Author Sam Levenson wrote, “It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.” Hi, I’m Tom Ellsworth from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with a minute message.
We talk about wisdom being in short supply as if there was a limited amount to go around. But wisdom doesn’t work that way – it is available to all. Some speak of wisdom and knowledge as if the words can be used interchangeably, but being smart is no guarantee that you’ll also be wise. I like how Miles Kington distinguished between the two, “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” Wisdom isn’t what you know, it’s the ability to use what you know. Wisdom has more in common with common sense than common knowledge. Wisdom grows best when cultivated with patience, understanding and experience. It blossoms in the heart of selflessness.
James, in the New Testament, offers this invitation, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you…But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.” Wise is the person who seeks for and lives by divine wisdom.
Consider this thought, “The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.” Hi, I’m Tom Ellsworth from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with a minute message.
These are stressful times; battles and skirmishes around the globe, violent mass shootings in American cities, political polarization across the land, scandals in every dark corner, and so much more. We wonder if the worst is behind us or still ahead. What will happen with my job, my family, my mortgage, my retirement? We want to watch the news but are frustrated when we do. Can anyone be happy at a time like this? Of course! Remember, it’s not having the best, it’s making the best that generates happiness. It’s the attitude of the mind, the aptitude of the will and the altitude of the soul that makes the difference. Life, like a roller coaster, can take you on a wild ride, but even a roller coaster brings smiles. Jesus taught his followers not to worry about the daily needs of life and then promised that when we put God first, he would provide for our needs. So, trust God; and he will help you make the best of everything.