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Speeding Up Personal Development with Wisdom
Paul J. Bucknell
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Do you want to speed ahead in learning? Take the road of wisdom which bypasses many unnecessary and painful experiences!
“I have directed you in the way of wisdom…When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble” (Pr 4:11-12).
Many of us have so many times heard the phrase, “Just do it!” or “Try it and see!” that our culture has painfully and often regretfully slowed down our personal development.
Seeking meaning in relationships and sex
How many times does a person have to get into a committed relationship, get burned, get STD infection, leave God, etc., before he or she finally wakes up that what they heard about the ‘fun’ of sex is really not true? Are you sure it isn’t? If not, you will again foolishly walk down that dead end path and another time ends up depressed and hurting those you use and abuse for one’s own pleasure and self-meaning.
If a person takes the other path, the path of wisdom, then he or she can learn without all the pain, loneliness, disease that issues from free sex. It is not free for it cost one everything he or she has. Be convinced. God made sex for marriage–for your one life married partner. God designed marriage and has told us the rules that work well!
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Th 4:3).
Seeking control through anger
What about the problem of lashing out in anger? Should a person go by what he or she feels? There is much encouragement from others to follow our moody intentions: “She deserves it!” “Are you going to let him get away with it!” “Give him a piece of your mind!” So should we do as we feel as others encourage us to do? No. Check out wisdom and follow wisdom’s advice. You will be glad you did!
We could easily peer into the lives of others, whether our college, roommate or parents and observe the folly of bursting out in anger. The anger does not resolve the situation but prolongs and deepens roots of bitterness. God’s Word provides much wisdom on a plethora of topics including anger.
“Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger” (Pro 29:8).
Choose to be a wise person that learns from God’s advice in His Word as in the Book of Proverbs rather than adopting obviously poor attempts to get things under control.
Wisdom is looking for you
There are many topics that could be mentioned here but the same underlying fact is at work: wisdom is better than experience. This does not mean one cannot learn from experience, but even here, many do not learn from experience until they have burned all the bridges behind them and end up all alone. This is what happens to angry, bitter people or those involved in premarital sex.
The same is true with God’s wisdom or advice for:
• Relationships: How should I wisely interact with others that I meet with on a regular basis?
• Stress: How should I deal with stressful situations (not yoga! which only runs away from problems).
• Contentment: How can I enjoy what I have?
Wisdom surpasses experience because our experiences are sourced in our limited perspectives and tainted by our corrupt desires. Experience was designed to follow wisdom. Follow wisdom and the speed you will personally grow and find enrichment along the way will astonish you!
Learn advice from wisdom!
Adopt the rules of life!
Enjoy the benefits wisdom brings!
Study Questions
• What is one piece of wisdom that you followed that has helped you out? How so?
• What is one way you have bypassed wisdom and chosen experience? What happened as a result? What bit of wisdom would have helped you?
• Pick out three areas you need wisdom for and seek God and His Word for wisdom. When found, adopt it for yourself!
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