Yesterday at our family fun day we looked at the topic of wisdom. We went on an owl hunt to see what the Bible has to say about wisdom, and learned that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God for it (James 1:5). We also learned that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Cor 1:25) and that we can learn wisdom from others, including ants! (Prov 6:6) This last fact is well known to parents of toddlers who listen to the song ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants’ approximately twice every day…
We also asked people to pass on their wisdom, things they have learned in life. Many of their tips were practical (remember to prick a potato before putting it in the microwave, remember to add water to the pan before you try to boil an egg, don’t forget your underwear when you go swimming…) but others were more profound. These tips included:
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Don’t be too critical of others.
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Laugh at yourself
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Don’t worry – God’s in control
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Treat others like you want to be treated
This last tip is actually called the Golden Rule, and is found in Matthew 7;12 – ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.‘ Sometimes, we make wisdom out to be something beyond us, but it’s actually very simple. Kindness, thoughtfulness, consideration, unselfishness are all wise ways of living. Come, be a wise owl!
