Defining the Wise Ones

 

“Listen to advice and accept discipline…”

—Proverbs 19:20a

My father had a pet phrase he would use whenever we encountered someone who was arrogant or pompous. He would say, “It’s always okay to be a wise man, but never okay to be a wise guy.”

Naturally, as with many of my dad’s wise sayings, it took me a while to comprehend the depth of what he was really saying. I wonder, as I look back over my life, how many wise men or women I have encountered—as opposed to “wise guys” who crossed my path? And, what defines whether or not someone is wise?

One of the wisest men who ever lived is King Solomon. I’m not at all certain I understand his relationship with women—but, that will have to be a subject for another blog post sometime. Nevertheless, Solomon earned the title: “The Wise.” And, he deserved it.

Notice what King Solomon writes, as recorded in Proverbs 19:20-21:

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

So, some of the defining characteristics of a wise man or woman includes one who listens to advice and accepts discipline. That surely would mean that the wise man or woman was in tune with God.

By listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit and by subjecting himself or herself to God’s loving discipline, that one would achieve a wisdom quite uncommon in our world today.

As we begin this new day, let’s make a conscious decision to study God’s Word, so that we may become aware of His advice. And, let’s also decide to willingly subject ourselves to God’s discipline, that we may learn from it and make the necessary changes in our lives.

If we do this, I am certain we would pass muster as those who are wise. And, that would be a very, very good thing.

 

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