Daily Stop & Thinks

Wisdom

The breadth of your library will enhance the depth of your life. (Rev. Jim  Brown, pastor)

With the advent of television, e-mail, and social media, the skill of reading may be a lost art in the 21^st century. Perhaps the advent of e-readers will revive the habit of reading books. Let’s hope so, because the wisdom of the world and the understanding of culture and tradition hidden in books will be lost if we don’t continue reading the great literature.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it (2 Timothy 3:14).

Wisdom

Since changes are going on anyway, the great thing is to learn enough about them so that we will be able to lay hold of them and turn them in the direction of our desires. (John Dewey, 19th-20th century educational reformer)

Change seems to be one of the few constants in life. Dewey suggests, “Conditions and events are neither to be fled from nor passively acquiesced in; they are to be utilized and directed.” We should not fear change, but we dare not ignore it either. The challenge is to approach change with a view to using it to our best advantage.  

Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Wisdom

Sign on a maintenance shop door: “We can repair anything. Please knock hard on the door, the bell doesn’t work.”

We laugh at such a puzzle. But we are sometimes guilty of doing the same thing in life, aren’t we? We speak in generalities, which may be accepted but quite often are not true, and we don’t expect anyone to challenge our statements. It would be wiser not to make broad boasts, to be careful with ideas we share, and to offer our services with humility.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

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We teach what we know, we reproduce what we are. (Winston Churchill)

Too often, teaching is merely the transferring of information. Was Churchill saying that there’s something more to learning than just remembering the facts? The goal of education ought to include gaining wisdom and understanding, and it must equip students for life. The teacher who is a person of character and integrity will pour his life into his students.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13).

Wisdom

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built. (Eleanor Roosevelt, late U.S. first lady)

Experience is a teacher without parallel. We can learn from books, classes, hard study, and research, but what we experience personally, we remember with clarity. And if we value the events of our life, we can profit immensely, discarding what is worthless and clinging to what is beneficial.

I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom; … I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” (Ecclesiastes 1:16)

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To speak simply, you must think deeply. (A. E. Wilder-Smith, 20th century British chemist)

Another scientist, Albert Einstein, said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” In a world as technically complex as ours, these are ideas that become increasingly important. Truths that are to be learned and applied by the average person must be thought through carefully and deeply so they can be explained and understood simply.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

Wisdom

I’m more interested in what I discover than what I invent. (Paul Simon, singer, songwriter)

Simon’s comment suggests something about the personality of creative people. Certainly, they are proud of what they produce, whether it’s music, art, or a device of some kind. They seem to recognize, however, that there is a lot more to learn, to discover, and build upon. Pride in one’s work is one thing; humility to recognize there is still more to discover is another.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

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Wisdom

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet. (James Oppenheim, 20th century American novelist and editor)

If we’re living as if happiness is a goal that can be achieved only in the distant future, we are missing out on the pleasure that we could be enjoying right now. The “pie in the sky, blessings bye and bye” outlook deprives us of what we can experience in the present. Make every effort to pursue worthy efforts today that will bring joy in fulfillment.

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

Wisdom

None of us is as smart as all of us! (Japanese Proverb)

No matter how much knowledge and experience one person may have, he or she can’t know everything. So, this simple Japanese proverb, quoted by many writers, is profound. The more input we can have from intelligent colleagues who, perhaps, have training in areas we don’t, the better the result from our mutual endeavors.

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life (Proverbs 19:20).

Wisdom

Equipping and mentoring are more important than directing. (Sam Ranier III, pastor and consultant)

Rather than just giving students the facts, which is merely the transferring of knowledge, educators must teach students to think for themselves. Learners should be given the tools for study and be trained in how to use them. The result, then, will be useful wisdom and learners who grow and contribute.

Now may the God of peace … equip you with everything good for doing his will (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Wisdom

Wisdom