Tag Archives: Wisdom

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GOOD DECISION MAKING — BOB PRICHARD

Malcolm Gladwell, one of my favorite authors, makes this pertinent observation: “The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are lacking in the latter.” Think how often this has led to wrong decisions!

The twelve spies had a glowing report of what Canaan offered. “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it” (Numbers 13:27). But there were also problems and a negative report.

“And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:32–33).

To use Gladwell’s analogy, they were swimming in information, but lacked understanding of the consequences of refusing to trust God and conquer the Promised Land on God’s schedule. Because of their lack of action a generation died in the wilderness.

“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it” (Numbers 14:22–24).

We have the knowledge of the seriousness of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And as we see the consequences of a life of sin around  us, but our lack of understanding allows us to make wrong choices too often.

The 119th psalm includes pleas for understanding as well as recognition of the true source of wisdom: God’s word.

“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: For thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:97-104).

Seek knowledge, but don’t stop there. Seek the understanding that will allow you to make good, God pleasing decisions.

CHRISTIAN LIVING

DO YOU NEED SOME OF THIS? — BOB PRICHARD

Have you heard about the new toothpaste? It has shoe polish in it. It is made for people who are constantly putting their foot in their mouth!

Don’t all of us wish, sometimes, that we had thought a little before we said what we said? Once those words leave our lips, they are so hard to call back. It is so easy for something we never intended to say to slip out. Of course, if we didn’t think those bad things, they wouldn’t be there to slip out. 

Wisdom speaks to us and says, “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Proverbs 8:4-11). Notice, for wisdom, the opening of the lips is only for right things, for truth. Wickedness is an abomination to the lips of wisdom.

James warned about how hard, but how necessary, it is to control the tongue. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:2-5).

Solomon reminds us, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28). Just for today, let’s really think before we speak, and speak things that are good and right. Otherwise, you may need some of the toothpaste with shoe polish in it!