Our Country Lacks Wisdom

Posted by Lorren on July 30, 2008

Two days ago, I posted about how we all need some wisdom. I’ve been reading some more in the book of Proverbs and have discovered some more problems that our country could avoid if we just had (and used) some more wisdom:

• We would have fewer STDs in this country. Didn’t know that the Bible talked about STD? Proverbs 5:11 addresses what may happen if you spend too much time with prostitutes and other loose people “and you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed.”

• Homes wouldn’t be broken up over adultery. Proverbs 5:15-20 deal with faithfulness to your spouse.
• We would stay out of debt and our country wouldn’t be in this mortgage crisis that we’re in right now. Proverbs 6:1-5 tell us that if we shake hands in pledge for a stranger (go into debt), don’t rest, be diligent to deliver yourself like a gazelle would from a hunter.
• Our country would be full of hard workers. Proverbs 6:6-11 tells us that we should follow the example of the ant, who works hard (and independently) to store up food for the winter. Laziness brings poverty. Anybody remember the pilgrims? That was one hard-working group of people.
• Wisdom brings wealth (Proverbs 8:18 ~ “Riches and honor are with me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”) I don’t think this means that everybody that finds and applies wisdom will make the Fortune 500 list or anything, but in general, people that are hard working, full of integrity, that stay out of debt, and are wise tend to do better financially than those who are foolish.

Do our politicians have wisdom? You would hope so. “By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.” ~ Proverbs 8:16.

I’m sure that many of them work hard, but what about other principals of wisdom? Not too many of them are doing so well on the faithfulness aspect of wisdom. Far too many of our politicians get caught with prostitutes, or with interns, or with whoever they’re not supposed to be with.

Are our politicians honest? “Read my lips… no new taxes.” Clinton and Lewinski? The old joke “how can you tell when a politician is lying? When his lips are moving…” is not exactly funny because it’s usually true. We need leaders that will be honest with us.

In my last post on wisdom, I mentioned that wisdom comes from the Lord and you can find out what the Lord has to say by reading the Bible. Proverbs also says “for whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” ~ Proverbs 8:35-36. You can only find eternal life (salvation) through the Lord. This of course, is “far better than rubies” (Proverbs 8:11). The second verse, about those that sin against wisdom, or the words of the Lord, is also true. If you sin against the words of the Lord, and hate the words of the Lord, you can’t find eternal life in Heaven. Those people wrong their own soul, and they end up without salvation, which only leads to death and hell.