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00:00:00 The longer you live, 00:00:02 the more you realize that acquiring wisdom 00:00:06 is a lifelong process 00:00:08 —really, a daily one. 00:00:10 But let’s just analyze the process 00:00:13 of acquiring wisdom. 00:00:16 The basis for wisdom is knowledge, 00:00:20 so the first step is to acquire knowledge. 00:00:24 But wisdom isn’t just knowing a lot of things. 00:00:27 Our Insight book under the subject “Knowledge” says this: 00:00:32 “Wisdom is the ability to put knowledge to work, or to use it, 00:00:37 “the intelligent application of learning. 00:00:40 “A person might have considerable knowledge 00:00:43 “but not know how to use it 00:00:46 “because of lacking wisdom. 00:00:48 “Jesus linked wisdom with accomplishment 00:00:51 “in saying: ‘Wisdom is proved righteous 00:00:54 by its works.’” 00:00:58 To illustrate, someone once said, 00:01:00 “Knowledge without wisdom 00:01:02 “is like having flour, eggs, 00:01:05 “butter, milk, and sugar 00:01:08 but not knowing how to put it all together to make a cake.” 00:01:13 So we might say 00:01:15 that in God’s Word, we have all the ingredients 00:01:19 —all the principles are there for wisdom. 00:01:24 We have to know how to put those principles together 00:01:27 —make the cake; the recipe is there. 00:01:31 Now, sometimes in recipes (most of the time, really), 00:01:34 they list all the ingredients and sometimes 00:01:38 even step-by-step procedures to make a cake. 00:01:43 You might think, ‘Well, I wish I could see 00:01:47 ‘an expert cook or baker 00:01:50 actually put those ingredients together.’ 00:01:52 Well, interestingly today, on the Internet, 00:01:56 you have these videos with experts doing just that. 00:02:00 Well, in a way, that is what Jehovah 00:02:04 has done for us 00:02:06 because in the Bible, 00:02:08 we have not just principles 00:02:11 but we have accounts of people 00:02:13 putting those principles to work in their life. 00:02:19 They’re showing us how to make the cake, as it were. 00:02:23 Now, let’s take an example of a married couple 00:02:27 who might use accounts from the Bible to help them 00:02:30 see principles being put to work 00:02:34 —examples that will help them resolve a problem 00:02:38 that will preserve their peace and unity. 00:02:42 And I must add this disclaimer: 00:02:45 If the persons described in this scenario 00:02:48 resemble anyone you know, 00:02:51 it is plainly coincidental, as they say. 00:02:56 Now, here’s a wife, and she wants to raise an issue with her husband. 00:03:01 What’s the problem? 00:03:03 She feels stressed out. 00:03:05 Both of them work every day at their theocratic assignments. 00:03:08 The husband is very hospitable, 00:03:11 and he likes to invite people over for a meal. 00:03:15 Well, that’s nice. 00:03:17 She likes that too. 00:03:18 The problem is that she ends up doing all the work 00:03:22 —making the menu, preparing the meal, cleaning up afterward. 00:03:27 She’s stressed. 00:03:29 Now, she knows the principle 00:03:31 at Ecclesiastes 3:7 00:03:33 that there is “a time to keep quiet and a time to speak.” 00:03:38 Now, can she find an example in the Bible 00:03:42 of a wife who put that principle to work? 00:03:47 Ah, she thinks of Esther. 00:03:50 Remember Esther—Queen Esther. 00:03:53 In Esther chapter 5, 00:03:56 she had a very delicate problem to discuss with her husband, the king, 00:04:00 and she likely knew this principle 00:04:03 about “a time to speak.” 00:04:06 How did she put that to work? 00:04:08 Well, she created a suitable setting 00:04:12 to reveal what was in her heart. 00:04:14 She invited him to specially prepared banquets 00:04:17 with things she knew he would like, including wine. 00:04:22 And when he was in a good mood, she presented the problem 00:04:26 at the right moment, and she had success. 00:04:30 So having that example in mind, the wise wife 00:04:34 will choose a time or create a setting 00:04:36 when her husband is relaxed 00:04:38 and she can speak respectfully 00:04:42 about the situation. 00:04:45 Now, what about the Christian husband in this scenario? 00:04:50 Now, he knows the principle 00:04:53 at 1 Peter 3:7: 00:04:55 “You husbands, in the same way, 00:04:58 “continue dwelling with them according to knowledge. 00:05:02 Assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one.” 00:05:06 So he knows the principle 00:05:09 to know your wife’s limitations 00:05:12 —treat her considerately. 00:05:15 Now, can you find a Bible example 00:05:18 of a wise husband 00:05:20 who put that principle to work in a practical way? 00:05:24 Well, let’s take a brief glance 00:05:26 in Genesis chapter 18. 00:05:29 We’re not going to read all of these verses, but in verses 1-8, 00:05:33 here’s the scenario. 00:05:35 Three important visitors 00:05:37 show up unexpectedly at the tent of Abraham. 00:05:42 He invites them for a meal —he says for just “a piece of bread.” 00:05:47 Well, did he leave it to Sarah to figure out the menu? 00:05:52 No, he arranges for an elaborate meal 00:05:55 consisting of freshly baked bread, 00:05:58 butter, milk, and choice tender meat. 00:06:03 Did he leave it to Sarah 00:06:05 to do all the work? 00:06:08 Well, he did ask her to prepare the bread. 00:06:11 But Abraham was personally involved in all the preparations, 00:06:16 even setting the table with the food 00:06:19 and acting as a waiter. 00:06:22 So after reviewing that account, the husband sees the wisdom 00:06:26 of helping his wife with the work involved in hosting guests, 00:06:30 including cleaning up afterward. 00:06:34 Now, this husband 00:06:37 who knows his wife is overly stressed 00:06:40 might think of the principle too 00:06:43 at Ephesians 5:25: 00:06:46 “Husbands, continue loving your wives, 00:06:49 “just as the Christ 00:06:52 also loved the congregation.” 00:06:54 Well, how did Christ love the congregation? 00:06:57 How did he put that principle of love to work with the disciples? 00:07:02 Here’s one example. 00:07:04 If you look at Matthew 15:21, 00:07:09 we read there: “Leaving there 00:07:12 “[that is, probably Capernaum], 00:07:14 Jesus now went into the region of Tyre and Sidon.” 00:07:18 So you may think to yourself: ‘Why is the Lord 00:07:22 ‘going outside the boundaries, or the borders, of Israel 00:07:26 ‘into Gentile territory? 00:07:29 He was assigned to Israel.’ 00:07:33 The cross-reference you’ll see is Mark 7:24, 00:07:38 and it adds this: 00:07:40 “He rose up from there 00:07:43 “and went into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 00:07:45 “There he entered into a house 00:07:48 “and did not want anyone to know it, 00:07:52 but he could not escape notice.” 00:07:54 Now, that seems a little mysterious perhaps, at first. 00:07:58 Why does the Lord not want anyone to know 00:08:02 where he was with the apostles? 00:08:05 The Watchtower has commented 00:08:07 that when comparing this account 00:08:10 with Mark 6:30, 31, 00:08:14 we see that not very long before 00:08:16 Jesus had told the apostles that they should find 00:08:20 an isolated place and rest up a little. 00:08:25 Well, it never worked out 00:08:27 because wherever Jesus went, 00:08:30 the crowds followed him. 00:08:33 So by going into Phoenicia 00:08:35 (outside the borders of Israel), 00:08:38 not letting anyone else know where he was going, 00:08:43 and taking the apostles with him, 00:08:46 they could get some much-needed rest. 00:08:51 So we see how Jesus 00:08:54 put the principle of love to work 00:08:57 in the way he treated his disciples. 00:08:59 Wise husbands will do the same. 00:09:03 And there are times, really, during our busy lives 00:09:07 when we too, and especially our dear wives, 00:09:10 need to rest up a little. 00:09:14 Even during this pandemic 00:09:16 when travel is limited, 00:09:18 well, let’s try to find a way 00:09:22 —some time away from our normal routine 00:09:24 so the two of you can rest up a little. 00:09:29 So in summary, as we go through our lives, 00:09:32 let’s go on acquiring wisdom. 00:09:35 And as we acquire knowledge of God’s Word 00:09:38 and see how others put that knowledge to work, 00:09:41 we can act wisely.
00:00:00 The longer you live, 00:00:02 the more you realize that acquiring wisdom 00:00:06 is a lifelong process 00:00:08 —really, a daily one. 00:00:10 But let’s just analyze the process 00:00:13 of acquiring wisdom. 00:00:16 The basis for wisdom is knowledge, 00:00:20 so the first step is to acquire knowledge. 00:00:24 But wisdom isn’t just knowing a lot of things. 00:00:27 Our Insight book under the subject “Knowledge” says this: 00:00:32 “Wisdom is the ability to put knowledge to work, or to use it, 00:00:37 “the intelligent application of learning. 00:00:40 “A person might have considerable knowledge 00:00:43 “but not know how to use it 00:00:46 “because of lacking wisdom. 00:00:48 “Jesus linked wisdom with accomplishment 00:00:51 “in saying: ‘Wisdom is proved righteous 00:00:54 by its works.’” 00:00:58 To illustrate, someone once said, 00:01:00 “Knowledge without wisdom 00:01:02 “is like having flour, eggs, 00:01:05 “butter, milk, and sugar 00:01:08 but not knowing how to put it all together to make a cake.” 00:01:13 So we might say 00:01:15 that in God’s Word, we have all the ingredients 00:01:19 —all the principles are there for wisdom. 00:01:24 We have to know how to put those principles together 00:01:27 —make the cake; the recipe is there. 00:01:31 Now, sometimes in recipes (most of the time, really), 00:01:34 they list all the ingredients and sometimes 00:01:38 even step-by-step procedures to make a cake. 00:01:43 You might think, ‘Well, I wish I could see 00:01:47 ‘an expert cook or baker 00:01:50 actually put those ingredients together.’ 00:01:52 Well, interestingly today, on the Internet, 00:01:56 you have these videos with experts doing just that. 00:02:00 Well, in a way, that is what Jehovah 00:02:04 has done for us 00:02:06 because in the Bible, 00:02:08 we have not just principles 00:02:11 but we have accounts of people 00:02:13 putting those principles to work in their life. 00:02:19 They’re showing us how to make the cake, as it were. 00:02:23 Now, let’s take an example of a married couple 00:02:27 who might use accounts from the Bible to help them 00:02:30 see principles being put to work 00:02:34 —examples that will help them resolve a problem 00:02:38 that will preserve their peace and unity. 00:02:42 And I must add this disclaimer: 00:02:45 If the persons described in this scenario 00:02:48 resemble anyone you know, 00:02:51 it is plainly coincidental, as they say. 00:02:56 Now, here’s a wife, and she wants to raise an issue with her husband. 00:03:01 What’s the problem? 00:03:03 She feels stressed out. 00:03:05 Both of them work every day at their theocratic assignments. 00:03:08 The husband is very hospitable, 00:03:11 and he likes to invite people over for a meal. 00:03:15 Well, that’s nice. 00:03:17 She likes that too. 00:03:18 The problem is that she ends up doing all the work 00:03:22 —making the menu, preparing the meal, cleaning up afterward. 00:03:27 She’s stressed. 00:03:29 Now, she knows the principle 00:03:31 at Ecclesiastes 3:7 00:03:33 that there is “a time to keep quiet and a time to speak.” 00:03:38 Now, can she find an example in the Bible 00:03:42 of a wife who put that principle to work? 00:03:47 Ah, she thinks of Esther. 00:03:50 Remember Esther—Queen Esther. 00:03:53 In Esther chapter 5, 00:03:56 she had a very delicate problem to discuss with her husband, the king, 00:04:00 and she likely knew this principle 00:04:03 about “a time to speak.” 00:04:06 How did she put that to work? 00:04:08 Well, she created a suitable setting 00:04:12 to reveal what was in her heart. 00:04:14 She invited him to specially prepared banquets 00:04:17 with things she knew he would like, including wine. 00:04:22 And when he was in a good mood, she presented the problem 00:04:26 at the right moment, and she had success. 00:04:30 So having that example in mind, the wise wife 00:04:34 will choose a time or create a setting 00:04:36 when her husband is relaxed 00:04:38 and she can speak respectfully 00:04:42 about the situation. 00:04:45 Now, what about the Christian husband in this scenario? 00:04:50 Now, he knows the principle 00:04:53 at 1 Peter 3:7: 00:04:55 “You husbands, in the same way, 00:04:58 “continue dwelling with them according to knowledge. 00:05:02 Assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one.” 00:05:06 So he knows the principle 00:05:09 to know your wife’s limitations 00:05:12 —treat her considerately. 00:05:15 Now, can you find a Bible example 00:05:18 of a wise husband 00:05:20 who put that principle to work in a practical way? 00:05:24 Well, let’s take a brief glance 00:05:26 in Genesis chapter 18. 00:05:29 We’re not going to read all of these verses, but in verses 1-8, 00:05:33 here’s the scenario. 00:05:35 Three important visitors 00:05:37 show up unexpectedly at the tent of Abraham. 00:05:42 He invites them for a meal —he says for just “a piece of bread.” 00:05:47 Well, did he leave it to Sarah to figure out the menu? 00:05:52 No, he arranges for an elaborate meal 00:05:55 consisting of freshly baked bread, 00:05:58 butter, milk, and choice tender meat. 00:06:03 Did he leave it to Sarah 00:06:05 to do all the work? 00:06:08 Well, he did ask her to prepare the bread. 00:06:11 But Abraham was personally involved in all the preparations, 00:06:16 even setting the table with the food 00:06:19 and acting as a waiter. 00:06:22 So after reviewing that account, the husband sees the wisdom 00:06:26 of helping his wife with the work involved in hosting guests, 00:06:30 including cleaning up afterward. 00:06:34 Now, this husband 00:06:37 who knows his wife is overly stressed 00:06:40 might think of the principle too 00:06:43 at Ephesians 5:25: 00:06:46 “Husbands, continue loving your wives, 00:06:49 “just as the Christ 00:06:52 also loved the congregation.” 00:06:54 Well, how did Christ love the congregation? 00:06:57 How did he put that principle of love to work with the disciples? 00:07:02 Here’s one example. 00:07:04 If you look at Matthew 15:21, 00:07:09 we read there: “Leaving there 00:07:12 “[that is, probably Capernaum], 00:07:14 Jesus now went into the region of Tyre and Sidon.” 00:07:18 So you may think to yourself: ‘Why is the Lord 00:07:22 ‘going outside the boundaries, or the borders, of Israel 00:07:26 ‘into Gentile territory? 00:07:29 He was assigned to Israel.’ 00:07:33 The cross-reference you’ll see is Mark 7:24, 00:07:38 and it adds this: 00:07:40 “He rose up from there 00:07:43 “and went into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 00:07:45 “There he entered into a house 00:07:48 “and did not want anyone to know it, 00:07:52 but he could not escape notice.” 00:07:54 Now, that seems a little mysterious perhaps, at first. 00:07:58 Why does the Lord not want anyone to know 00:08:02 where he was with the apostles? 00:08:05 The Watchtower has commented 00:08:07 that when comparing this account 00:08:10 with Mark 6:30, 31, 00:08:14 we see that not very long before 00:08:16 Jesus had told the apostles that they should find 00:08:20 an isolated place and rest up a little. 00:08:25 Well, it never worked out 00:08:27 because wherever Jesus went, 00:08:30 the crowds followed him. 00:08:33 So by going into Phoenicia 00:08:35 (outside the borders of Israel), 00:08:38 not letting anyone else know where he was going, 00:08:43 and taking the apostles with him, 00:08:46 they could get some much-needed rest. 00:08:51 So we see how Jesus 00:08:54 put the principle of love to work 00:08:57 in the way he treated his disciples. 00:08:59 Wise husbands will do the same. 00:09:03 And there are times, really, during our busy lives 00:09:07 when we too, and especially our dear wives, 00:09:10 need to rest up a little. 00:09:14 Even during this pandemic 00:09:16 when travel is limited, 00:09:18 well, let’s try to find a way 00:09:22 —some time away from our normal routine 00:09:24 so the two of you can rest up a little. 00:09:29 So in summary, as we go through our lives, 00:09:32 let’s go on acquiring wisdom. 00:09:35 And as we acquire knowledge of God’s Word 00:09:38 and see how others put that knowledge to work, 00:09:41 we can act wisely.
