Wisdom

What are the ways to become wise? 

What are the habits of the wise? 

What are the paths of the wise? 

What is the compass of the wise? 

What are the role models of the wise?

When I was young one day I asked my dad why we prayed so much and what he prayed for. He said he prayed to God for wisdom to educate us, his 11 children. My dad never went to school; he sought to be self-educated. He learned how to read and got the equivalent of a 4^th grade education in his forties. My dad found his wisdom in the Bible.

The founding fathers of America were also self-educated; they found the truth and applied it to create the greatest nation in the world. We have truly taken the power of self-education for granted and we can now see what is happening to America. Relying on big government and in institutions for our education and the education of our children is a dangerous path to take. No one can teach us anything, we have to want to be taught. Self-discovery is the key to education. There is a big difference between instruction/training and education. A true education is based on timeless principles that when applied allow us to make a life. The current institutional educations are training and instructing students to make a living, at best. The time has come for Americans to rediscover the power of self-education, if we want to reserve the current trend of mediocrity taking over our land. Relinquishing our responsibilities to government in exchange for entitlements is an ancient form of slavery. If we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past in a bigger scale. 

The wise find the truth, speak the truth, and above all live the truth. This is character. The wise have faith, faith in their Creator. Where do the wise find the source of their wisdom?

Proverbs, Proverbs 3:1-6 in particular, is a great place to start your own ways to wisdom. The ancient sage sure packed  much wisdom in few words. And we think we are the wise ones! Here is why; think and reflect upon.

1.      Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,

2.      For they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

3.      Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

4.      Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

5.      Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

6.      Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

7.      In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others!

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)