Are You Wise?

I know a guy who prides himself on being shrewd. He makes wise financial decisions. He is respected at work. If I were looking for someone to oversee an investment portfolio, I’d call him.

The trouble is, his relationships are a mess. People tend to avoid lengthy conversations with him. And sometimes I shake my head in dismay at the way he treats his family. He’s skilled at quick-witted comebacks and sarcastic remarks. But I don’t know if he is close to anyone. He professes to be a Christian. I just wish he exhibited Christlikeness in his relationships.

He may be shrewd, but he is not wise.

Jesus’ brother, James, wrote, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 NIV11-GK).

Real wisdom—seeing and doing life from God’s perspective—impacts our relationships more than anything.

Yes, there is something to making wise life decisions. It’s good to stay out of debt and prepare for the future. It’s good to be orderly, hard-working, and think of long-term consequences with our choices. But if we are wise in everything material, yet foolish in our relationships, who cares?

As life progresses, and especially when we reach the end of our days, we will all know what mattered most—our relationships. I’ve never known a wise business person to call for their portfolio to be brought to them to admire on their deathbed.

It’s our relationships that will matter then. And it’s our relationships today that will be affected most by wise living.

So if you are respected at work…if you feel pretty good about making good life decisions…great! But are you known to be considerate, a peace-lover? Do you live with a submissive attitude, showing mercy to those who offend you? Full of good fruit?

Because no matter how smart you have been with your money, your career, your time, or your things, if these traits are not true in your relationships, you are not wise. Any fool can injure their relationships. It takes wisdom from heaven to make the most of them.

“The fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10 NLT).