Talmudic Sayings

Talmud Selections, Trs. by H. Polano (1876), pp.286-299
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1. WOE to the children banished from their father's table.
2. A handful of food will not satisfy the lion, neither can a pit be filled again with its own dust.
3. Pray to God for mercy until the last shovelful of earth is cast upon thy grave.
4. Cease not to pray even when the knife is laid upon thy neck.
5. Open not thy mouth to speak evil.
6. To be patient is sometimes better than to have much wealth.
7. The horse fed too liberally with oats becomes unruly.
8. Happy the pupil whose teacher approves his words.
9. When the cucumbers are young we may tell whether they will become good for food.
10. Do not to others what you would not have others do to you.
11. The ass complains of the cold even in July (Tamuz). First learn and then teach.
12. Few are they who see their own faults.
13. A single light answers as well for a hundred men as for one.
14. Victuals prepared by many cooks will be neither hot nor cold.
15. The world is a wedding.
16. Youth is a wreath of roses.
17. A myrtle even in the desert remains a myrtle.
18. Teach thy tongue to say, "I do not know."
19. The house which opens not to the poor will open to the physician.
20. The birds of the air despise a miser.
21. Hospitality is an expression of Divine worship.
22. Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend's friend has s friend; be discreet.
23. Do not place a blemish on thine own flesh.
24. Attend no auctions if thou hast no money.
25. Rather skin a carcass for pay, in the public streets, than lie idly dependent on charity.
26. Deal with those who are fortunate.
27. What is intended for thy neighbour will never be thine.
28. The weakness of thy walls invites the burglar.
29. The place honours not the man, ‘tis the man who gives honour to the place.
30. The humblest man is ruler in his own house.
31. If the fox is king bow before him.
32. If a word spoken in its time is worth one piece of money, silence in its time is worth two.
33. Tobias committed the sins and his neighbour received the punishment.
34. Poverty sits as gracefully upon some people as a red saddle upon a white horse.
35. Drain not the waters of thy well while other people may desire them.
36. The doctor who prescribes gratuitously gives a worthless prescription.
37. The rose grows among thorns.
38. The wine belongs to the master, but the waiter receives the thanks.
39. He who mixes with unclean things becomes unclean himself; he whose associations are pure becomes more holy with each day.
40. No man is impatient with his creditors.
41. Make but one sale, and thou art called a merchant.
42. Mention not a blemish which is thy own, in detraction of thy neighbour.
43. If certain goods sell not in one city, try another place.
44. He who reads the letter should execute the message.
45. A vessel used for holy purposes should not be put to uses less sacred.
46. Ornament thyself first, then magnify others.
47. Two pieces of coin in one bag make more noise than a hundred.
48. Man sees the mote in his neighbour's eye, but knows not of the beam in his own.
49. The rivalry of scholars advances science.
50. If thou tellest thy secret to three persons, ten know of it.
51. When love is intense both find room enough upon one board of the bench; afterwards they may find themselves cramped in a space of sixty cubits.
52. When wine enters the head the secret flies out.
53. When a liar speaks the truth he finds his punishment in the general disbelief.
54. The camel desired horns, and his ears were taken from him.
55. Sorrow for those who disappear never to be found.
56. The officer of the king is also a recipient of honours.
57. He who studies cannot follow a commercial life; neither can the merchant devote his time to study.
58. There is no occasion to light thy lamp at noontide,
59. Let the fruit pray for the welfare of the leaf.
60. Meat without salt is fit only for the dogs.
61. Trust not thyself until the day of thy death.
62. Woe to the country which hath lost its leader; woe to the ship when its captain is no more.
63. He who increaseth his flesh but multiplieth food for the worms.
64. The day is short, the labour great, and the workman slothful.
65. Be yielding to thy superior; be affable towards the young; be friendly with all mankind.
66. Silence is the fence round wisdom.
67. Without law, civilisation perishes.
68. Every man will surely have his hour.
69. Rather be the tail among lions than the head among foxes.
70. Into the well which supplies thee with water cast no stones.
71. Many a colt's skin is fashioned to the saddle which its mother bears.
72. Truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it.
73. Say little and do much.
74. He who multiplieth words will likely come to sin.
75. Sacrifice thy will for others, that they may be disposed to sacrifice their wills for thee.
76. Study to-day, delay not.
77. Look not upon thy prayers as on a task; let thy supplications be sincere.
78. He who is loved by man is loved by God.
79. Honour the sons of the poor; they give to science its splendour.
80. Do not live near a pious fool.
81. A small coin in a large jar makes a great noise.
82. Use thy noble vase to-day; to-morrow it may break.
83. The cat and the rat make peace over a carcass.
84. He who walks each day over his estate finds a coin daily.
85. The dog follows thee for the crumbs in thy pocket.
86. The soldiers fight, and the kings are heroes.
87. When the ox is down many are the butchers.
88. Descend a step in choosing thy wife; ascend a step in choosing thy friend.
89. Beat the gods and their priests will tremble.
90. The sun will set without thy assistance.
91. Hold no man responsible for his utterances in times of grief.
92. One man eats, another says grace.
93. He who curbs his wrath merits forgiveness for his sins.
94. Commit a sin twice and it will not seem to thee a crime.
95. While our love was strong we lay on the edge of a sword, now a couch sixty yards wide is too narrow for us.
96. Study is more meritorious than sacrifice.
97. Jerusalem was destroyed because the instruction of the young was neglected.
98. The world is saved by the breath of school children.
99. Even to rebuild the Temple, the schools must not be closed.
100. Blessed is the son who has studied with his father, and blessed the father who has instructed his son.
101. Avoid wrath and thou wilt avoid sin; avoid intemperance and thou wilt not provoke Providence.
102. When others gather, do thou disperse; when others disperse, gather.
103. When thou art the only purchaser, then buy; when other buyers are present, be thou nobody.
104. The foolish man knows not an insult, neither does a dead man feel the cutting of a knife.
105. The cock and the owl both await daylight. "The light," says the cock," brings me delight; but what in the world art thou waiting for?"
106. The thief who finds no opportunity to steal, considers himself an honest man.
107. A Galilean said, "When the shepherd is angry with his flock, he appoints for its leader a blind bellwether."
108. Though it is not incumbent upon thee to complete the work, thou must not therefore cease from pursuing it. If the work is great, great will be thy reward, and thy Master is faithful in His payments.
109. There are three crowns: of the law, the priesthood, and the kingship; but the crown of a good name is greater than them all.
110. Who gains wisdom? He who is willing to receive instruction from all sources. Who is the mighty man? He who subdueth his temper. Who is rich? He who is content with his lot. Who is deserving of honour? He who honoureth mankind.
111. Despise no man and deem nothing impossible; every man hath his hour and every thing its place.
112. Iron breaks stone; fire melts iron; water extinguishes fire; the clouds consume water; the storm dispels clouds; an withstands the storm; fear conquers man; wine banishes fear; sleep overcomes wine, and death is the master of sleep; but "charity," says Solomon, "saves even from death."
113. How canst thou escape sin? Think of three things: whence thou comest, whither thou goest, and before whom thou must appear. The scoffer, the liar, the hypocrite, and the slanderer can have no share in the future world of bliss. To slander is to commit murder.
114. Repent the day before thy death. The Rabbi who said, "Repent the day before thy death," was asked by his disciples how they could follow his advice, as man was unable to tell upon what day his death would occur. He answered, "Consider every day thy last; be ever ready with penitence and good deeds."
115. Ten measures of wisdom came into the world; the law of Israel received nine measures, and the balance of the world one. Ten measures of beauty came into the world; Jerusalem received nine measures, and the rest of the world one.
116. Rabbi Simon said: "The world stands on three pillars: law, worship, and charity."
117. Rabbi Ada said: "When he who attends the synagogue regularly is prevented from being present, God asks for him."
118. Rabbi Simon, the son of Joshua, said: "His enemies will humble themselves before the one who builds a place of worship."
119. Rabbi Lakish said: "He who is able to attend synagogue, and "neglects to do so, is a bad neighbour."
120. Rabbi José said:"One need not stand upon a high place to pray, for it is written, 'Out of the depths have I called unto Thee, oh Lord'" (Ps. 30: 1). The same Rabbi prohibits moving about or talking during the progress of prayers, enlarging on Solomon's advice, "Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of the Lord, and be more ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of fools" (Feel. 5: 1).
121. Rabbi Chia, the son of Abba, said: "To pray loudly is not a necessity of devotion; when we pray we must direct our hearts towards heaven."
122. When our ancestors in the wilderness were saved from death by gazing upon the brazen serpent, it was not the serpent which killed or preserved. It was the trustful appeal to the Father in heaven.
123. Say the Rabbis, "Praise the Lord for the evil as for the good;" and David is given as an example when he said, "I had met with distress and sorrow, I then called on the name of the Lord" (Ps. 116).
124. Rabbi Ashi said: "Charity is greater than all."
125. Rabbi Eliazar said: "Who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses."He finds authority for this saying in the words of Moses (Deut. 9: 19), "For I was afraid of the anger," and the words of Solomon (Prov. 21: 14), which he presents as an answer, "A gift given in secret pacifieth anger."
126. Rabbi Joshua said: "A miser is as wicked as an idolater."
127. Rabbi Eliazar said: "Charity is more than sacrifices."
128. Rabbi Jochanan said: "He who gives (charity) becomes rich," or as it is written, "A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified."
129. One day a philosopher inquired of Rabbi Akiba, "If your God loves the poor, why does He not support them?" "God allows the poor to be with us ever," responded Akiba, "that the opportunities for doing good may never fail." "But," returned the philosopher, "how do you know that this virtue of charity pleases God? If a master punishes his slaves by depriving them of food and clothing, does he feel pleased when others feed and clothe them?" "But suppose, on the other hand," said the Rabbi, "that the children of a tender father, children whom he could no longer justly assist, had fallen into poverty, would he be displeased if kind souls pitied and aided them? We are not the slaves of a hard master. God calls us His children, and Himself we call our Father."
130. Rabbah said: "When one stands at the judgment-seat of God these questions are asked:--"'Hast thou been honest in all thy dealings?'--"'Hast thou set aside a portion of thy time for the study of the law?'--"'Hast thou observed the first commandment?'--"'Hast thou, in trouble, still hoped and believed in God?'--"'Hast thou spoken wisely?'"
131. "All the blessings of a household come through the wife, therefore should her husband honour her."
132. Rab said: "Men should be careful lest they cause women to weep, for God counts their tears.
133. "In cases of charity, where both men and women claim relief, the latter should be first assisted. If there should not be enough for both, the men should cheerfully relinquish their claims.
134. "A woman's death is felt by nobody as by her husband.
135. "Tears are shed on God's altar for the one who forsakes his first love.
136. "He who loves his wife as himself, and honours her more than himself, will train his children properly; he will meet, too, the fulfilment of the verse, 'And thou shalt know that there is peace in thy tent, and thou wilt look over thy habitation and shall miss nothing'" (Job 5: 24).
137. Rabbi Jose said: "I never call my wife 'wife,' but 'home,' for she, indeed, makes my home.
138. "He who possesses a knowledge of God, and a knowledge of man, will not easily commit sin.
139. "The Bible was given us to establish peace.
140. "He who wrongs his fellow-man, even in so small a coin as a penny, is as wicked as if he should take life.
141. "He who raises his hand against his fellow in passion is a sinner.
142. "Be not the friend of one who wears the cloak of a saint to cover the deformities of a fool."
143. Rabbi Simon said: "One who gives way to passion is as bad as an idolater.
144. "Hospitality is as great a virtue as studying the law."
145. "Never put thyself in the way of temptation," advised Rabbi Judah; "even David could not resist it."
146. Rabbi Tyra, on being asked by his pupils to tell them the secret which had gained him a happy, peaceful old age, replied, "I have never cherished anger with my family; I have never envied those greater than myself, and I have never rejoiced in the downfall of any one."
147. "Unhappy is he who mistakes the branch for the tree, the shadow for the substance.
148. "Thy yesterday is thy past; thy to-day thy future; thy to-morrow is a secret.
149. "The best preacher is the heart; the best teacher is time; the best book is the world; the best friend is God.
150. "Life is but a loan to man; death is the creditor who will one day claim it.
151. "Understand a man by his own deeds and words. The impressions of others lead to false judgment."
152. Rabbi Jacob said: "He through whose agency another has been falsely punished stands outside of heaven's gates."
153. Rabbi Isaac said: "The sins of the bad-tempered are greater than his merits."
154. Rabbi Lakish said: "The man who sins is foolish as well as wicked."
155. Rabbi Samuel said: "The good actions which we perform in this world take form and meet us in the world to come.
156. "Better to bear a false accusation in silence, than by speaking to bring the guilty to public shame.
157. "He who can feel ashamed will not readily do wrong.
158. "There is a great difference between one who can feel ashamed before his own soul and one who is only ashamed before his fellow-man."
159. Rabbi Akiba said: "God's covenant with us included work; for the command, 'Six days shalt thou work and the seventh shalt thou rest,' made the 'rest' conditional upon the 'work.'"
160. Rabbi Simon said, on the same subject: "God first told Adam to dress the Garden of Eden, and to keep it (Gen. 2: 15), and then permitted him to eat of the fruit of his labour."
161. Rabbi Tarphon said: "God did not dwell in the midst of Israel till they had worked to deserve His presence, for he commanded, 'They shall make me a sanctuary, and then I will dwell in the midst of them.'"
162. When Jerusalem was in the hands of the Romans, one of their philosophers asked of the Rabbis: "If your God dislikes idolatry, why does He not destroy the idols and so put temptation out of the way?" The wise men answered: "Would you have the sun and the moon destroyed because of the foolish ones who worship them? To change the course of nature to punish sinners, would bring suffering to the innocent also."
163. In Ecclesiastes 9: 14, we find this verse: "There was a little city and the men therein were few, and there came against it a great king, and built around it great works of siege; but there was found in it a poor wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom." The sages interpret this verse most beautifully. The "little city" is man, and the "few men" are his different qualities. The "king" who besieged it is evil inclination, and the "great bulwarks" he built around it are "evil deeds." The "poor wise man" who saved the city is the "good actions" which the poorest may readily perform.
164. Rabbi Judah said: "He who refuses to teach a precept to his pupil is guilty of theft, just as one who steals from the inheritance of his father; as it is written, 'The law which Moses commanded us is the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.' (lieut.) But if he teaches him, what is his reward?"
165. Raba says, "He will obtain the blessing of Joseph."
166. Rabbi Eleazer said: "That house where the law is not studied by night should be destroyed.
167. "The wealthy man who aids not the scholar desirous of studying God's law will not prosper,
168. "He who changes his word, saying one thing and doing another, is even as he who serveth idols."
169. Rabbi Chamah, the son of Papa, said: "He who eats or drinks and blesses not the Lord, is even as he who stealeth, for it is said, 'The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, and the earth hath He given to the children of men.'"
170. Rabbi Simon, the son of Lakish, said: "They who perform one precept in this world will find it recorded for their benefit in the world to come; as it is written, 'Thy righteousness will go before thee, the glory of the Lord will gather thee in.' And the same will be the case, in contrast, with those who sin. For the Bible says, 'Which I commanded thee this day to do them,' to 'do them,' the precepts, to-day, though the reward is not promised to-day; but in the future, ordinances obeyed, will testify in thy favour, for 'thy righteousness will go before thee.'"
171. The Rabbis pronounced those the "friends of God," who being offended thought not of revenge; who practised good through love for God, and who were cheerful under suffering and difficulties. Of such Isaiah wrote, "They shall shine forth like the sun at noonday."
172. Love thy wife as thyself; honour her more than thyself. He who lives unmarried, lives without joy. If thy wife is small, bend down to her and whisper in her ear. He who sees his wife die, has, as it were, been present at the destruction of the sanctuary itself. The children of a man who marries for money will prove a curse to him.
173. He who has more learning than good deeds is like a tree with many branches but weak roots; the first great storm will throw it to the ground. He whose good works are greater than his knowledge is like a tree with fewer branches but with strong and spreading roots, a tree which all the winds of heaven cannot uproot.
174. Better is the curse of the righteous man than the blessing of the wicked. Better the curse of Achia, the Shelonite, than the blessing of Bil’am, the son of Beor. Thus did Achia curse the Israelites, "And the Lord will smite Israel as the reed is shaken in the water" (Kings 14: 15). The reed bends but it breaks not, for it groweth by the water, and its roots are strong. Thus did Bil’am bless Israel, "As cedar trees beside the waters." Cedars do not grow beside the waters; their roots are weak, and when strong winds blow they break in pieces.

Gaining Wisdom

1. Desire wisdom above wealth or pleasure (Prov.8:10-11; 16:16)
2. Be humble. Wisdom dwells with the meek and lowly (Prov.11:2; James 3:13; Prov.15:33; 22:4)
3. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5; 1Kgs.3:9-14; Prov.2:6)
4. Fear (Honor) God and depart from evil, it’s the first step to wisdom (Prov.1:7; 8:13)
5. Study the Scriptures (2Tim.3:15; Col.3:16)
6. Obey His commandments, practice what the Bible says; it opens our understanding (Deut.4:5,6; Psa.111:10; Heb.5:12-14; John 7:17)
7. Be willing to actively practice wisdom and apply it to life situations, trusting in the circumstantial guidance of God (Prov.32:8-9; Matt.7:24; Eph.5:15)
8. Study God’s wisdom in His creation (Psa.19:1-2; Rom.1:20; 8:1-9)
9. Receive wisdom from God’s creatures; we can learn even from a tiny ant (Prov.6:6-8; 1Kgs.4:33)
10. Walk (Associate) with the wise (Prov.13:20). Bad friendships can damage thinking and behavior ((Prov.1:10; 1Cor.15:33)
11. Listen to instruction and correction (Prov.8:33; 9:9; 13:1; Eccl.7:5)
12. Commune with God in the innermost being (Psa.51:6)
13. Safeguard wisdom (Prov.3:21)
14. Pray to God for the gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1Cor.12:8,31).

**Remember that Jesus is the Wisdom and the Power of God and in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The first act of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man is the light that shines within giving one the knowledge of Christ (1Cor.1:24; 12:3; Col.2:3; 2Cor.4:6). Know Jesus, Know Light; No Jesus, No Light. Jesus is not one of the ways to receive God’s wisdom. He is the Wisdom of God.

Qualities of Divine Wisdom (James 3:17)

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). (Amplified Bible)

Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to rightly use knowledge in order to solve problems, make the right choices, and take right decisions.

There are different kinds of wisdom, but not all are good:
1. Worldly Wisdom (foolish) - The wisdom that comes from the world (James 3:15; 1Cor.1:20)
2. Carnal Wisdom (sinful) - The wisdom of the flesh, its desires and passions (James 3:15; Rom.7:18,23)
3. Demonic Wisdom (wicked) - Ideas that come from the devil; demonic doctrines (James 3:15; 1Tim.4:1)
4. Divine Wisdom (good)- The wisdom that comes from God (James 3:16)

How to obtain Divine Wisdom
1. By practicing fear of the Lord (Prov.1:7)
2. By asking for wisdom in prayer (James 1:5)
3. By associating with wise children of God (Prov.13:20)
4. By studying and meditating upon God's Word (2Tim.3:15; Col.3:16)
5. Through the gift of the word of wisdom (1Cor.12:8)
6. By choosing to act wisely (Matt.10:16)
7. By obeying the word of God (Matt.7:24)

Empty Desire, Encounter with Stranger, The Call of Drunkenness, and Pursuit of Wisdom (Poetic Excerpts from Stranger)

Read the novel at Google Books

EMPTY DESIRE
(Caged within Lust's tormenting cell, the man pulls out the Scroll and reads...)

Vacuum, the barrenness of empty desire;
Insatiable craving, abysmal mire;
Deluded by Lust, the cunning liar;
The end of all ends, brimstone and fire…
Leave the dark dungeon behind;
Leap into the Light;
Break through the hideous blind:
Flee! Stand not to fight!

ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER 

(Stranger comes to the man's assistance. The man asks Stranger who he is and what he does and gets this reply)

“Ask the ground beneath your feet what it does,
Ask the firmament above your head what it does,
Ask the daystar that fills the world with energy what it does,
(Now hidden from your view; yet, not annulled)
Ask the heart that beats within your breast what it does,
Ask the cold rain pouring from the fiery sky what it does;
Who has appointed it? What office does it hold?
Is it paid from the treasures of Hamartia?
Or does Sarx marshal it like he does the forces of wild Desire?
Then you shall know that my office is not from below;
Neither am I esteemed by this estranged world of woes.
Sin finds nothing in me, nothing worthwhile but profuse enmity!
Do not ask any further; for this is not the time to ask and answer;
Run! Run away from here! Stop not to look back,
Turn neither to the left nor to the right! Just run, run away from here!”

THE CALL OF DRUNKENNESS
(As they keep fleeing, a drunken man calls out to them with this song)

“Why do you run beating dust in the air?
Why do you hurry as if the world needs your care?
Hey, the world’s on its own, buddy;
You ain’t gonna make it any inch better!
Come, enjoy some rum, be a good bum;
Let’s gulp some spirit and get into the gutter!”

INSTRUCTION FROM THE RED BOOK

“Seek Wisdom like one searches for hidden treasure;
And till you find her, allow no game and no pleasure.
Seek her in the squares; seek her in the thoroughfares,
Seek her everywhere, but keep away from barren leisure.”

Customer in Control

It is important that you control the transaction and not the seller.

Are they controlling your decisions?
1. Ask yourself, "Who is in control?"
2. Ask, "Is it necessary?"
3. Ask "Why are they saying this?" "doing this?"

Greatest Wisdom

The greatest wisdom consists in discerning the battle inside and submitting to the will and grace of God.

7 Pillars of Wisdom

1. Devotion: Fear of the Lord, Godliness


2. Discipline: Control: Body, Soul (Mind, Will, Emotion): temperance, self-control


3. Dream: Vision, Purpose, Meaning, Track


4. Desire: Passion, Motivation, Inspiration, Constraint


5. Discovery: Information, Knowledge, Counsel


6. Duty/Diligence


7. Discipleship: Learning, Teaching, Raising Leaders

© Domenic Marbaniang July 25, 2010 7:59AM

7 Pillars of Wisdom

1. Devotion: Fear of the Lord, Godliness


2. Discipline: Control: Body, Soul (Mind, Will, Emotion): temperance, self-control


3. Dream: Vision, Purpose, Meaning, Track


4. Desire: Passion, Motivation, Inspiration, Constraint


5. Discovery: Information, Knowledge, Counsel


6. Duty/Diligence


7. Discipleship: Learning, Teaching, Raising Leaders

© Domenic Marbaniang July 25, 2010 7:59AM

The Key to Wisdom – Intro

During our walk through the course of this life
This one thing we often realize
That the world is made of fools and of the wise,
So opposed as darkness is to light;
Thus, also does Proverbs all people classify
As those who love truth and those who fact despise:
But, calamity and destruction are in folly so disguised
That only the wise can through wisdom them identify;
Yet, the key to wisdom is not hidden but is openly testified:
The fear of the Lord is wisdom summarized;
The irreverence of God is folly maximized.

© Domenic Marbaniang, June 20, 2010
On Proverbs 1

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

The Book of Proverbs in the Bible presents Wisdom as the first of all things (Prov.4:7). Wisdom existed before the worlds existed, for by it were the worlds created, it says. Therefore, King Solomon advices the youth to first seek for wisdom above all things, above rubies, pearls, and whatever categorized material blessings in those days. For, when wisdom comes it comes with these and more.

Interestingly, the word “philosophy” actually referred to the Greek quest or love for wisdom (phileo meaning “to love” and sophia meaning “wisdom”). Sadly, in the two millenia and half that rolled out after Socrates, skepticism, relativism, agnosticism, and nihilism scribbled their characters over the scroll of this discipline. Ironically, “philosophy”, in modern parlance, is far from being considered “a love for wisdom”. As G. K. Chesterton wrote:

“..the new rebel is a sceptic, and will not entirely trust anything. He has no loyalty; therefore he can never be really a revolutionist. And the fact that he doubts everything really gets in his way when he wants to denounce anything. For all denunciation implies a moral doctrine of some kind; and the modern revolutionist doubts not only the institution he denounces, but the doctrine by which he denounces it. Thus he writes one book complaining that imperial oppression insults the purity of women, and then he writes another book (about the sex problem) in which he insults it himself. He curses the Sultan because Christian girls lose their virginity, and then curses Mrs. Grundy because they keep it. As a politician, he will cry out that war is a waste of life, and then, as a philosopher, that all life is waste of time. A Russian pessimist will denounce a policeman for killing a peasant, and then prove by the highest philosophical principles that the peasant ought to have killed himself. A man denounces marriage as a lie, and then denounces aristocratic profligates for treating it as a lie. He calls a flag a bauble, and then blames the oppressors of Poland or Ireland because they take away that bauble. The man of this school goes first to a political meeting, where he complains that savages are treated as if they were beasts; then he takes his hat and umbrella and goes on to a scientific meeting, where he proves that they practically are beasts. In short, the modern revolutionist, being an infinite sceptic, is always engaged in undermining his own mines. In his book on politics he attacks men for trampling on morality; in his book on ethics he attacks morality for trampling on men. Therefore the modern man in revolt has become practically useless for all purposes of revolt. By rebelling against everything he has lost his right to rebel against anything.” (Orthodoxy, 1908)

Therefore, one marvels if the modern general information system usually leaves a person more wiser. Certainly, it is agreed that neither Intelligence Quotient nor education, in the modernist sense, are badges of wisdom. One often hears remarks regarding some illiterate peasant or one’s own less-educated parent as having more wisdom to guide one’s life than all one’s education and experiences had produced in him/her.

So, we ask what wisdom is, after all. Certainly, we understand it. So, let’s try to just put it into words in order to have some talk on it. We understand a person to be wise not because of the many questions he raises nor because of the doubts he casts; we, usually, understand that person to be wise who is able to solve problems, one who has solutions to some problem. We also understand that person to be wise who knows what to act in which situation, one who has the discernment to make the right choice and take the right decision or route to action.

Now, a great many of our actions, though not appearing so on the surface, are made up of ethical choices. And, the choices one makes builds up one’s character as a wise or a fool; for, such choices determine the quality of one’s relationships with others. A wise man is readily taken to be a man of faith, and someone that is reliable as a rock, for he knows the truth and has the character to hold on to the right principles of action in this world. If one looks into the Holy Scriptures of any religion, one will certainly not find all the answers to the moral questions we face in our days. For instance, the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us whether smoking is right or wrong. Therefore, the laws that govern a nation continue to grow each passing day. But, wisdom as the principal thing is the key that opens the understanding to a discernment of what is right or wrong in a given situation. It calculates the moment, at hand, in perspective of God, fellowmen, and eternal repercussions. It also calculates the decision with regard to the knowledge of what is good, noble, and just. Therefore, a wise person’s company makes others wise; his countenance sharpens those who befriend him like iron sharpens iron.
Of course, as Confucius and several other people rightly noted, while the material universe is governed by the laws of nature, the psychological world of man is governed by laws of morality. Immanuel Kant once said that there were only two things that surprised him: the starry heavens above and the moral law within. Within the heart of every man and woman is written the moral law of God, and certainly a violation of this inner law not only mars and distorts one’s character, but also one’s perspective of reality. Reality is warped by transgression of the law of human behavior. Shame, guilt, pride, anguish, anxiety, vexation, distrust, mistrust, and whatever conditions disturb peace of mind are produced by a disturbed connection between the inner world and the outer world by the cord of moral understanding. It is like a boy who holds the cord to the kite that he flies in the sky. When the cord is broken, the soul is lost. The wise don’t fall prey to what the world dictates; they listen to the voice of wisdom that imparts discernment, inner rightness and justice, and mature insight. Certainly, then, faith is the mark of the wise; while the ignorant wallow in doubt, and the fool is marked by rebellion that destroys his own soul.

There is another thing to note about wisdom. It not only makes the right moral choice, it, in fact, goes ahead of this and inculcates an understanding of worth and purpose. Wisdom knows the worth of things and their purpose. It begins with an understanding of self-worth and purpose in this world. The skeptic and the unwise sees absurdity in the world. Wisdom sees meaning. I once read a quote by someone in Readers’ Digest that said “Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it.” Foolishness invents mental chaos; wisdom builds the world. Therefore, wisdom is known as the principal thing. One must, also therefore, seek wisdom more than any other thing. In modern times, materialism has taken hold of many young minds and their lives oriented towards accumulation of dusty gold or gold dust, whatever. The Bible declares the love of money as the root of evil, a trap and snare that only afflicts and warps character rather than building it. This pursuit of gold is certainly not the purpose of man on earth. To Aristotle, the ultimate purpose of man was to be a rational being, because this was what distinguished man from the brute world. The Bible goes a bit further and declares man’s purpose to be the pursuit of God, who though not being away from anyone of us, is still unknown to the soul that is blinded by ignorance. Some have confused the pursuit of God with the pursuit of Godhood. Man cannot be the Maker. It is pride that would reject this principal gem of wisdom. Man’s pursuit of God alone constitutes the pursuit of meaning and purpose because the Maker alone knows what man has been created for. Our meaning of life is in the mind of God. The New Testament tells us that this meaning is communicated to us through the Incarnation of God in human flesh, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ who through His life, service, death, and resurrection declared to man what his ultimate reason is, his ultimate choice of purpose in life. It is not just heaven or salvation from judgment that the Cross of Christ provides for us. It is a life that discerns God’s will and pursues it because God’s will is good and wisdom is the law of the Good.

Somewhere one certainly sees where the difference lies between the perpetrators of crime against humanity and the lovers of humanity; to symbolize, between Adolph Hitler and Mother Teresa. Deep in the hearts of humanity is the answer: wisdom. To know the good and do it is wisdom; to transgress is folly.

Prayer for Wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5, NIV).

During the Second Great Awakening that swept America, the revivalist preacher Rev. Charles G. Finney once visited a German settlement and preached the Gospel to it which accepted the Gospel and also saw some remarkable miracles.

One woman testified that she was not literate and so could not read anything. This distressed her greatly because she really wanted to read God’s Word and she couldn’t. So she prayed to Jesus and asked Him if He would not please teach her how to read His Word. Immediately she felt it inside of her that she knew how to read; so she went and got a Bible that her children had and tried reading it. To her amazement, she saw that she could really read it as they read it. Ever since then, she testified, she could read the Word of God for herself.

God gives wisdom to those who seek it from Him. One popular Biblical example is King Solomon who asked of God neither riches nor glories but only for wisdom and God gave him not just wisdom but also wealth and honor. Therefore, anyone who asks of God in faith will never fail to receive His promise.

Prayer: Almighty God and source of all wisdom and truth, grant us this day eyes of discernment, a tongue of a learned man, and a walk of wisdom. May our lives be a beacon of your truth and a herald of your words! Amen!