Have You Thought About The Great Value Of Wisdom Lately?

Today, I wrote the following post on Facebook:

“But there’s another kind of wisdom, too—the ability to predict the consequences of certain actions.” [Alford]  I read this recently and thought it presented an interesting perspective on wisdom. The consequences of certain actions can, occasionally, be predictable, at least in a broad and general sense, and those who can see this tend to be those who have developed a measure of wisdom.

Having read that post, a friend of mine asked me for a little further explanation.  That seemed like a good idea, so, that’s what I offer here.

I can’t read the mind of the author I quoted, however, when I say that the consequences of certain actions can, occasionally, be predictable, I would place great STRESS on the thought that follows—the consequences are predictable “in a broad and general sense”.  In a broad and general sense, we can often have a pretty good idea what will be the consequences of certain actions.

For example, if I begin to enter into a regular pattern of lying to others, in a broad and general sense, I’m pretty sure that there will be negative consequences.

Or, if I begin abusing drugs, in a broad and general sense, I can predict that these actions will not lead to a good place.

You object and say, “Oh come on, Dan, those examples are so obvious!”

Are they?  Really?

Then why have I had many people in my office crying and telling me something like this:  “If I could have seen where this would lead, when I was young, I would have never started doing this.”

Here’s a truth that I urge you to consider very soberly: Everything seems obvious in retrospect.  It all seems so obvious and, yet, have you noticed that people continue making significant mistakes—relatively foolish mistakes—in their lives?  WISDOM does not necessarily involve deep mysteries that are very difficult to comprehend.  Wisdom can involve relatively simple, but profound, truths and understandings.

This wisdom—this ability to predict the consequences of certain actions—can be applied to virtually every area of our lives and the cumulative effect becomes very significant.  Think about SEEING the consequences of our actions when it comes to…

Relationships

Marriage

How we handle money

Working responsibly

Marriage (I thought this one was actually worth mentioning again)

Learning to practice something diligently in order to develop proficiency

Cultivating our relationship with God

The examples could go on and on.

Again, the idea from the original post—written with a little different wording—is that there is a form of wisdom that is characterized by the ability to see where certain actions are going to lead.  Think of how many people you know who would have benefited greatly from seeing where certain actions were going to take them…and consider this, perhaps everyone else they know could see where this was going, except them.

I’ll give another example.  If I establish a regular pattern of extending grace freely and generously to others, there’s a strong possibility that when I’m the one who stands in need of grace—and I will stand needing grace from others, at some point—then grace will be a little more likely to come my way.  Understanding the consequences of regularly extending grace—in this case they are positive consequences—is a mark of wisdom.

I will grant that all of my examples have been fairly obvious—as I said, the ability to “predict”, that is talked about here, is “broad and general”.  However, as a person grows in wisdom, I believe that this ability to see where certain actions will lead can begin to be applied to more subtle and specific matters of life.  When this happens, the value of wisdom becomes extraordinary; especially as it applies to making decisions.  Perhaps that’s why the Bible says that the value of wisdom is “more precious than rubies; and nothing you desire can compare” with wisdom.

Here, take a look at what the Bible says…

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

Prov. 3:13-15

  

Oh, I should mention one other thing, the Bible also says to ask for wisdom and God will give it to you.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

I ask for wisdom from God EVERY DAY.  I encourage you to do this, too.