Christian Family Services Ministry

12-9-2022 – A Word to the Wise – Before continuing I want to share some practical information. Some skills are easily obtained, wisdom is not one of these skills it takes practice, practice, and more practice. The assignment is simple enough, yet only through practice will it become natural. The assignment uses parts of Old and New Testament as guidance.

The purpose of the assignment is to detect first if what you say is wise or foolish. It demands that you act in accord with the rules that govern wisdom and foolishness.

Basic rules: Never, ever argue with a fool to do so makes you a fool. I could tell you the Proverbs passage, however, search for it like gold and you will prize it. Again, never argue with a fool. Second, liars always lie, treat them as such. Next these two concepts never dwell together: wisdom and anger. You must learn to listen; one cannot talk and listen at the same time. One may not plot strategy while listening.

So, first steps find a person you are able to work with to do these exercises.

Say something to your partner, it makes no difference what the topic. The purpose is learning how do detect whether what you say is wise or foolish.

Now, what you said is it wise or foolish? How do you tell. Check is it a single, or at most a short couple of sentences more than that you have already failed. You pass that test?

Next pay attention to the reply of your partner. If they disagree, argue, change the subject then what you said was foolish. Two critical indicators which should guide your speech.

Now, make the exercise even more difficult choose highly controversial topics.

Second if you said something and the other person is speechless what you said was probably wise. In the beginning the topics make no difference. What is important is the length of your statement, only one or at the most two sentences. Biblical basis for one sentence? Look at Proverbs short very short sentences, changing topics, and not necessarily even connected ideas. Proverbs becomes the guidebook it is the book of wisdom.

Next, we turn to Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount. Your dealing with a person saying foolish things. Either one of three responses, first, choose not to argue with a fool. If you do then Proverbs 9 comes into play, get ready to get hurt. Or you may choose to reply in that circumstance do what Jesus tells you to do…Agree with your enemy quickly. . . Sermon on the Mount. The result is speechlessness, or surprise. You are not agreeing that they are right only that is what they believe.

The third is a one sentence short reply, not to defend, but to enlighten. Jesus and the woman caught in adultery is an excellent pattern. What did Jesus say and what was the result? Take a moment to count the change of topics in the three short chapters of Matthew 5-7. Jesus changes topics at least 50 times in this one sermon.

Practice make perfect. If it fails then you are dealing with a first born, only born Prophet, or perhaps you’re not striving after wisdom.

Let’s return to the difference between men and women.