Wisdom

One of my younger employees came to me for some help with a problem she was grappling with. “It’s a real Catch-22.”

“Are you just saying that or did you read the book?”

“There’s a book?”

Yeah, there’s a book. I told her that, with the Bible, that would tell her just about everything she needs to know about life. Read them twice.

“The Bible? That’s just a bunch of stories about people killing, cheating and begetting, and getting punished for it. It was written to control people.”

“I guess it’s what you take from it. There’s a lot of wisdom there.”

“Like what?”

Like what, indeed. I turned to my computer. Why compile wisdom when there’s someone out there to do it for you? I quickly found a zealot’s site of Bibical quotes and sat her down in front of it. It was quite lengthy, but here’s some of the more sagacious:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Proverbs 31: 8
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing. Proverbs 28:27
Hard work means prosperity. 12:11
Don’t envy those who do wrong. Psalms 37:1
Don’t waste your breath on fools. 23:9
Keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. Philippians 1:9
You can tell what they are by what they do. Matthew 7:16
Doing wrong is fun for a fool. 10:23
Gossip is spread by wicked people. Proverbs 16:28
I will reap whatever I sow. Galatians 6:7-8
Look out for one another’s interests, not just your own. Philippians 2:4
Troublemakers listen to troublemakers. Proverbs 17:4
Let us encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25
Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others. Peter 4:10
For love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Take delight in honoring each other. Ro 12:10 TLB
Your life is shaped by your thoughts. Pr 4:23 TEV
You must give an account for every idle word you speak. Mt 12:36 TLB
All that is secret will be made public. Mt 10:26 NLT
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NCV
Above all and before all, do this- get wisdom! Pr 4:7 TM
Successful people are finishers. Neh 6:15
Get all the advice and instruction you can. Proverbs 19:20 NLT
Don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen. Matthew 6:34 TM
Don’t worry about anything. Philippians 4:6 NLT
The truth will set you free. John 8:32 NLT
Plan carefully and you will have plenty. Proverbs 21:5 LB
Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Eccl. 11:1 LB

I did omit those that admonish against begetting. No one’s right about everything.