Dear Brethren,

One of the biggest problems in the world today is the near total lack of wisdom. Most foolish decisions arise out of the fact that people are driven by lust, jealousy, pride, competition, greed, ego, hatred, control and power, but very few are motivated by the wisdom of God. Corporate America will choose "the bottom line," i.e., profit and money every time over moral and ethical issues or their civic responsibility to society. That is wrong. God through Solomon gave us this right instruction: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) Only Godly wisdom has true lasting worth.

Wisdom is the path less taken in this evil world. When it comes to decision time, we should always ask ourselves, "What is the smart thing to do?" Not, what is smart in this world's eyes, but what is the wise choice in God's eyes. There was a poem written almost a century ago that adequately expresses the mental gymnastics we go through in making a wise choice.

        Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
        And sorry I could not travel both
        And be one traveler, long I stood
        And looked down one as far as I could
        To where it bent in the undergrowth.

        Then took the other, as just as fair,
        And having perhaps the better claim,
        Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
        Though as for that the passing there
        Had worn them really about the same.

        And both that morning equally lay
        In leaves no step had trodden black.
        Oh, I kept the first for another day!
        Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
        I doubted if I should ever come back.

        I shall be telling this with a sigh
        Somewhere ages and ages hence:
        Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
        I took the one less traveled by,
        And that has made all the difference.

In the poem, we are not told whether the road taken worked out for the best, or not. In our spiritual lives, we are not hampered by indecision. Why? Because in most every situation, God tells us the wise answer - if we are willing to look for it. For example, God says, "Choose life..," "Keep the commandments..," etc., in effect, making our decisions for us. For Christians, when we have to make an important decision, we pray, meditate, measure the options against the Word of God, count the cost, etc., and then we choose and go forward.

It is not wise to second guess ourselves after having sought Godly wisdom in making the best decision possible. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (James 1:5-7)

When we make the best choice that we can with the information available at the time, we ask God to bless our decision, and we go with it. It is like our Christian calling by God (John 6:44,65) - we do not look back. In faith we move forward. We do not wonder what would have happened if we had not chosen to follow God's way - we know the answer to that. When faced by a man who wanted to put off his calling until later, "Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62 )

Using true wisdom in our lives brings us Godly worth and spiritual substance and real happiness, because it develops righteous character in us. (Wisdom is often personified in the book of Proverbs as "I," and " me.") "I [Wisdom] lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I [Wisdom] may cause those that love me [Wisdom] to inherit substance; and I [Wisdom] will fill their treasures." (Proverbs 8:20-21)

"The Proclamation of Jesus Christ" airs on www.Radio4living.com. The broadcast plays throughout the Sabbath every 4 hours beginning Friday evenings at 6:30 pm Central Time. This week's program is: "The Sabbath is a Sign."