Do You "Safeguard Practical Wisdom"?

WHAT IS IT?

Practical wisdom differs from knowledge and  understanding.  A person who has knowledge  accumulates information, or facts.  Someone who has understanding can see how one fact relates to another.  A person who has wisdom is able to combine knowledge with understanding and put them to work in a practical way. 

For example, a person may be in a  relatively short time be able to read and understand the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? During his Bible study, he may answer  correctly.  He may begin attending congregation meetings and even give good comments. All of this may indicate that he is  making spiritual progress, but does it mean that he has gained wisdom?  Not necessarily. He may just have a quick mine. However, when he puts the truth into practice, using knowledge and understanding in a right way, he is becoming wise.  If his decisions result in success, reflecting careful forethought, it becomes clear that he has manifested practical wisdom.  

Matthew 7:24-27 recounts Jesus' illustration of two men who each built a house. One of the men is described as being "discreet."  Thinking ahead about what could happen, that man built his house on a rock. He was farsighted and practical. He did not reason that it would be cheaper or quicker to build his house on sand.  Wisely, he thought of the long-term consequences of his actions. so when a storm came, his house was secure. Now the question is, How can we gain and safeguard this valuable quality of practical wisdom?

Next time: Do You "Safeguard Practical Wisdom"?/HOW CAN I GET IT?

From the Watchtower magazine