Words of Wisdom

Life is Short: Ask anyone who is above middle age and they will tell you, “I can’t believe how time flies.” If you disrespect the time you are given on earth, you will be filled with regret. Be prudent and budget your time towards what is worthy. You get one pass at life, so make sure it’s a good one. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” — James 4:14

Know Yourself: A wise person takes an honest stock of who they are. If you do not know your character, judgment, or emotions you cannot fix the flaws. Most do not look inward as they are too concerned about the outward. Gaining knowledge of who you are is the first step in conquering the challenges that are present and those to come. “Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.” — Lamentations 3:40

Rude Awakening: Be prepared for the rude, the stubborn and the vain. There are many and attack without notice. Use foresight and prudence to deal with care. Better to be wronged than to wrong someone in return. Anger achieves nothing, so let the person of rage embarrass themselves. Human relations are full of sharp reefs, but don’t let them run you aground. Realize that not all people desire to build others up, but instead many desire to tear down. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” — Proverbs 15:11.

Know Your Path: A majority of people imitate and desire what’s popular at the moment. However, if you live your life this way you’ll never mine the gems and talents that are deep inside of you. Understand who you are and exactly what you believe. Never sacrifice your faith or your beliefs to fit in. Just because something is popular doesn’t make it correct. Let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit guide you, not the latest trend. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” — Matthew 7:13–14

Imagination is Not Action: It’s easy to have imaginations of future success, even children do that. It’s even easier to fool yourself that merely talking about those imagined successes is the same as achieving them. When you talk about the end before the beginning you trick your mind that the task is already accomplished. But it’s not. So, if you start a new task or set a new goal, don’t boast about your future success. When you praise yourself for unrealized achievements you aren’t taken seriously by others. Instead, be humble, work hard and enjoy the fruit of your labor when the labor is done. “In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.” — Proverbs 14:23

Adapt: Become all things to all men and you will enjoy many friendships. The more you adapt, listen and approach your relationships as an equal to others, the more respect you’ll earn. Adapting means understanding your environment and the situation. It doesn’t mean you are blindly following the crowd, it means you respect those around you. Being disagreeable or constantly argumentative achieves nothing. If you want your viewpoint respected, adapt and communicate in a way that is kind, sincere and understanding to your listener. “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” — 1 Corinthians 9:19–23

Tame the Tongue: The tongue is like a caged animal, once it’s loosed it can tear apart those in its path. Better to remain quiet if anger is upon you than to unleash the words filled with venom. The wise man learns how to control his emotions and the doorway to those emotions is the tongue. “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.” — Proverbs 21:23

Respect: Everyone wants respect, but the more strenuously you command it from others the less you will have. You can’t force someone to respect you, you must deserve it through your actions and deeds. Don’t be your own herald, let your works do that. “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” — Galatians 6:3

Holding On: Don’t hold onto small points of view too tightly. Stubbornness rarely achieves anything. Even if you are right, make peace and move on. What’s the worth of fighting over something that won’t be remembered next week? Learn to forget small issues, but better yet learn how to avoid them from the start. You will lose more by holding on than by being proven right. “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.” — Proverbs 16:18

You Might be Wrong: Most people think they are right and everyone else is wrong. This is human nature. However, if you never think that you might be in error, you will embarrass yourself more often than not. You don’t need to obsessively self-doubt, but leave room for the fact that you might not know everything. Only the vain refuse to admit error. “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.” — Proverbs 28:13

Procrastination: Putting things off will only rob you of your present and give you anxiety about the future. If you know something needs to be done — do it. Don’t live in torment knowing you have an unfinished task. Procrastinating will eat at your mind and never give you rest. Sort your affairs and get on with life. “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” — Proverbs 13:4

Peaceful Person: Being a person of peace will save you from a lot of stress and give you a long life. A day without contention will yield a beautiful night of sleep. Don’t take every word someone says too seriously. People say harmful things, but your peace is determined by how you decide to receive those words. Strengthen your fortitude and know that you are a child of the living God. Choose peace and train yourself to not let every word bother you. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” — Proverbs 12:18

Learning to be Content: Do not live in a constant state of dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction leads to covetousness and covetousness is a sin. Instead, learn to appreciate all that God has given. If you don’t enjoy the simple things in life then neither will you be satisfied with the greater things. Learn to be content with what God has already given and watch how your outlook will change. “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:11–13