Words of Wisdom Podcast

Sometimes we may think of people who do evil and benefit from it as the ones who end up winning in the end. But that is not the case. Evil people have justice coming, whether it is in this life or at the final judgment. Calamity and destruction will befall those who think they can take advantage of others and get off scott-free. Illustration: Bernie Madoff and his multi-decade investment deception with the largest Ponzi scheme in known history. Verses: Prov. 6:14-15; 16:30; Jer. 17:11 Teacher: Jerry Wierwille

The world is not a safe place because there are many people who are seeking to do evil to others. Individuals who have chosen to follow the wickedness of the Devil are called the “Devil’s children” because they do the works of their “father”—the Devil. Wisdom instructs us to be observant and discerning as we live in the world since there are many who desire to take advantage of us and do us harm. Illustration: The Tran Organization casino ring and their deceptive methods to cheat by using non-verbal gestures and signals. Verses: Prov. 6:12-13; 16:27; John 8:44; 1 John 3:10 […]

No one likes to wait for what they want. We live in a world that seeks immediate gratification. While waiting for something takes patience, the payoff when it comes to pass can be huge. If we are willing to stick with things even when the goal seems far off, we will experience deep satisfaction when it finally arrives. So, we must not quit too soon, or we won’t get to experience the joy of success. Illustration: Australian swimmer Emma McKeon failed to qualify for the Olympics, and it almost made her quit swimming altogether. Verses: Prov. 13:12 Teacher: Jerry Wierwille

Have you ever said, “I don’t want your advice” to someone? Well, if that person is someone you trust, then you just shot yourself in the foot, because why would you not want to hear what they have to say? We often think our perspective is complete and the best, and therefore, what need do we have for the insights of others? But as life will teach us, we are better off asking others, “So what do you think?” Illustration: Queen Elizabeth I’s formation of the Privy Council—her royal advisory board—when she ascended the throne. Verses: Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 20:18; […]

Everyone likes a good deal when buying something, but some people are looking to take advantage of others in a dishonest manner in order to profit off of them. Everyone is out to get something for nothing, if they can. The challenge as a seller is to be wise enough to realize the value of an item and to not allow others to sway you through deceptive means or rhetorical trickery, because people can have hidden agendas. Illustration: When Jerry goes to sell his motorcycle, a buyer tries to depreciate the value and get him to sell it for considerably […]

Everyone likes to be right. But who’s to say whether we actually are or not? Do we get to decide? If it were up to each of us, we would probably claim that most of our actions and behaviors are right. However, the desire to be right is so strong in us that we can tend to make up reasons to legitimize what we have done or are about to do. But only Yahweh can determine if we are deceiving ourselves or living out of a pure heart. Illustration: In the 1964 NFL season, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall […]

Everyone carries their own perspective based on what they know and have experienced. But that perspective may be incomplete, faulty, or misguided, which shows us that information is a fickle thing. One person’s report can seem true at first, but then when we compare it to a second opinion or another source, we spot potential limitations in the first person’s knowledge; this changes our perspective, and we then draw a different conclusion. Thus, the truth is in the whole story, not just the first version we hear.   Illustration: Movie plot from “My Cousin Vinny” (1992) about charges of murder […]

Our world tends to prize brawn over brains, thinking that the stronger you are, the better you are. But muscle can only get you so far. Wisdom and understanding in a situation can get you much farther than brute strength alone. A sharp mind with understanding will outdo strength any day because it is not just working hard physically that yields success, but working smart as well. Illustration: American wrestler Rulon Gardner’s shocking victory over undefeated Russian champion Alexander Karelin to claim gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games  Verses: Prov. 21:22; 16:32 Teacher: Jerry Wierwille

Everyone has an innate desire to be right and to be knowledgeable about what they are doing. Sometimes this desire grows out of control, and we lose perception of reality by thinking that we are always right and have all the answers. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are smarter and more understanding than we really are. Until our mindset changes, we are hopelessly lost in a fiction of our own making. Illustration: Alaskan bush pilot Mark Rose mocked God and was full of pride until near-death circumstances caused him to change his mind and believe in God. Verses: […]

When things go wrong in life, we tend to look for someone to blame. Rarely do we naturally like to assume responsibility for our poor choices. Instead of realizing that we made a stupid decision, and it is our fault for why things are the way they are, our sinful human inclination is to transfer the fault to something or someone else. In doing this, we forfeit the opportunity to recognize and learn from our mistakes. Illustration: Bruce Nolan suffering the consequences of his foolish choices and then blaming God for the misfortune in his life, from the movie Bruce […]