A wise person
By Chaplain Barry Metzger

I’m sure you have heard the phrase “Don’t be a wise guy.” On the other hand, I can remember acting or saying things that made me look very foolish. When I hurt others with my words or actions it doesn’t make me very happy. At times I have harmed the community by treating people foolishly, provoking the exact opposite behavior of what I would have liked. We’ve all been there at some time or another. The proverbial writer, Solomon provides us with interesting teaching concerning fools or foolishness.

The wise man warns us in Proverbs 14:7 and 17:12 “Stay away from a foolish man. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.” In fact the book of Proverbs has much to teach us about fools.

Several passages in Proverbs, the wise man says, “The fool is unrighteous and unwise,” 13:19 and 10:21. “The fool is incapable of gaining wisdom,” 14:6. “The fool has no desire for wisdom,” 1:7, 22. “The fool is unrealistic about himself,” 21:24. “The fool is undisciplined with his temper and his mouth,” 12:23, 15:2. “The fool is unreliable,” 26:6. And, finally, “A fool is unteachable, unpleasant, unliked and undesirable.”

The company of the wise man is preferable, at least to me. They are teachable, pleasant, liked and desirable. Being wise in our dealings with others helps to build healthy and peaceful relationships, but this takes work.

Every day we are planting seeds. Are we using wisdom so that we can develop good relationships? In the New Testament of Christian Scripture, James tells us that every day we are planting seeds of anger or seeds of compassion – seeds of confidence or seeds of insecurity – seeds of discord or seeds of peace. Planting the right seeds is important and knowing how to deal with people takes wisdom. Provoking people wisely will provoke the behavior we would like to see.

Utilizing wisdom will bring happiness as well. I will close this article out with a quote from Proverbs 3:13 where Solomon says, “Happy is the man (person), that finds wisdom and the man (person), that gains understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is everyone that retains her.”

Let’s do our best to let wisdom prevail.