Wisdom-Trek ©

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 264 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

18 Signs of Strong Personal Leadership

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 264 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the 7 principles that make eagles amazing creatures. Today we will look for the 18 signposts for strong personal leadership.  If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are making progress on both our personal and company workload, but there is always much to do.  After our appointments on Friday, we will swing by our son Buddy’s home and pick up our grandson Kip before heading north to Ohio. Kip is a bright and very inquisitive 4-year-old, so it should be an enjoyable and enlightening 10 days. There is a lot of renovation work waiting for us, so we are looking forward to a busy time while at The Big House.

Speaking of traveling, it is time to head up the trail and look for the new signposts located on today’s trek. These signposts will instruct us on how to obtain and grow strong personal leadership. What is personal leadership? It is simply leading yourself. You being the boss of you - strong in character and integrity every minute of every day.

Let’s explore the...

18 Signs of Strong Personal Leadership

Why do some leaders start strong and finish weak like Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron, and Linda Carne, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia? Others start weak and end up finishing strong like Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.

What’s the difference between the leaders that finish strong and those that don’t?  Personal leadership.

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

Steven Covey put it this way, “Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.”

You keep your commitments. You remain steady. You’re not tossed about like a ship on the sea. You’re resolved and resolute in your commitments whether it’s to another or to yourself.

You control your impulses. You don’t give in to knee-jerk reactions or flirt with temptation. You decide ahead of time how you will respond when tempted to be impulsive so that when the moment comes, you respond with integrity.

You are disciplined. You do what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it. You stop doing what’s not working and start doing what’s required.

You’re predictable. You consistently do the right thing, even when it’s hard.

You know yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to strong personal leadership. You know where you are strong and where you are weak. You don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you’re anything other than what you are.

Personal development is a high priority. You continue to learn, develop, and grow. You know that personal development is the key to growth and adding value wherever you are. It keeps you relevant.

You’re strong - body, mind, and spirit. You examine every area of your life. You know that you’re only as strong as the weakest area of your life. So you’re intentional to keep every area strong.

You sign up to do hard things. You take on challenges because they make you better, sharper, stronger, and more focused. And, you think that’s fun.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 263 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

7 Amazing Principles of Eagles

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 263 of our trek, and yesterday, on our path of learning, we focused on what we can learn from children. Today we will look at the sky as we discover the 7 principles that make eagles such amazing creatures. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This week’s workload has been over-the-top busy with a lot of extra technical support work, financial work, preparing taxes, and editing of the Wisdom-Trek Journals and Your Life Plan Blueprint. It is an exciting time.

On Tuesday evening, we were able to take a bit of a break as my sister Rebecca who lives in Charlotte came over to share dinner with us.  Afterward, we continued our time of looking through old family pictures together. It is always good for a few laughs and shared memories. We always look forward to the times we can spend sharing together.

It is now time to head back out on our trail for today, as we will be looking for eagles and share what makes them such an exceptional creature. For all of my adult life, I have been a collector of eagle pictures and mountings. I especially love the Bald Eagle. They are so majestic. This also ties to one of my favorite Bible passages which is Isaiah 40:28-31,

28 Have you never heard?

Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

With this passage in our minds, let’s look at the…

7 Amazing Principles Of Eagles

The eagle is the national bird in the United States and the symbol of almost all conquerors, be it Caesar or Hitler. The reason is the inspiration of the 7 amazing principles of an eagle.

1. Eagles fly alone at a high altitude.

They are not with sparrows or other smaller birds like geese. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Even with eagles, other than their lifetime mate, it is rare to see them in a flock of other eagles.

Eagles fly with eagles.

Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sites prey, even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

2. Eagles have powerful vision.

Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

If you have a vision and remain focused, no matter what the obstacle, you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things.

Eagles always feeds on fresh prey. They do not indulge in that which is rotten or spoiled. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles.

Steer clear of outdated and old information. Study well and always remain fresh in your knowledge.

4.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 262 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

4 Things You Can Learn From a Child

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 262 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the 5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest. I am striving to implement these benefits into my life also. Today we want to continue on our path of learning as we focus on what we can learn from children. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We had a great working visit in Mesa, Arizona, with our friends and partners Charles and Alison Mecom, reviewing our Arizona construction project this past weekend. The flights and travel were uneventful, which is very good. The project is coming along well, and execution is starting to flow.

We are back in Charlotte for this week before heading to The Big House in Marietta on Friday evening. We have a special treat of taking our grandson, Kip, with us on this trip. It should be an interesting and fun time, as we are in the midst of renovating. Hopefully, he will want to assist. He usually has ideas, and you never know what we might learn from him.

This brings us to our hike for today as we hit the trail to learn:

4 Things You Can Learn from Your Child

Being an adult can be difficult. You need to be genuinely disciplined, which requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be too hasty or frantic, but you also don't want to waste much time. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by things or events that may never take place. You should look at life simplistically without being simple-minded. You can only control yourself and a few situations, so there is no sense fretting over the rest. As we consider our trail today, let’s keep in mind the innocence of children and the words of Jesus in Mark 10:13-16, "One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.  When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.' Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them."

This is a major consideration for adults. Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get…

1. Curiosity

Be curious; embrace childish curiosity. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through, and then they’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.

Kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child’s curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn, and grow.

2. Excitement

Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement - so excited that you hate to go to bed at night, that you can’t wait to get up in the morning, that you’re about to explode…How can anyone resist that kind of childish magic?

Now, once in a while, I meet someone who says, “Well, I’m a little too mature for all that childish excitement.” Isn’t that pitiful? You’ve got to weep for these kinds of people. All I’ve got to say is,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 261 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 261 of our trek, and yesterday we investigated 3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace. When taking difficult trails, the need for rest is important, so today we will consider 5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest. I know I need to be better at applying these truths. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away.  These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.

Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…

5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest

I have to admit that this is one area where I still have difficulties. I am driven and disciplined, and I realize that I push too far and hard at times. Slowing down can be scary when you’re used to running on the world’s treadmill. At times, I have avoided rest because subconsciously I am fearful of what I will discover. The fear of missing out is also a very real factor. There is always so much to do, and it feels like there is so little time to accomplish the tasks at hand. I do realize that it is all a choice, though.

There is no need to be afraid. God loves us and wants His best for us. 1 John 4:18 tells us, "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."

Rest is something we are designed to do. God has both a purpose and a plan for it, so maybe it would be helpful to consider some of the benefits of rest.

1. Rest re-orients our thinking patterns.

When we are weary and fatigued, it’s the perfect time for the enemy to sow his lies and weave a blanket of discouragement we want to curl up under.

Rest brings our thinking into focus and allows us to clearly see what God says about what we are facing, in His word and through His past faithfulness.

Rest brings the reality of God’s strength and provision into view. We need to remind ourselves that He is the victor. We need truth so we can wield it against the enemy’s taunts. Rest enables us to see the devil as he really is: a liar, cheat, accuser, and more.

2. Rest refreshes us.

Like a sip of cold water to the thirsty, we’ll never know how much we need rest until we put our feet up.

Worry and striving will fade away when we allow God to be our source for all things. When we give our mind and heart some wiggle room, we discover peace and the strength to open our hands to release the burdens that weigh us down.

I know I need to take to heart the words of Christ in Matthew 11:28-29, "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"

3. Rest recharges our batteries.

We can simply be worn out. Stress, worry, busyness, over-commitment—all of this wears us down. We need to recharge, and only resting can accomplish that. There comes a time when we have to just say, “That’s it. I am taking the time to rest.”

Times of rest are never wasted. God is God. He is at work even when we sleep. Resting allows for us to admit we need His strength.

4. Rest helps us to refocus.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 260 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

3 Ways to Accept Criticism With Grace

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 260 of our trek, and yesterday we explored the trail of what it really means to be rich and happy.  The majority of the story was from a blog post written by Jeff Haden. Today we will consider a story adapted from an article by Kristine Brown called 3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.

Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…

3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace

Heat filled my cheeks as he spoke. His words pressed harder and harder until my heart felt trapped beneath them. What had I done to deserve such criticism? I sat in silent astonishment without a clue how to respond. I just wanted the conversation to be over.

We have all experienced times when a friend, co-worker, or relative offered harsh judgments. But there are also times when the words spoken, though hurtful at first, are exactly what we need to hear. So how do you discern between the two? How do you know if this person is giving constructive feedback or condemning your actions?

Let’s look at a reference from Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia found in Galatians 2:11-12,

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.  When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.

In Paul’s instruction to the Galatian church, he tells about a time he corrected Peter. Paul noticed Peter acting one way around Jews and another way when he was only with the Gentiles. I can imagine how difficult it was for Paul to address this matter with Peter. After all, Peter was one of the twelve disciples. He was a bold proclaimer of the gospel before Paul became a believer. Yet Paul followed God’s instruction and tackled this difficult topic with Peter.

So how do we handle these situations when they come up? Paul’s story gives us valuable insight into these often uncomfortable moments. The following three tips will help us determine a course of action when someone we know offers opinions we don’t want to hear.

1. Listen up, and listen well.

I was stunned that day by the unexpected turn in the conversation with my friend. For that reason, I missed part of what was said. Certain phrases stood out louder than the rest. You hold on to control… let other people help…more communication. I focused on the negative and blocked out most everything else.

So often we miss the message in its entirety because we don’t hear everything. As the discussion begins, let’s determine to focus our attention. Ask questions. Create open dialogue and keep the exchange going. Above all, we must resist getting defensive. Like Peter, God uses people of like faith to teach us valuable lessons. But we could miss the opportunity if we don’t listen.

 

2. Consider the source.

After the exchange, let’s ask ourselves these questions: Is he/she coming to me with her concerns for the right reasons?

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 259 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Why Doesn't Anyone Ever Feel Rich or Happy?

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 259 of our trek, and yesterday we hiked the trail of The Wisdom of Being Teachable. Today we will explore why it seems that no one really feels rich or happy. I discovered this short story on Jeff Haden’s blog, and I feel it is worth sharing. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.

Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…

Why Doesn't Anyone Ever Feel Rich Or Happy?

One day I'd like to meet someone who is actually rich. Sometimes I think I've found one, but it always turns out I'm wrong. No matter how rich I assumed the person to be, within a few minutes I find out just how "poor" that person really is.

Take the guy who sold his company for more than $40 million. (Well, actually $100 million in total; $40 million is his share.) I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how for tax and estate planning purposes he had structured the disbursement of funds over 10 years. So sure, on paper he may be "worth" $40 million, but he only gets around $4 million each year. And despite all that nifty financial planning the taxes are still so high he doesn't see nearly that much. It's a bummer.

Another example is the guy who just splashed a cool $450 grand on a Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package. His everyday car is a Porsche 911 Turbo S. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me what he wants most in life is a Bugatti Veyron only they cost about $2 million. Sure, he has money he said, but he doesn't have that kind of money. He thinks about it all the time. It's a bummer.

Then there is the guy with the 110-foot yacht. Strictly speaking, it's a ship not a boat since it's big enough to carry several small boats and a couple of jet skis on a platform at the stern. And, it has a pool. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how expensive the yacht is just to own: fixed costs like cleaning, upkeep, dock fees, and crew run over six figures a year. And what about the expense of actually taking it for a cruise? He told me firing it up is so expensive he sometimes has to think twice about whether to take it out of the harbor. It's a bummer.

How about the story of the guy who – I know it's a cliché, but it's still true – started a company in his garage, financing it with credit cards and a loan from his father-in-law. A couple decades later his company owns its building (and a few more), employs 500 people, and generates tens of millions in annual revenue. He put his three kids through Ivy League schools and then gave them significant seed money to start their own businesses. I was sure he was rich. Then he explained how he still has to work 60- to 70-hour weeks and can maybe take one week of vacation a year. Sure, he would like to have more free time, but running a company that size requires constant and total attention. Why it could all go away in an instant, he said. And then what would happen to his family? The very thought makes him shudder. It's a bummer.

So I decided to set my sights on a different target. By definition there can't be that many rich people; maybe statistical probability was the problem? So I decided to look for someone who is happy. After all,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 258 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Wisdom of Being Teachable

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 258 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered a new definition of success. Today we want to hike the trail of The Wisdom of Being Teachable. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcast ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.

Let’s head out for today and learn…

The Wisdom of Being Teachable

If you examine many of the most highly regarded members in any field, one of the most consistent similarities in their personalities is their ability to constantly learn and their desire to improve both themselves and their work. The ability to learn — and the confidence that you can learn — is the most powerful weapon you have at your disposal during all stages of your life. There is an astonishing amount of research, both quantitative and anecdotal, showing that being teachable and able to adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in will be what ultimately makes or breaks you. Developing the humility required to be this way will be the most solid foundation you can lay to build a life worthy of God's name.

Here are a few suggestions to help out.

1. Be aware and perceptive. Watch and listen attentively.

Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, once remarked, “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” There’s no point in arguing with a famous philosopher, or more importantly, God’s design. Using your eyes and ears more than your mouth in all situations can pay unforeseen dividends. Speaking up is not a crime, but speaking without understanding or forethought usually makes us appear hasty and arrogant — two qualities that will not serve you well. Proverbs 10:19 puts it this way, "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut." Use the information that comes to you through listening and watching to learn and better yourself, mixing it with your own thoughts and ideas. In time, some small piece of information you might have missed had you not been paying attention may sway your life with unimagined power.

2. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity.

Be glad when things go wrong! It usually means you are pushing yourself, which is exactly what you should be doing. If nothing ever goes awry, how do you know that you are really doing anything? How do you know that the knowledge you are accumulating or the skill you are learning is truly sinking in? You will need to be able to distinguish the good from the bad. The best way to learn how to do this is to make mistakes yourself. There is no faster way to learn and no better opportunity that forces you to change what steered you wrong. Proverbs 12:1 tells us, "To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction."

3. Cultivate a love of knowledge for its own sake.

A lot of the time we learn things for a specific reason — to get through a class, to put on a resume, to make money…That mentality is troublesome to adopt and will not allow us to really understand and master the subject. Rather than viewing learning as an endless exploration of ourselves and the world we inhabit, we consider it a chore to be accomplished. By treating learning as a lifestyle, not as a means to an end, we increase our ability to progress and develop.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 257 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

A New Definition of Success

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 257 of our trek, and yesterday we finished our time at camp after exploring the “nuggets of wisdom” in Proverbs Chapter 7-9. These three chapters are considered the three great poems of King Solomon. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcast ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on short trails.

Let’s head out for today on our first hike in several days as we look at what it really means to be successful. When we think of success, most of us gravitate towards being successful financially. This is just one area of true success. The primary reason that we may choose to pursue financial success is to have the resources to have a greater impact on the lives of others.

Success must cover all 7 areas of your Wheel of Life, which are Spiritual, Family, Physical, Mind, Personal, Financial, and Career. Success should also be balanced as much as possible over these 7 areas.

As we head up the trail, let me ask you this question, “What does it mean to you to be successful?”

Let’s start looking for the answer by reading 2 Kings 18:5-7, "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.  He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses.  So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did."

Success usually brings to mind financial achievement or being number one. Others would define success by the bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Some like to think that success is being busy—on the go, racing from one appointment to another and having too much to do with too little time to do it.

The problem with these definitions of success is they exact a high cost. The Executive Digest has noted, “The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown.” That’s sobering, uncomfortable, and too often true.

Maybe the definition of success that you are familiar with is not the correct one. I would encourage you to reassess your definition of success before it is too late. May I propose a new look at the word S.U.C.C.E.S.S.?

Service – There is no such thing as success without service. The secret of success lies in meeting the needs of others. And when we are meeting people’s needs, we will discover fulfillment.

Understanding contentment – Let’s not measure success by how much we own or how much money we have but by a sense of inner contentment. Real success is always internal, never external. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11,  "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have."

Character – Character is of greater value than how much money or status we have. A man’s best test of character is revealed in how he treats people around him. So measure your success, not by your possessions and achievements, but by the quality of your character and conduct.

Compassion – What really matters is not money, power, and ego but issues of the heart—such as compassion, kindness, bravery, generosity, and love.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 256 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Proverbs 9:13-18 - Folly Calls for a Hearing

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 256 of our trek, and this will be our last day in camp for a while as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in Proverbs 9:13-18. Yesterday we explored Proverbs 9:7-12 where King Solomon presented the closing arguments for the woman Wisdom in her court hearing before the city gates.  Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our travels on Thursday of this week will take us to Atlanta where we will drop Paula’s mom off at her sister’s place, and then we will fly on to Phoenix to spend four days working with our construction project in Mesa. It is in very capable hands with our friends and partners Charles and Alison Mecom, but it is good to get close to the project every few months. We will be back in Charlotte for part of the next week before heading back to The Big House in Marietta on the 19th. It is an exciting season of life but challenging and tiring at times. I don’t think we will suffer from boredom anytime soon.

For today, we will spend one final day at camp around the campfire making some s’mores and listening to the final portion of the third of three great poems written by King Solomon. We will need to be transported back in time for one more day as we complete our exploration of Proverbs 9. Let us imagine ourselves once again outside the city gates of Jerusalem. Today we have the opposing council who is calling for a hearing. It is the lawyer Folly.  She will present a short testimony called…

Folly Calls for a Hearing

We find out that Folly has a house in the city walls, and she is shouting her testimony from there attempting to capture the simple and foolish people coming into the city. I will read Proverbs 9:13-18,

13 The woman named Folly is brash.

She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

14 She sits in her doorway

on the heights overlooking the city.

15 She calls out to men going by

who are minding their own business.

16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

17 “Stolen water is refreshing;

food eaten in secret tastes the best!”

18 But little do they know that the dead are there.

Her guests are in the depths of the grave.

In verse 13, we see the opposing counsel is a lawyer called Folly. She is a crude brash person, unlike Wisdom, who was well mannered and peaceful. As with many arrogant people, she was also ignorant but was oblivious to this fact.

As we move onto verse 14, we remember that the woman called Wisdom prepared a fine meal for her guests. Wisdom even built a splendid house for them with the 7 columns that represented wisdom’s attributes.

But the lawyer Folly is lazy. Folly did none of these things. She does not even stand to invite her guests. We find her sitting in her doorway which was built high on the wall of the city. Calling from the high places was common, but sitting while making the proclamation showed disrespect.

The messages of the two lawyers both come from the highest place in the city, so everyone will hear both messages. Nobody will miss them. Everyone will receive both invitations. We cannot accept both invitations. We must choose. Either we follow Wisdom or Folly.

In verse 15 she is tempting those who are going about the business of life.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 255 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Proverbs 9:7-12 - Closing Arguments #2

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 255 of our trek, and for the next two days, we will remain in camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs Chapter 9. Yesterday we explored Proverbs 9:1-6 where King Solomon is presenting the closing arguments for the woman Wisdom in her court hearing before the city gates. Wisdom’s integrity has been validated by her hard work and hospitality. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am sure that I am not alone in the feeling of being overwhelmed at times with the amount of responsibilities and obligations that we have in our lives. This week is one of those times. There is a considerable amount of client work that needs to be completed before leaving for Mesa, Arizona on Thursday. I will have to take some of my own medicine and “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” I did make good progress on my review of Your Life Plan Blueprint on our way to and from the Biltmore Mansion on Sunday. We will continue steadfastly on that project as time permits. Hopefully our travels this week will allow for some editing on that project.

We will need to travel back in time for a couple more days as we complete our investigation of Proverbs Chapter 9.  Let us visualize ourselves once again outside the city gates of Jerusalem. King Solomon is about to start day two of closing arguments for the hearing that was called by the lawyer Wisdom.

This will be the last part of the section called…

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

Solomon will compare and contrast those who reject and those who accept Wisdom’s case as we read Chapter 9:7-9

7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.

Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

In verse 7 Solomon calls the foolish person, a mocker.  They mock others, and they also mock God. They will never listen to you. They refuse to follow advice. They refuse all correction.  They have rejected Wisdom’s pleadings and have chosen the path of foolishness.

The first part of verse 8 takes it one step further telling us that a mocker will hate those who attempt to correct them. This is contrasted with a wise person, or someone seeking wisdom. A wise person learns from the person who gently shows them their errors. If you love a person who is willing to correct you out of their love for you, then you are really wise.

Verse 9 tells us that you will know if someone is wise and living right because they will take the correction and instruction of others and become wiser and more knowledgeable.

Solomon now concludes his closing arguments in verses 10-12 by stating where wisdom truly comes from and the final benefits of obtaining that wisdom.

 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

11 Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.