Wise Words Vs. Wise Actions

I always am somewhat envious of those who have such wise things to say, especially in circumstances of "speak now on your feet." I have realized over the years that I am much better to hear what is being said, and then have time to think and answer after I have pondered what was being said. Then I am able to respond with sense and clarity, and perhaps a bit of wisdom. But words are not what really matter. . . really. In the end, it's what we do, it's action that really evaluates any wisdom we would hold.

The case in point for which this truth is seen is the life of King Solomon. He was the wisest of the wise, and so famous, he must have been one the greatest celebrities of his time. The Queen of Sheba decides to pay him a visit, because she has been quite impressed with all that she has heard. Why not sit at the feet of the wisest person known to man and get all of your "whys" and "how comes" answered? Just coming into his magnificent kingdom, and witnessing his awesome wealth left her breathless! She couldn't say enough about her personal experience with the wisdom guru. However, as she thanked him for all of his enlightenment, she shrewdly pointed out that all of his wisdom would enable him to do justice and righteousness for his people. Wise words are useless unless wise actions back them up. . .

It's always easier to say than to do. We can be the expert at wisdom wit. But it's just hot air if we fail to live it out, if we ignore injustice, and become self-serving. Wise actions will always trump our words. . .

"Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
(I Kings 10: 9)

Comments

But . . .

I had to pause for a moment, as I began reading the text this early morning. But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly: they became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments." (Nehemiah 9:18). How often do I find myself verbalizing "but? what about? what then? what if? really?" All the phrases that feed doubt and angst into my life are found in that one conjunction. Memory stands as the faithful argument against it, but when faced with future days all seems easily forgotten. This verse comes to a people who had returned to their homeland after being ravaged and exiled by foreign powers. Nehemiah is reminding them of who they are, and especially of their one and only God who has forever been faithful to them despite their faithlessness and wrongdoing. He reminds them how God is a God of forgiveness, slow to anger, longsuffering, overflowing with lovingkindness, never forsaking them even when He was totally forgott...

Summer Breeze

Gypsy Rose immediately prances to the back door as she hears her name. We are ready for our morning walk, which has started later than usual, since I have some of these summer days off. But it is still early enough to catch the morning breeze. Walking south, I am refreshed by feeling the gentle wind all around me, it's a cool wrap in contrast to the summer sun. But it all seems to disappear as I turn the corner and head west, my summer breeze is gone. I am at a loss for it even as I continue north and east. It's only as I begin the southern sidewalks back home that I am met with the blissful breeze. I realize that though I wasn't feeling it for most of my steps, it was there all along, I just had to turn the right direction to get relief . . . Sometimes, that is how my relationship with God seems. Yes, I know He is ever near and is with me, but I don't feel that fact. Sometimes my prayers seem to be in a vacuum, and I'm ...

Brief Moments of Grace

"But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8) Summer welcomes me today with a cloudy cool morning and a subtle fresh breeze. The day is probably teasing me with moderate temperatures before it will launch into more robust sunlight and heat. The scorching temperatures have given an abundance of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash in my garden, while tormenting the kale, cilantro, spinach and herbs. My refreshment is found swimming laps in the pool and teaching or rather reminding Gypsy Rose to stay in her lane while we swim together. Days seem to run together, slip away too fast, as I often feel locked in a routine of sleep, work, cook, repeat. I know that I need to pause and reflect, because even in that daily ritual are God's brief moments of gr...

Mary's Heartbeats

Search This Blog