If my memory serves me correctly, I ended last Sunday’s message with this: Cease making foolish decisions and practice making wise decisions (the quality of the life you are living will tell you which you have been making!). One of the things that has intrigued me most of my adult life is how many Christians make foolish decisions over and over, oftentimes the same ones. And, I might add, those who make foolish decisions do not enjoy the quality of life that Jesus promised to those who love Him. And, I might add further, whatever method they might be using in their pursuit of Jesus is more important to them than the relationship they are attempting to develop.

Surely, everyone will agree that the quality of the life one lives is very, very important, whether or not he is a Christian. The good news, however, is this: those of us who are Christians have the potential to enjoy a quality of life far greater than those who are not, a quality of life that endures, even in the most trying of times.

One thing we must guard against, however, is the very thing that many do—equating “quality” with “happiness.” Being happy is wonderful but it has nothing to do with the quality of one’s life. Each of us can remember times when we were very unhappy, but the quality of our lives was excellent. Those who do equate “quality” with “happiness” are guaranteed to see the quality of their lives depreciate, when they are unhappy.  I will simply tell you this: God has a much higher dream for your life than mere happiness, and that dream is for you to experience ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. When this happens, you are living the quality of life that Jesus promised—the more abundant life.

TEXT: “Behold I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12 NASB).

I suppose Solomon could have asked for anything, but he asked for wisdom, and, I might add, in doing so, he made the wisest choice he ever made.

Now, with that, I want to share with you some of the characteristics of wisdom, the kind of wisdom that prevents our making foolish choices:

Wisdom does not allow her feelings to dictate her choices. Are you wise?

Wisdom objectively listens to the opinions of others. Are you wise?

Wisdom does not jump to conclusions. Are you wise?

Wisdom seeks the counsel of wisdom. Are you wise?

Wisdom keeps her head when everyone around her is losing theirs. Are you wise?

Wisdom is willing to take risks because it is not afraid to lose. Are you wise?

Wisdom talks about subjects she knows and asks questions about those with which she is unfamiliar. Are you wise?

Wisdom can assess a situation, quickly separating the important from the rest. Are you wise?

Wisdom is not drawn into the conflicts of others. Are you wise?

Wisdom is a good listener. Are you wise?

Wisdom not only profits from her mistakes, but also from the mistakes of others.

Wisdom reveres God. Are you wise?

Wisdom believes that investing in the lives of people pays much higher dividends than investing in financial markets.

QUESTION: Have you asked God for wisdom?