Worthy Effort is Work and Determination Plus Wisdom

Effort Plus Wisdom

There are a lot of smart people in this world. Brainy, however, isn’t always accompanied by wisdom. It makes me sad to see those with a library of knowledge lacking in even a paragraph of wisdom. It is even more poignantly distressing to see how this plays out in politics, relationships, finances, and even in investing. Why do we put so much effort into learning only to waste it by foolish thinking, choices, and living?

Seth Godin has the following statement on his website: “Learning is a choice. It takes effort and guts. But it’s do-able.” That is true, but that is only a piece of the effort puzzle. Solomon had this to say: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Proverbs 4:7

Most people don’t spend one-one-hundredth of their time learning how to invest. Even then, they seem to lack the clarity of thinking and wisdom to apply even that small sampling of knowledge to their retirement and investment choices. This also requires effort.

Do You Put Effort into Using the Advice You Receive?

You probably have already received some good advice about various aspects of living. Now it is time to put some effort to “do the work of being able to work with the good advice we already have.” Seth Godin

“The cult of consulting suggests that if you simply had better advice from someone who knew more than you, your problems could be solved. Generally, the advice isn’t really the hard part. There’s endless good advice just a click away. The art is in creating the conditions for people to choose to act on the advice. Good advice unheeded is a waste for everyone involved. That’s why expensive consultants can stay in business and why committing to a process before you’re sure of all the details makes it far more likely that you’ll succeed. We might not need better advice. We might simply need to do the work of being able to work with the good advice we already have.” – Seth Godin

Add a Generous Dose of Wisdom to Knowledge for Best Results

Men can acquire knowledge but not wisdom. Some of the greatest fools ever known were learned men. Spanish Proverb

“Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself.” Tom Wilson

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Followers of Jesus are not all brilliant people by worldly standards, but they should be wise by heavenly standards. Paul made this clear in his letter to the church in Corinth: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” 1 Corinthians 1:26

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13

A follower of Jesus may not be brilliant according to worldly standards, but they order their lives and choices by good conduct and works done with wisdom.

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.