Daily Stop & Thinks

Wisdom

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).

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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).

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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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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).

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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).

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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).

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