Introduction: Getting Wisdom

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Why Wisdom Matters

Gentlemen, let me start with something I know from experience. In my past, applying wisdom in business came naturally to me. That’s where I felt strongest. I enjoyed it. I lived it.

If a client called to complain, wisdom told me: don’t act on emotion. Don’t get defensive. Don’t cut him off mid-sentence. Wisdom said: listen carefully, find what’s true in what he’s saying, and put yourself in his shoes.

When equipment showed up late and in the wrong color, knowledge told me who to blame. Sam in shipping, Sue in invoicing. Knowledge can point fingers. But wisdom told me something deeper: the customer doesn’t care whose fault it is. He cares about whether he can trust me. Wisdom told me: don’t shift the problem onto people he’ll never meet. Own it. Fix it. Make it right. Because at the end of the day, I can’t change them. I can only change myself.

That worked in business. And here’s what I’ve noticed about men. We’re often wise in certain areas because we put the time in. In business, in hunting, in fishing, in our hobbies, wisdom comes because we study, we practice, we take notes, we learn from mistakes, and we keep improving.

Think about it. If you’re a hunter, you don’t just wander into the woods hoping for the best. You study the land, you check the wind, you learn the deer’s patterns, you prepare your gear. If you’re a fisherman, you don’t just toss a hook and cross your fingers. You know the season, the bait, the water temperature, and the time of day. That’s wisdom.

But where most of us fail is carrying that same level of discipline, study, and practice into the other areas of life. We can be sharp in the woods or the shop but careless with our money, our relationships, or our walk with God.

That’s why Proverbs says, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. She is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13–15).

Even outside the Bible, men have noticed this truth. Anthony Douglas Williams said, “Knowledge comes from learning. Wisdom comes from living.”

Men, here’s the point. You already know how to pursue wisdom. You’ve done it in your hobbies. You’ve done it in your work. The question is, will you put that same effort into your faith, your character, your future? Because wisdom is not just about one corner of life. It’s about all of it.

Wisdom > silver, gold, jewels (Prov 3:13–15)

Knowledge = facts

Understanding = meaning

Wisdom = action on truth

Smart ≠ Wise