps them avoid the school of hard knocks. For example, a 10 year-old boy who plays in the street but is very watchful and leaves at the first sign of a vehicle could be considered smart. However, if that same boy, realizing that he is capable of keeping himself safe, chooses to stay out of the street entirely because he can foresee his 3 year-old brother is likely to copy him by playing in the street as well but without any regard to the 42
