The Golden Rule of Wisdom

By Dean Collins

You can have both, but one comes before the other. And if you are impulsive, then you probably have neither. And one’s journey through this life is far greater when we discover the wisdom to listen and the wisdom to speak the right words at the right time.

The Bible is filled with instructions concerning the availability of godly wisdom and how our Heavenly Father longs to give us wisdom for our journey in life. But until we are willing to listen, it is highly unlikely that we will receive the wisdom that will guide us or have the wisdom that God might impart to others through us.

Many of the proverbs are about the pursuit of wisdom. In Proverbs 25:11-12, we see the power of a wise word at the right time: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Solomon quickly adds that there is great wisdom when we are willing to listen: “Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”

So, we can have both the opportunity to gain wisdom and the opportunity to offer wisdom to others. But we will not have much wisdom to speak unless we learn to listen first to God, and then to others who possess the wisdom of God because of their willingness to listen and to stay surrendered to him.

I was blessed 40-50 years ago when God put some wise mentors in my life. I don’t know if it was wisdom or fear of sounding ignorant when I was first around these mentors, but keeping my mouth shut allowed me to watch, listen, and learn from men and women who had walked with the Lord for years. And, thankfully, they allowed me to be close enough to see the value of listening and of asking good questions.

Over the years, I have observed in others and experienced in my own life that when we ask God for wisdom, he will provide both what we need to hear as well as what we need to say. Many pastors will attest that often the “fitting” word that the congregation heard was the one not in their notes. But that perfect word could only come because of the preparation of the pastor and their openness to hearing from God, both in their preparation as well as in their delivery.

But you don’t have to be a pastor to have this experience. All it takes is a willingness to daily read God’s word and to spend time with the Lord in meditation and prayer. When you do those things, you will experience both hearing from God and knowing when and how you are to offer the word that just might be the perfect word for someone in your life.

Below are a few verses to read, pray, and meditate on today. As we come to God with humble hearts and minds, we might be surprised how often we hear and speak with wisdom.

Lord, today we first choose to be silent as we sit with you and consider your word of wisdom to us. As your word says, may we be quick to listen and slow to speak so that we might be fitting vessels of your wisdom in the lives of those around us. In Jesus's name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 24:13-14, 25:11-12; Luke 12:12 ; Psalm 19:14, 141:3 ESV

Photo by Anton Sobotyak on Unsplash
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