Wisdom of it all

Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of being addressed with offensive names or have you ever been teased?

The impact of offensive names can be far-reaching, affecting not only an individual’s self-esteem, but also their emotional well-being and overall sense of belonging. Such names have the power to deeply wound and leave lasting scars on a person’s psyche.

Maybe you disagreed with someone,

cut someone off while driving, or maybe you were younger, and some name-calling on the playground stuck with you. There was plenty of name-calling on the playground when I was younger.

Whatever the case, being called out, belittled, or insulted was unpleasant. Whatever the reason, the situation was usually offensive or embarrassed you, and depending on the circumstances, it was humiliating, hurtful, or both.

When someone is referred to by a derogatory or offensive name, it can create a sense of insecurity and shame within them.

Names produce labels, or is it labels produces name?

Whichever it is, did the name they called you – was it true? Did it sting?

But the true question is, am I what they just called me? Is there some truth in those hurtful words, those taunts? Do they see something in me that I have missed? Is there a blind spot I do not see in me, but everyone else does?

Sometimes, in the hurtful exchange of words, as much as we do not want to admit, the truth comes out. And we can run from it or deal with it.

• I have never been called neglectful – but I have been called naïve.
• I have never been called crude, but I have been called clueless.
• And I have never been called pathetic, but I have been called pig-headed!

Names paint an image and can be good or good, depending on the word and who is saying them.

Let’s see the names wisdom calls us when we do not listen.

Proverbs Chapter 1, Verse 22 reads,

“How long, you simpletons? Will you insist on being simple-minded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fool hate knowledge?

Wait now! Did wisdom call us scorners, foolish, and simple when we do not listen or heed her wisdom?

Am I showing contempt for wisdom? Am I being foolish for hating wisdom? And am I being ignorant by not following wisdom?

Why? Why does wisdom call us out like that?

When we overlook the guidance of wisdom, we may find ourselves more vulnerable to making unwise choices that can impact our loved ones, relationships, careers, and financial matters – all of which hold great importance to us. It is crucial for us to seek out wisdom and all that God has avail to us in order to navigate these aspects of life with success.

Because when we don’t than wisdom not only call us names but

wisdom says that because we laugh at her counsel, joke at her advice, and disregard her, she will mock us and get the last laugh!

Proverbs Chapter, Verses 24-26

Verse 24 – “I called you often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

Verse 25 – You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

Verse 26 – So, I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you

To add insult to injury, wisdom not only laughs at us when we do not heed her advice, but wisdom will mock us.

So, how does that apply to us today? How does not heeding or listening to wise counsel come back to bite us?

First, let us look at the Bible – unfortunately, there are plenty of stories where people did not listen to wise counsel and ended up destroying themselves.

I will focus on money because it is something we all use, whether Dinar, Peso, Franc, Rupee, Krone, Riyal, Pound, or Dollar. We all need wisdom in how and where to spend it.

Proverbs 21:20 NLT

The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.

This scripture is so true – wisdom says do not loan your last dime, do not spend your money on wasteful things when you have not paid your bills, and save some.  

Wisdom says.

Quote – “Don’t throw good money after bad,” which means cut your losses and keep your remaining money. This quote is often used when you have made a bad investment loss and keep sinking money into the bad investment.

A struggling student faced financial issues, often running out of money for transportation and meals by the middle of the month. Their financial situation appeared to improve at the beginning of each month, as they would dine out with their peers and loan money. But by the end of the month, because of lack of restraint and budgeting they did not have enough money for gas for their car to get to school.

In a busy world, many students face challenges getting to school. One common problem is not having enough money for transportation. This can cause them to be late or even miss classes, impacting their education.

My job as the school director was to guide and help them finish their goal of graduating. Some became distracted with relationships, partying, and wasteful spending and not realizing that they needed to use wisdom to protect their funds and finish their goals. That is where I would come in.

God is awesome in that he uses others to help. God puts people in our lives to help guide us when we become stuck.

– but when we do not listen when we do not heed wisdom, we become scorners, foolish, and simple.

Asking why they couldn’t even manage to budget, I listened as they revealed their indulgent spending habits. Despite facing the challenges of completing their education, there were numerous areas where they could have made sacrifices. I offered my suggestions, but unfortunately, they seemed uninterested in heeding any of them.

They did not complete their schooling because they fell further and further behind in their attendance,

I had to let them go. That is wisdom, saying if you had spent less and stayed focused, you would have realized your dream.  

Sometimes, wisdom will whisper in your ear or tap you on your shoulder, sometimes the wisdom is sent through others not to inform but to confirm some things you already knew or were dealing with.   

Wisdom, often regarded as the pinnacle of human understanding, transcends selfishness and self-seeking motives. It is a light, guiding us towards a path of self-improvement and growth. In a world filled with noise and distractions, the ability to truly listen and absorb the wisdom that surrounds us is a rare and valuable trait.

When we open our hearts and minds to the wisdom shared with us, we allow ourselves to learn and evolve.

To fully embrace the wisdom offered to us, we must cultivate a mindset of humility and openness. Instead of closing ourselves off to differing opinions or dismissing perspectives that challenge our own, we can approach them with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Doing so, we expand our intellectual horizons and deepens our understanding of the world.

It is important to note that wisdom is not solely reserved for the wise and experienced; it is a gift available to all seekING it.

Wisdom knows no bounds! It’s not just about age or life experiences. You can find pearls of wisdom in the imaginations of kids, young adults’ fresh perspectives, and wise elders’ reflections. So, let’s embrace the endless possibilities of wisdom, shall we? Because it is all around us.

Rising Above the Challenges!

Your Best Response to an Insult is “You’re probably Right.” Often, They Are.

Kevin Kelly