13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
Proverbs 3:13-18
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
In this passage the writer of Proverbs really wanted to drive home the point that acting wisely as we go through life is a good thing.
Yes, it’s a very good thing.
And who would disagree?
I love the way it’s stated so poetically here. And it’s true, very true in our day, just as it was when this pithy poem was written.
The point I want to make here is that some discernment, the ability to think critically is a very big deal, too.
I would say that’s it’s foundational, that wisdom absolutely depends on our ability to think critically, to clearly pierce through the rationalizations and half-truths and arrive at sound decisions.
As I take a look around the cultural and, especially, the political landscape these days, I don’t see a lot of wisdom.
And it’s clear to me as I look around or read the news that a lot of folks–people who hold the reins of power in particular–are sadly deficient in critical thinking skills.
Or have, perhaps, stopped using the skills they’ve got.
This is a very bad thing and bodes ill for our country.
May we all–those who make important decisions that affect the common good, especially–seek and employ the discernment and critical thinking upon which wisdom and wise decisions depend.
Brother Ben
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