Wisdom In All Things

Be Watchful

In the sixteenth chapter of Corinthians, you'll find these two verses, tucked in there, seemingly as a random stream of consciousness, part of Paul's closing in his first letter to this church in Corinth: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Paul doesn't directly identify anything in particular that we are to watch out for, but that we should be in a state of watching. We are to be actively, and continually, watchful. 

A person who is exercising "watchfulness" in their lives is someone aware of the world around them and can think critically about what they see and hear.  Here are 3 phases to becoming watchful.

Read the transcript for Be Watchful

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Living Purposefully

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I use this quote from Emerson in jest.

It seems to me that this is the prevailing thought about what we are to do with our lives: the reason we are here is to go our own way; to leave our mark.

But is that truly why we are here? 

Dallas Willard says “The purpose of human life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."

Here are some key principles for living a purposeful life.

Read the transcript for Living Purposefully

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Confronting sin: embrace the battle, be victorious, and live a life pleasing to God

King David speaking: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." - Psalm 51:3

We've talked in the past about living an examined life. Doing so can be a little unnerving. When we do that, it is (very) likely that we'll find something that we don't want to see, and, as a result, end up shoving whatever we found right back where we found it. However, to consider "not going there" only means that we delay the inevitable.

Here are the practical steps that make up our arsenal in our battle against sin.

Read the transcript for Confronting Sin: embrace the battle, be victorious, and live a life pleasing to God

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Being better about being better

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

Malcolm Gladwell is a popular author and speaker who has written about the importance of practice. In his book Outliers, Gladwell argues that the key to success is not talent, but deliberate practice.

Effective practice is the key to long-term skill improvement. These research-backed methods will help you build on the foundation you’ve laid to create the habit of skill development.

Read the transcript for Being Better About Being Better

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Trust in the Truth: The Confidence of Conviction

"Conviction is the driving force that transforms belief into action. It's the unwavering commitment to truth and principle that enables us to navigate the complexities of life with purpose and integrity. Without conviction, our beliefs remain mere ideas, but with it, they become the catalyst for positive change in our lives and the world around us." - D.A. Carson

Just as Winston Churchill's convictions inspired a nation, the right convictions can guide us toward a life of purpose, resilience, and fulfillment.

Developing a biblical conviction is a profound and spiritually rich part of our journey. It's not just about forming opinions; it's about aligning our beliefs and values with the timeless truths found in the Bible.

Read the transcript for Trust in the Truth: The Confidence of Conviction

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

To number our days, focus on what truly matters

“It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it.” – Norton Juster, academic, architect, and writer. He was best known as an author of children's books, particularly popular was The Dot and the Line - A Romance in Lower Mathematics

With all that we have to do, it is awfully tempting to do nothing with out discretionary time.

Until you realize the implications.

Idleness and laziness can actually have serious negative consequences on both our personal well-being and the well-being of those around us.

If you're struggling a bit with where to focus, or with discovering how you can better ensure you're 'counting your days', here are some practical ways of evaluating the importance you place on living with purpose.

Read the transcript for To Number Our Days, Focus on What Truly Matters

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Mastering money before it masters you

“The love of money is the root of all evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Probably a familiar verse, but think about the last 4 words: “root of all evil.”

If we don’t love money, we can avoid a whole lot of bad.

In fact, we could swap out the word ‘money’ for so many things in that verse.

“The love of… the couch, Netflix, Peanut Butter M&Ms….”

But here, God intentionally–and specifically–identifies the love of money as “the” root problem.

I’ve rounded up recommendations on mastering money into a checklist that you can review to see where you might be allowing money to master you.

Read the transcript for Mastering Money Before it Masters You

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Benjamin Franklins 13 Virtues - Humility

“Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” - Benjamin Franklin

Are you as struck by Franklin's recommendation as I am?

Why both?

If you're going to include Jesus on any list, there really isn't any need to include anyone else.

It was curious to me what Franklin might have been thinking that would lead him to include these two people specifically, and only these two people. Perhaps it was this prompting from a personal friend of Franklin's:

"My list of virtues continued at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud, that my pride showed itself frequently in conversation, that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing and rather insolent, of which he convinced me by mentioning several instances, I determined endeavoring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest, and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning to the word."

Humility is "a modest or low view of one's own importance." It may well be that you are important, or the best, but humility moderates a balanced view of how you should view yourself. God opposes the proud just as all others are repulsed by them.

Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Humility

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

The Pursuit of Holiness: Building Holy Habits

"Holiness is not only separation from evil, but separation unto God." - John Stott

Holiness has long been a central theme in Christianity, and throughout history, various individuals and groups have emphasized its importance.

It is a concept that often evokes various perceptions, from being old-fashioned and rigid to grace-filled and deeply satisfying.  Either way, the pursuit of holiness is, at its core, an endeavor to mirror God's character in our lives.

Read the transcript for The Pursuit of Holiness: Building Holy Habits

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email

Persevere in doing good

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." - John Wesley

In a world often marred by turmoil and adversity, the call to "not grow weary in doing good" holds profound significance, primarily for Christians.

While the call to "not grow weary in doing good" is firmly rooted in Scripture, we need to effectively navigate the challenges and temptations that often lead to weariness in our pursuit of doing good. Here are five keys to helping us persevere in doing good.

Read the transcript for Persevere in Doing Good

Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email