There is a man with whom I enjoy spending time. His name will not be mentioned because from his perspective, it is not about him. I am a better man after engaging him than before spending time with him. This dear friend helps me grow. He is a wise man, and his counsel is cherished.
What makes my friend wise? In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus describes what a “wise man” looks like, “24 ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’” My friend has listened to God’s words and made them his way of life. His house is built on the word of God which he practices daily. His life is not about himself but God.
Now, a “wise guy” is quite a different man. His agenda is all about himself and his agenda. This man tries to manipulate life and relationships to build up his ego and many times his empire. This guy “loves the world…16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” At the end of the day, a wise guy ends up with nothing…he’s sitting on empty. After all the attention grabbing, being puffed up with things and lusts, the wise guy discovers bankruptcy. His relationships have been shallow and self-serving. The results are not life, instead, death. Everything he has focused on has been temporary and soon to pass away.
Life always gets down to a choice. Do you live for now and what strokes your ego? Or, do you live with eternity in constant focus? One passes away and leads to death and the other leads to a forever life. What’s your focus? Are you a wise guy or a wise man? I challenge you to be a wise man who builds his house on the rock of God’s Word.
What makes my friend wise? In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus describes what a “wise man” looks like, “24 ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’” My friend has listened to God’s word and made them his way of life. His house is built on the word of God which he practices daily. His life is not about himself but God.
Now, a “wise guy” is quite a different man. His agenda is all about himself and his agenda. This man tries to manipulate life and relationships to build up his ego and many times his empire. This guy “loves the world…16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” At the end of the day, a wise guy ends up with nothing…he’s sitting on empty. After all the attention grabbing, being puffed up with things and lusts, the wise guy discovers bankruptcy. His relationships have been shallow and self-serving. The results are not life, instead, death. Everything he has focused on has been temporary and soon to pass away.
Life always gets down to a choice. Do you live for now and what strokes your ego? Or, do you live with eternity in constant focus? One passes away and leads to death and the other leads to a forever life. What’s your focus? Are you a wise guy or a wise man? I challenge you to be a wise man who builds his house on the rock of God’s Word.
Barnabas Man 