By Tom Ellsworth
“Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing,” so writes the shrewd King Solomon in his often neglected but powerful discourse called Ecclesiastes (7:11).
“Wisdom is a shelter” (7:12).
“Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city” (7:19).
“Wisdom brightens a man”s face and changes its hard appearance” (8:1).
“Wisdom is better than strength” (9:16).
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war” (9:18).
I recently completed my fifth decade of life in this world. And I”ve been thinking about wisdom.
It is amazing to me how everything changes so dramatically in the 24 hours between one”s last day at age 49 and the first day at age 50. I didn”t really feel any older, but the people who were dressed in black for the occasion made me think I should feel differently. And will someone please tell me how AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) can be so cruel as to make sure their application arrives on that same day?
Some years ago I learned this bit of wisdom, “Age is a matter of the mind; if you don”t mind, it doesn”t matter.” I had often quoted that to those who, surrounded by black balloons, had reached such milestones in their life journeys. Having now received a couple of those same latex air bags, I”ve been doing some reflecting on that bit of wisdom.
I really don”t mind growing older, so I suppose it doesn”t matter. What does matter is the answer to this question, “If age is a matter of the mind, then what wisdom, if any, has my mind gained in half a century?”
We know the book of James records this promise of God, “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. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt” (James 1:5, 6).
I know I”ve asked often and in faith; I suspect you have as well.
Life Experiences
How, then, does God fulfill this promise to strengthen our minds and provide us with wisdom? In addition to the obvious sources of his Word and Spirit, I believe God is constantly teaching us his wisdom through life”s experiences.
When Sherwood Oaks Christian Church experienced a building fire 14 years ago, I learned some valuable, practical lessons:
“¢ Have a backup system for the church computer network.
“¢ Inform the insurance company about staffing additions.
“¢ Maintain an accurate accounting of the volumes in one”s personal library (insurance will require this).
“¢ Remember that a building is just that . . . a building. Buildings can be replaced; lives can”t. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the destruction.
Beyond these first lessons, I learned how people can pull together in tough times, how God can take a seemingly disastrous situation and turn it into a triumph, and how worshiping together in a high school auditorium for two years can create some great opportunities.
Would I be willing to trade in those lessons learned through that experience? Not a chance. Would I want to go through a fire again? Not on your life!
Shared Life
God also teaches his wisdom through others whose lives intertwine with our own. I”ve always liked the adage “Sometimes wisdom comes with age; sometimes age comes alone.” One may have a supply of “over-the-hill” gifts, but that”s no guarantee he also has an overwhelming gift of common sense. Tyrone Edwards writes, “Common sense is, of all kinds, the most uncommon. It implies good judgment, sound discretion, and true and practical wisdom applied to common life.”
I continue to collect pearls of practical wisdom from every age. Some senior saints are indeed great storehouses of wisdom. During a student ministry in college, Elsie and I enjoyed eating weekly with one of the dear, older ladies in the congregation.
After the prayer she would always say, “You see the prospects.” It was her way of saying, “It may not be a feast, but I”m sharing what I have.” It was a good lesson to remember. The act of sharing is more valuable than what is shared. Dinner in her home wasn”t about the food (although it was always delicious and plentiful); it was about the relationship that grew out of sharing around her table.
I”ve learned that feeding a relationship is more important than feeding the body. I can”t remember any specific menu from those evenings, but I will always cherish the hours we shared with Mattie Moyers. Those were the real prospects around her table.
I”ve also learned wisdom from children. Early in my ministry here in Bloomington I was working outside our house on my day off, a Monday. The little boy across the street watched me carefully as I worked in the yard. Obviously I was not going to work that day like his daddy.
After carefully scrutinizing my efforts for several minutes, he hollered across the street, “Mister, what do you do?”
I stopped momentarily and responded, “I”m a minister.”
“Oh . . .” He sort of nodded as if he was pondering my reply and then observed, “Well, maybe you”ll get yourself a real job someday.”
His misunderstanding has been a wise reminder that many people view church work through skeptical eyes. I owe the church and the community my best efforts so I do not give anyone an occasion to discredit kingdom work. I must always guard against making ministry something less than “a real job.”
Long Life
I recently asked the men in our midweek study to share some of the best advice they had ever received. The ages in the class cover a wide range, but their words of wisdom are fitting for any generation. Here are a few of the nuggets mined from that discussion.
“¢ “No matter how tough life gets, God is still in charge. The sun will come up tomorrow.”
“¢ “If you feel the urge to respond to an e-mail with a less than Christlike manner, sleep on it before hitting send.”
“¢ “Prosperity is spending less than you make.”
“¢ “Integrity allows me to sleep at night.”
“¢ “Tell your wife you love her every day.”
“¢ “The destination is great, but don”t forget to enjoy the trip.”
“¢ “Never be afraid to tell your kids you messed up.”
“¢ “Kids spell love T-I-M-E.”
“¢ “Work at what you love and you will stay young all of your life.”
Knowing that I had occasionally been the recipient of poor advice, I thought it would be interesting to learn about the worst counsel these men had received. One was quick to respond, “I work with a guy who is always saying, “˜Never give in to your wife””never!”” It got quiet in the room and then he added, “But then again, he”s on his fourth marriage!”
When the laughter died down, I realized that bad advice coupled with a bad example can produce a good lesson. Sometimes wisdom slips in through the back door.
Eternal Life
Recently, I sat with a retired military officer-turned-professor whose 33-year-old son was tenuously clinging to life. He had been on an emotional roller coaster for over a week. As we prayed and cried together, he looked at me and said, “I”ve learned something through all of this.”
In 28 years of ministry I”ve discovered that wisdom from the valleys is always the most life changing. I listened. “Hold on loosely in this life,” he said. How simple and yet so profound. He had cheated death more than once on the battlefield, but nothing compared to this battle that waged against his son. It was the most difficult experience of his life.
“Hold on loosely. . . .” In the final analysis, all that had once seemed so important to this father now meant very little. With his son closer to Heaven than earth, he realized like never before that only one battle really mattered and it had been won by another 33-year-old Son 2,000 years ago.
“Hold on loosely. . . .” God help me not to be like Lot”s wife who turned back, longing for the life she left behind. She lost everything because she was clinging to the wrong world. I want to “hold on loosely” so this world never gets in the way of eternity.
Wisdom really is a good thing, and at 50 I”ve been exposed to some wonderfully wise people. I”m gaining, but I have so much more to learn. Only God knows how many more birthdays I”ll celebrate, but since my grandmothers both lived past 100, I”m hopeful.
I can”t wait to discover what wisdom God is going to teach me in the second half of my life!
Tom Ellsworth is senior minister with Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Indiana.
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