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ARE
YOU WISE? Are you wise? “Proverbs will teach you wisdom” (Proverbs
1:2 CEV), and Proverbs tells us what a wise man is like. A
wise man listens. Do you come to Bible class? Are you a daily Bible reader? Notice that Proverbs says: ·
“A wise man will hear and increase learning” (Proverbs 1:5
NKJV). ·
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man
listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 ESV).
·
“A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer
does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1 ESV).
·
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the
wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15 ESV). Similarly, Peter said, “like newborn
babies, long for the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2 NASB). A
wise man doesn’t tell everything he knows. Not every thought needs to be
expressed. Proverbs tells us, “The wise
don’t tell everything they know, but the foolish talk too much and are ruined”
(Proverbs 10:14 NCV). That old saying,
“It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and
remove all doubt,” has a cousin in Proverbs: “Even a fool who keeps silent is
considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent” (Proverbs
17:28 ESV). A
wise man spreads knowledge. Of course there is a time to
speak. Proverbs says, “The lips of the
wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools” (Proverbs 15:7 ESV). This reminds me of the Great Commission, “Go
into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15
ESV). A
wise man wins souls. Similarly, Proverbs says, “he who wins
souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV).
Jesus spoke of “winning” souls.
He said, If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if
he listens to you, you have won
your brother” (Matthew 18:15 ESV). A
wise man speaks words that bring healing. Along these same lines, Proverbs notes,
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the
wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18 ESV).
This reminds me of Jesus, “The Great Physician.” When He was asked,
"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" He answered, "Those who are well have no
need of a physician, but those who are sick.
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance"
(Luke 5:30-32 ESV). A
wise man works. Proverbs has a lot to say about
working, including this statement: “Those who gather crops on time are wise,
but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace” (Proverbs 10:5
NCV). Of course, Paul made a famous
statement about working as well: “For even when we were with you, we would give
you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2
Thessalonians 3:10 ESV). A
wise man doesn’t get drunk. Proverbs tells us, “Wine and beer make
people loud and uncontrolled; it is not wise to get drunk on them” (Proverbs
20:1 NCV). Similarly, Peter tells us,
“The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living
in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless
idolatry” (1 Peter 4:3 ESV). A
wise man holds back his temper. Proverbs tells us, “A fool always loses
his temper, But a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NASB); and “Whoever
is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts
folly” (Proverbs 14:29 ESV). Likewise,
in James, the book that has been called “the Proverbs of the New Testament,” we
read, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow
to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19 ESV). A
wise man keeps the law and turns away from evil. Proverbs tells us, “Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents” (Proverbs 28:7 NLT); and “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless” (Proverbs 14:16 ESV). These statements remind me of something else James said: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 ESV). |