Wisdom: The Mini Series. Part 3 - Wiseguys

Think about the wisest people you know in real life. What do they do that marks their wisdom? What are their character traits and how do they deal with the things around them?

I think of three people when I think of wisdom. One, my dad; two, a businessman friend in Perth; and three, our pastor here in Peru. I’ve watched each of these people handle life and the events around them, heard their stories of struggle and frustration and confusion, but also seen the attitude of triumph that they each possess despite the circumstances around them. They are wise, not because they know what to do each time something other than ideal happens, but because they know where their strength comes from. So what do these guys have in common?

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish…
They realize the responsibility they have to those who look to them for guidance. They know that people are watching them and the way they react and they have the power to influence people for better or for worse by the way they act. They know that people look up to them and they hold themselves accountable for their actions, both in private and in public, because the truth will always come out – whether its tax evasion or a speeding ticket, their morals, attitudes and reactions are on show for those around.

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall…
They keep things in perspective which affects the way they react to issues: A bent car is just a block of metal, but a son who is still alive and in one piece is more important; A million dollars is a million dollars, but right now lunch with a friend is more important; Custom made surfboards are only bits of fiberglass and company of family and visitors are more important. They realize the limited value of stuff and things, and trust the God from where it came, so they have confidence that the Lord will replace what was taken from them. That’s a huge weight off their shoulders, after all, what they have doesn’t belong to them, it belongs to God and they are just stewards.

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is his glory to overlook an offense.
They are tolerant of people because they know that people matter to God.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed….when the righteous prosper the city rejoices….
They see the church as the most important organization in existence and do whatever it takes to build the church and the people in it. They structure business deals with the specific objective of releasing funds into the church. They strive to uphold the integrity of the church and its members, and question the notion of any unsound doctrine, actions and expenses. They are relentless in their pursuit of promoting the church as the bride of Christ. They pray. They ask others to pray. They know that prayer is the one true thing they can rely on to get them through the tough times; its water for a thirsty world. They pray and they expect results because they know who they are praying to. They value family. They care for their elderly and place their wives and children before themselves in every decision and action.

The Lord tears down the proud man's house….
They are humble. While they know the significance of their role in their world they are quick to honor others in place of themselves. They receive praise graciously but never dwell on it.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed….Do not eat the food of a stingy man….for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost….A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
They are generous. Generosity is a way of life for them, nobody pays for meals around these people. They realize that their cup runneth over time and time again, and money, while it is to be stewarded efficiently, should never stand in the way of feeding a friend or supporting someone in need. They give with purpose, they seek to be inventive in their generosity (thanks for that phrase Simon – I love it). Many aspects of their generosity will never be known as they effectively manage money with their right hand not knowing what their left hand is up to. And, while their harvest may be criticized many times over, few have earned the right to open their mouth against them because their seed is sown in secret.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit….but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
They have joy. Despite some of the terrible things that have happened to them, such as losing hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, being faced with death threats against them and their family, public disgrace, rumors and opinions based on gossip and lies, law suits after law suits after law suits, being ousted from positions of authority for no good reason after decades of service, they have joy. I have watched each one of my heroes witness a shocking event of loss or tragedy, and they’ve turned their back on it and continued to celebrate with family and friends. They maintain their joy, they see the gold in little children, they laugh, they have passion, they find ways to live life and they do it. Their life is flavorful and to be relished.

Their wisdom has been built from a life of experiences. A life of well thought out decisions and learning from their mistakes as well as from others. Their experiences have made them what they are today. I know who I want to be like when I grow up.