Wisdom

Happy Friday, Friends!

 

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious new day in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

I am currently going through a phenomenal Bible Study titled, Men of Wisdom. It is from Impactus Men’s Ministry and was written by J.R. Hudberg. I have shared several days of the plans with others, and today, I simply want to share 3 of the messages with you all. I am highly confident they will encourage and inspire you as much as they have me.

 

Two Roads & An Obvious Choice

Some decisions are obviously complicated.

 

Lists of pros and cons only go so far. Our own wants and desires tend to get in the way. But some choices are not so complicated.

 

The Book of Proverbs helps us uncomplicate some decisions (maybe all).

 

It narrows life down to two paths: wisdom or folly.

 

Not intelligence versus ignorance. Not success versus failure. But wisdom versus folly.

 

And Proverbs 12:15 exposes the real dividing line:

 

Who gets the final say in your life—you, or God?

 

Folly is not loud stupidity. It’s quiet self-confidence that refuses correction. It’s the man who trusts his instincts above Scripture, his experience above counsel, and his feelings above truth.

 

Proverbs says the fool’s way feels right. That’s the danger. Folly rarely announces itself as rebellion; it usually shows up as justification.

 

“This is just how I am.”

 

“I’ve got this.”

 

“I don’t need help.”

 

Wisdom, on the other hand, fairly screams humility. A wise man listens, not because he is weak, but because he knows his limits. Strength without submission becomes pride, and pride blinds. Wisdom invites accountability, welcomes correction, and seeks perspective.

 

Men today are trained to project confidence, decisiveness, and independence. None of those are inherently bad until they replace teachability. When a man stops listening, he stops growing. When he refuses counsel, he chooses isolation. And isolation is where foolish decisions pick up speed and begin to snowball.

 

Proverbs repeatedly reminds us that wisdom is relational. God speaks through His Word, through other godly men, through hard-earned experience, and sometimes through uncomfortable truth.

 

The question is not whether wisdom is available; it is whether we are willing to receive it.

 

Every day presents choices that may seem small, this may include how you respond to criticism, how you ask for help, how you lead your family, how you handle temptation, and how you react when challenged. Each choice places you on one of two roads. One leads toward life, clarity, and strength under control. The other leads toward regret, damage, and self-inflicted (and ultimately avoidable) loss.

 

A wise man does not assume he is right. He tests his path against God’s truth. He listens before he reacts. He submits before he insists. And in doing so, he avoids the trap of being right in his own eyes while being wrong in reality.

 

Choose wisely. Listen closely. Life depends on it.

 

Prayer: Lord, life can be so difficult. There are so many things that call for our attention and present themselves as good and logical choices. I want to be wise. Help me to pursue the wisdom for life that is truly valuable. Help me to be moldable and teachable. Amen.

 

Words of Life or Death

When was the last time you said something you regretted?

 

If you're like me, it doesn’t take long to remember, and it’s sadly not too distant in the past.

 

Words are not simple or harmless. Proverbs 18:21 cuts straight through the idea of casual speech and exposes the truth:

 

What comes out of a man’s mouth carries weight.

 

Not someday. Not in theory. Right now, in real life. Our words create momentum—for good or for destruction.

 

Many men underestimate this. We think strength is proven by action, not speech. After all, "talk is cheap.” We pride ourselves on being blunt, direct, and unfiltered.

 

But Proverbs reminds us that words are never neutral. They either build life up or tear it down. Every utterance plants a seed. Eventually, you eat what you plant.

 

We often say that women speak a lot, but the truth is that men speak constantly—at work, at home, with friends, and under pressure. And our words reveal what’s really ruling us. Anger produces sharp words. Pride produces dismissive words. Fear produces defensive words.

 

But wisdom produces measured, purposeful, helpful words.

 

Proverbs doesn’t tell us to speak less, necessarily; it tells us to speak better. Wise men understand that restraint is not weakness. Silence can be strength. Deliberate words carry authority because they are chosen, not impulsive. A man who controls his tongue can live in self-control in every area of life (James 3:2).

 

Words travel faster and farther than ever. Texts, emails, and posts, once released, cannot be taken back. Once our lips spit a word out, its existence is forever. Proverbs calls attention to the fact that words outlive the moment. A harsh sentence can linger for a long time. A timely word of encouragement can do the same.

 

Men are called to lead with their words. Leadership isn’t volume; it’s direction. A wise man uses his tongue to bring clarity, courage, correction, and hope. He understands that speaking truth requires both conviction and care. He does not weaponize words to win arguments; he uses them to honor God and protect relationships.

 

Proverbs 18:21 forces a daily question: What am I producing with my mouth?

 

Life or death? Trust or distance? Peace or conflict?

 

Words reveal the heart, but they also train it. When a man submits his speech to God, his heart follows. Choose words that give life. You’ll live with the results.

 

Prayer: God, my tongue is so difficult to control. Help me simply understand the power of my words as a first step. Help me to let my words express the life that You have put in me. Amen.

 

To Fall or Not…

“I can do that!”

 

“That’s no big deal.”

 

"I don’t need help.”

 

Any of those sounds familiar?

 

The Book of Proverbs doesn’t warn men about pride casually. Proverbs 16:18 reads like a road sign posted before a cliff.

 

Pride doesn’t suggest danger; it guarantees it.

 

And the fall it brings is rarely sudden. It’s progressive, quiet, and often, self-inflicted.

 

Pride convinces a man he’s fine when he’s drifting. It tells him he doesn’t need counsel or correction. It frames accountability as weakness and humility as optional.

 

Pride is most dangerous because it can masquerade as confidence. It can even feel justified. It feels earned.

 

And that’s exactly why it leads to destruction.

 

Most men don’t wake up aiming to ruin relationships, sabotage leadership, or damage their witness. The fall usually begins earlier with an unchecked attitude. A refusal to listen. An unwillingness to admit fault. A need to be right.

 

Proverbs exposes the sequence: pride first, then fall.

 

Humility interrupts that sequence.

 

Humility doesn’t deny strength; it submits it. It recognizes that everything a man has—ability, opportunity, influence—is received, not owned. A humble man understands his limits and invites God into them. He listens before reacting. He seeks counsel instead of defending his ego. He corrects course before damage is done.

 

In contemporary life, pride is often rewarded in the temporary. Loud confidence gets attention. Self-promotion gets noticed.

 

Proverbs isn’t concerned with short-term applause; it’s concerned with long-term flourishing. Pride may elevate a man quickly, but it cannot sustain him. Eventually, gravity wins. What goes up must (and will) come down.

 

Humility keeps a man grounded. It keeps him teachable under pressure and steady under success. It protects marriages because humility makes room for repentance. It strengthens leadership because people trust men who don’t need to prove themselves. It deepens faith because humility keeps God at the center.

 

Proverbs 16:18 forces every man to ask a hard question: Where might pride be setting me up for a fall? In my words? My decisions? My resistance to correction?

 

Pride doesn’t announce itself, but its trajectory is always the same.

 

God doesn’t expose pride to shame men, but to save them. God may humble, but He will not humiliate. The warning is mercy. The choice is ours.

 

Step down before pride pushes you over. Walk humbly with God, and you won’t have to learn wisdom from the ground up.

 

Prayer: God, humility is hard. It feels like being overlooked and left behind. I know that some of the things that I want to puff myself up for are not things of Your Kingdom. Help me to see where I am putting myself at the front and loudly proclaiming it. Forgive me for any pride that is lurking in me and strengthen me to submit to You. Amen.

 

Please feel free to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well!

 

Kev