God's Design for MenSample

Wise Men

On April 15, 1912, the “unsinkable” ship Titanic was traveling at top speed through iceberg-laden waters during a pitch-black night—thoroughly unwise on all counts.

Apparently, her owners wanted to arrive at port ahead of schedule to show off the ship’s impressive speed, so rather than heed the ice warnings or adjust to the nighttime conditions, the ship recklessly plowed ahead.

We all know what happened next. With low visibility, the ship didn’t see an iceberg until it was too late, and due to its speed, it could not turn in time. The Titanic struck the iceberg, was flooded with water, and went to the bottom of the Atlantic with over 1,500 souls.

The tragedy came down to a lack of wisdom. It all happened from a series of human mistakes, and if we are not careful, any man can make such mistakes in his life.

Wisdom is more than just being smart or knowing the correct answers. It includes intelligence and information, but also the understanding of how to use them to consider all sides of a matter, contemplate future consequences, and chart the smartest course forward.

Wisdom would have said, “Slow down the ship at night!” or “Let’s be wary of all the icebergs!” Wisdom would have gathered information, considered everything, weighed options and outcomes, chosen a better path, and achieved a less-devastating conclusion.

Today’s verse extols the value of being a man of wisdom, noting the strength it brings to his life. The book of Proverbs is packed with biblical pictures of wisdom and how wisdom calls us to live (e.g., Proverbs 3:13-15; Proverbs 4:7; etc.).

Jesus, the perfect Man, walked in inspiring wisdom in many ways (Luke 2:52). His teaching was obviously full of wise principles to live by (e.g. Matthew 7:24-27); He wisely answered challenging questions and traps that were set for Him (e.g. Matthew 22:15–22); and the apostle Paul called Him the very “wisdom of God” sent to us (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Men are at their best when they intentionally pursue wisdom and seek to live by its principles. When they do, they choose rightly, guide others, avoid errors, and find the best ways forward.

God’s design for men is that we would be marked by heavenly wisdom (James 3:17), letting it govern our decisions, words, attitudes, and actions and enjoying the fruit that comes from living wisely.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the wisdom You grant to men. May I ever seek it and always find it, and may I reap the good and fruitful harvest of a life committed to walking in wisdom’s ways. Amen.

Reflection: What is one of the wisest decisions you have ever made? What made it wise? What about one of the most foolish decisions you ever made? What made it foolish? What was different about the two decisions, and how does this help you choose more wisely in the future?