Divine Wisdom for Daily Living by Joanne Colvin

“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders…The voice of the LORD is powerful…is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the cedars of Lebanon…The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire…shakes the wilderness…shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh…and in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’” (Psalm 29:3-9)

Imagine watching a storm arrive, with the sound of the driving rain getting increasingly louder as it comes closer. The sky darkens, the temperature drops and suddenly the skies open up with a deluge of water. The thunder echoes from the clouds filling the air. This is the context of our passage and one aspect of the psalm named “one of the loveliest poems I have ever seen” by Henry Ironside. Charles Spurgeon wrote that “The verses march to the tune of thunderbolts. God is everywhere conspicuous, and all the earth is hushed by the majesty of his presence.” * Perhaps you’ll think of reading Psalm 29 during the next storm.

Psalm 29 opens with a call to the angels to worship God for his glory, strength, name, and the splendor of his holiness. It ends with a powerful statement of God’s sovereignty and omnipotence as a king who is willing to share his strength and peace with his people. In the middle is a majestic description of the Lord’s voice that speaks in all of creation. “The voice of the LORD” appears seven times in seven verses, giving the phrase great importance. God speaks in all creation and through his Word; this is a profound statement of his authority, omnipotence, and creative power to do all that he desires.

Psalm 29 leaves no doubt about the power of God to “speak” to us through his work and his Word. But do we hear him? A friend was sharing with me today about how her pastor teaches the children in church on Sunday mornings with a spontaneous talk based on a random object they bring to him. Sometimes the object is a small toy or action figure. This method must be a real challenge for the teacher, requiring quick thinking. It’s also a good way for children to develop a biblical worldview for everyday use.

I wonder if you and I see the world from God’s point of view and hear his voice over the waters and in the thunder? Do we recognize and appreciate the unique way that Christians know his voice and share with others? We glorify God by reflecting his character. Will we do so today as we go about doing our errands and taking care of our houses and lives? Will you have at least one conversations in which you remember and share the beautiful words of Psalm 29?

* These two quotations were found in Boice Expositional Commentary Series, James Boice, Psalm 29.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them…is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock..” (Luke 6:46-48)

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)

Once upon a time there was a general in the Ethiopian army with a houseboy who had become deathly sick. His well-meaning neighbors told him about a healer who was traveling through their area. The general ordered his highest-ranking soldier to take a message to the healer, to come to him to heal his houseboy. The soldier pleaded the general’s case to the great man, saying that he was honorable, patriotic, and worthy of the healer’s attention. The healer followed the soldier to the general’s quarters but was stopped by some other soldiers, sent by the general, before he could enter. They told the shaman that the general wasn’t worthy of his presence but believed he could heal the houseboy from where he stood. After all, the general had command of his men who did his bidding; so, it would be with the houseboy’s healing. The houseboy was healed.

I am sure this story sounds familiar since it is a not-very-vailed retelling of Luke 7:1-10, with one crucial element left out. “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith’” (verse 9). Without this verse the story would be retelling of a fabled encounter with a fetish priest of the African Traditional Religion. Without the power of the gospel, granted by the Holy Spirit, to transform our hearts to obey God, it’s just a story. But this is a true account in the book of real events. It’s not a parable. The centurion’s request is preceded in Luke’s gospel with the admonition to obey Jesus’s words like a builder constructing a house on rock (Luke 6:46-49). Jesus is the rock, the object of our faith.

Later, during the same period of teaching, Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were outside looking for him. At that time, they did not believe that he was the Son of God and therefore, would not necessarily obey him. Pleasing Jesus and serving him is a mark of the regenerate who have received faith–like the centurion. One of the greatest blessings of having this God-given faith in Christ is speaking his words of life to ourselves and others, which happens whenever we share the gospel. Jesus said, “I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:49-50). Accordingly, we can say, “I don’t speak on my own but share what Jesus has said; it’s on his authority that the gospel has power to transform our hearts.”

When you speak with someone today, will you think of the gospel with its power to change hearts? Will you ask God for the opportunity to speak with his words, with his authority? A short thirty-second response from a biblical worldview can throw the light of transformative wisdom on any situation, bring someone to the feet of Jesus, strengthen your faith, and give glory to God.

 

“The priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled.” (Deuteronomy 21:5)

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:15-16)

We are considering God’s words first because they are superior to our words in speech and writing, which we will concentrate on next. The two passages above represent a consistent emphasis in the Old Testament and the New Testament (as we would expect)—to use our words to resolve conflicts with other Christians. In both passages, there is an implication to have God’s words in mind when doing so. In Old Testament times, the Levites were not only to settle disputes but to minister and bless in the name of the Lord. When they were resolving personal differences, they were also blessing and ministering to their covenantal brothers and sisters. John Gill wrote, “every controversy between man and man respecting civil things, and every stroke or blow which one man may give another; and whatsoever came before them was tried by them, according to the respective laws given concerning the things in question and were not determined by them in an arbitrary way, according to their own will and pleasure.” (1)

Decisions made by the Levites were to reflect God’s instructions to them, for God’s glory.  The Levites were to base their verdicts on God’s words with the same tone that the Lord used when he gave those commands to their leaders. Moses dishonored God when he struck the rock in anger verbally rebuking the people instead of speaking to them graciously as God had instructed. It is vitally important to use God’s words and commands appropriately.

In the Matthew passage, Jesus instructed his disciples to talk with believers who have sinned against them, quickly and personally. (See Matthew 5:25.) Jesus implied that it should be done reasonably and calmly, with the intention to help them repent and be reconciled in their relationship with God and with you. In the Matthew passages, Jesus was teaching his disciples about the characteristics of the kingdom of God, to encourage their kingdom community. Everything is aimed at resolution and reconciliation. If one person fails, he is to take another; if they fail, they are to include others who will act as witnesses. It occurs to me that having witnesses provides accountability for the one offended, encouraging reasonableness and even grace toward the offending party, so as not to go off “half-cocked” in anger. (2)

Will you work out your differences with others according to the Lord’s instructions? Will you encourage others to do the same? “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:15)

(1)   Gill, John, Exposition of the Bible on Deuteronomy 21:5, www.biblestudytools.com/ commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/deuteronomy-21-5.html.

(2)   Half-cocked is an American idiom meaning to speak or act prematurely or without thought.

 

“Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:6)

Do you wonder if you are moving toward God or away from him? Perhaps you’re not sure if you are in sync with the Lord, in a particular area of your life. It’s a mystery to me why anyone with more than one device these days would not want his or hers to always be in sync with each other. One of the features I most appreciate about my iPhone and Mac is that I have the same calendar, full of appointments on both, as well as some other things that I always sync. I suppose that there are reasons not to sync them, including lack of storage space or separate uses for them. However, with God, there is no good reason to be out of sync.

There are times when Christians choose, either consciously or unconsciously, to be disconnected from God. There are even some seasons when the Lord himself seems to have moved away, and his presence is dimmed, for a particular purpose, as with Job. But when we are the ones moving away from him, God will use his Word to redirect us, as he did when he spoke to King David. David wanted to build a sanctuary for the Lord but in 1 Chronicles 17:4 God said, through Nathan, “It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.” In this case, the Lord did precisely the opposite of what David envisioned; God built a house for and from David, and a dynasty for his name.

God spoke through the mouth of a donkey to Balaam, and he whispered to Elisha in a gentle wind (Numbers 22:22-35; 1 Kings 19:10-15). The Lord sent the wise men around, not through Jerusalem after they worshipped Jesus and sent Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt when Jesus was a few days old (Matthew 2:12-15). Jesus directed his disciples to go to Galilee before he ascended and the Holy Spirit led Cornelius to bring Peter to his house (Matthew 28:16; Acts 10:22).

How often do we concentrate on what we should not, cannot or don’t want to do, rather than on what we should and can do that is enjoyable? “The disciples of John came to him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.’” (Matthew 9:14-15) Here were John’s disciples trying hard to be religious and what they needed to was exactly the opposite—rejoice and celebrate with Jesus, the bridegroom.

Are you going in a direction opposite from where you should be going in your life? Are you growing more distant from God and perhaps family members when you should be getting closes (in the midst of a conflict)? Are you on the verge of forming an intimate relationship that is best left alone? Will you wisely consider how you may be doing the opposite of what you should be doing in some area of your life? Image what you may learn in the process and how you will grow closer to Jesus.

 

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 3:16-21)

The other night I watched a pretty bad, provocative film titled “The Dinner” (which I do not recommend) with some folks. It’s not well done, the language is wretched, and God’s name, in particular, is abused. I considered saying something then but chose to wait. Last evening, we discussed the film. I shared my feelings about God’s name being used so horribly and was told: “that’s the culture of the day.” I knew we would agree about the third Commandment, not to take God’s name in vain, but was surprised that “culture” was used as justification for it.

Then we discussed the big conflict that was driving the film, involving teenagers who committed “unintentional murder.” The question was, “Should they turn themselves in (or be turned in by one of the parents) and be sent to prison?” This would undoubtedly lead to abuse and their wreckage for life, according to others who saw the movie. The film presents other options, the primary one being hiding the crime, since it was committed against a homeless person in a public place. I quoted some of the Proverbs verses I have been using in my devotions lately (Proverbs 9:7-8; 15:31-32; 19:25; 21:11) and thought of the Ezekiel verse above. I argued biblically, that the only right thing to do was to turn them over to the police for their punishment and for the warning it would give to other would-be pranksters. But I have a new appreciation for the harsh life in prison for the convicted and the challenging work of judges who know how bad life will be for those who are convicted. (At least one person in our group of film watchers is a judge.)

God’s Word is our lifeline and our salvation; it is meant for our good. Our words reveal our hearts, intentions, desires, beliefs, opinions, judgments, loves, dislikes, fears, hopes, idols, weaknesses, joys, hurts, wisdom, foolishness, and our sins. Our words are powerful and influential in the lives of others, and I pray that this is the case for our conversation last night. God uses words to reveal Himself and His purposes; to redirect and rebuke His people; to free people from enslavement to sin, giving them to Christ; and to encourage, assure, and comfort us. While we can never imitate God precisely, because of our sin nature, we should seek to reflect His character, with His help, to the best of our abilities. I tried.

How will your words today reflect God’s Word?

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21)

As we begin to study the importance of words, we must consider that we are created in the image of God, uniquely created to have the ability to communicate linguistically (except for angels). According to God’s Word and contrary to what is commonly taught in the science of evolution, we have not evolved from monkeys. The LORD Himself created us with the ability to learn many different languages, and to use language with excellence, for scholarship, and for a high level of communication with Him and our fellow human beings. Oral and written words are the primary means by which we educate our populations, inform communities, resolve conflicts, form partnerships to make discoveries, provide medical intervention, and conduct most of our daily activities for life. As we investigate the importance of the spoken word, we should remember that written texts have the same (and sometimes more) influence in our lives and conform to the same principles as oral communication.

Since we are created in God’s image, we should treasure God’s words above all others. His words played a major role in the milestones of history, as he sovereignly and omnipotently initiated events. God spoke the world and all creatures, including man into existence; He said it…and it was done (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 24, 26). The Lord also commissioned people to rule over creation as his designated stewards; “…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26). God walked and talked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, used his voice to rebuke and convict them for sinning against him, uttered a life-taking curse on them and the serpent, but verbally protected them from further harm by ordering them out of the Garden (Genesis 3).

When God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, he spoke through Moses and Aaron, calling them to lead his people, confront Pharoah, and warn him about the plagues (Exodus 5:1-2; 6:2-13; 8:1-7; 11:1-10). Every plague was fulfilled as promised, in spite of Moses’ insecurity about his ability to speak on God’s behalf (Exodus 3:1-4:17).

Today we have God’s words preserved in Scripture, and they are no less effectual to accomplish his purposes. He is always faithful, and it is us who are not. Do we treasure God’s words as we ought? Our complacency for his wise utterances causes us to neglect or forget them. Let us be less like Moses and more like Aaron and the psalmist who wrote, “Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise…The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words…When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments” (Psalms 119:40-41,

“The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them…Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Psalms 12:6-7; Proverbs 30:5-6)

As we begin a study on “words,” we will examine the characteristics of God’s words in Scripture and what they reveal about the Lord. As I write about the words of God I am referring strictly to Scripture, and not to any “voice” you may think you hear from God in prayer or otherwise. While it is true that God spoke audibly to his prophets, kings, and apostles in the past, before the Bible was complete, I hold to the doctrine that the Bible is now the only and completely sufficient voice of God for us. “Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

Psalms 119 teaches us a great deal about God’s words. The psalmist’s comparison of them to silver, purified seven times is hyperbole that should give us pause. According to Britannica online, silver melts when heated to 1,764 °F.; even so, sterling silver is still only 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. (1) God’s words are flawless, which is hard for us to grasp since nothing on this earth is perfectly pure; sin corrupted all creation in the Fall (Romans 8:22). How can we keep, obey, or protect God’s words if we are also perverted by sin? We cannot do it. Only the Lord can preserve his Word, and protect it from misuse, and exploitation in the way that seems best to him. Yes, there are many Christians and non-Christians who use and manipulate Scripture for their own glory, financial gain, or convenience and ease of preaching. This has been the case since the beginning of time, when Satan did so in the Garden of Eden, with Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” and “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:1, 4) Another example is when Satan tempted Jesus by misinterpreting Scripture (Matthew 4:6).

But God’s words have the power to defeat Satan. Jesus quoted Scripture appropriately three times, once for each temptation. He thwarted Satan’s attempt to convince him to avoid the cross and suffering, his messianic calling, and our spiritual salvation. God’s words shielded Jesus and will protect us. His Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). With it, we have an offensive weapon to strike down false teaching, legalistic rhetoric, and non-gospels, masquerading as the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is that pure word of God: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14)

The words of the Lord were preserved not for the unbelieving Jewish leaders of Jesus time, but for us. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalms 119:130) Lord, let us rejoice in the purity of your Word as we hear it proclaimed today.

* https://www.britannica.com/technology/silver-processing

 

“Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence…When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise” (Proverbs 19:25a; 21:11a)

Yesterday we explored the frustration and needlessness of rebuking a scoffer who will only dislike you for your correction. Some passages in Proverbs support beating scoffers as the only means to teach them, but that will not be our emphasis today. Instead, we will focus on what may be learned by disciplining someone who is foolish and perhaps simple-minded. I suggest that we think of ourselves as those who can learn from the punishment of others, rather than immediately think of our children or students. It’s easy and unproductive to focus on the younger generation because we have used this practical advice and seen it work. Punish one child in the family, and suddenly siblings start behaving. Discipline one student in a classroom, or a boarding house, or a camp cabin and all the other children seem to grow wiser instantly.

But do we change as a result of studying biblical characters who wouldn’t change? We’re on a bit of a run about those Jewish leaders who refused to give up their outmoded, wrong ideas about religion for the truth. They were warned, chastised, and openly cursed by Jesus, yet do we learn from his words to them? Are we learning prudence and becoming wise by recognizing the great extent to which they were wrong? Will we embrace Proverbs 19:8, “Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good?”

Those leaders were hardened to his teaching and offer of the gospel, but we can learn from his treatment of them. If we are attentive, we do not need to see someone beaten or hear about them being condemned to acquire wisdom. Even a soft reproof or a slight redirection will be enough to change our thinking. As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of God, we can learn from the big and small examples in the Bible. Moses struck the rock and berated his people for their obstinacy rather than graciously just talking to the rock as God commanded. (Numbers 20:8-13) His punishment was an untimely death before Israel would enter Canaan. David was punished for his sexual sin by the loss of his child. The stubborn Jewish leaders were condemned and cursed for their false teaching, neglect of the foundational doctrines of true faith, hypocrisy, swearing allegiance to the temple rather than to God, for worshipping traditions, and for betraying Jesus in all these.

Do you have trouble with anger like Moses, impatient and unkind when you should be gracious? Are you tempted by the rampant sexual liberalism in our world today, to be accepting of it and just “go with the flow?” Or, will you learn from David’s sin to condemn fornication in all its various forms today as the teaching of the Bible? We all tend to be legalists, so let us learn from the condemnation of the Pharisees. Let us learn and become wiser still and see how God might use it to encourage others.

“Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you…The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” (Proverbs 9:7-8; 15:31-32)

I once had a two-year-old rescued collie dog that had storm phobia. Hershey ran around the house, barking incessantly as long as the thunder continued. I tried without success to break him of the habit. But a far more troubling problem was the dog’s hatred for cats. Finally, after two years, and many injuries to himself and neighborhood cats, I gave up and returned him to the shelter where I found him. I was utterly exhausted and deflated. I suppose the reason I thought about Hershey is the reference at Proverbs 9:7 to Matthew 7:6: “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Have you tried to correct someone who mocks you? Have you tried to convince an atheist or agnostic that God exists? Then you know how frustrating it can be, and how easy it is to feel abused. Are we not to share Christ with everyone, even those who insult us? Yes, we are, but we are not to continue giving the precious gift of the gospel to those who do not want it. We should pray for them and invite them to partake of the grace of God, but we are not to try to force our beliefs on them. Jesus instructed his disciples, “If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14) Proverbs informs us that scoffers will hate us when we rebuke them, but we will be loved by the wise when we do the same for them.

How many parables did Jesus tell to scoffers that ended with judgment for those who refused to submit to his teaching and his lordship, lived out by his hearers? The Jewish Pharisees who rejected Jesus hated him for his appeals and finally had him crucified. This is the ultimate hate and injury that anyone has ever suffered for offering a life-giving reproof. They preferred their false religion, empty rule-keeping, and positions of contrived power over the truth and forgiveness. So, it is today for many whom we love. However, a wise person who is truth-seeking, like Nicodemus, will love the Christian who counsels him for his own good. David loved Nathan for confronting him with his sin (2 Samuel 12).  They are grateful for the help and give thanks to God for those Christians who are strong enough to offer it. They enjoy being in the company of wise believers.

Are there people in your life who frustrate you by their obstinate refusal to believe in the gospel? Are you willing to leave them in God’s hands and offer your wisdom to those who will appreciate it and grow in it? “Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” (Psalm 141:5a)

 

A fool’s vexation is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor…Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly…A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion…A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 12:16; 13:16; 18:2; 29:11).

In the novel “Anne of Green Gables” the main character is a thirteen-year-old orphan named Anne whose outstanding personality trait is her talkativeness. Anne’s language isn’t just profuse; it’s tremendously captivating and gloriously abundant with many-syllabled adjectives. You get the idea. She is providentially sent to a brother and sister who are people of few words. The brother is comforted by Anne’s ability to hold a conversation with herself in his presence, stopping only periodically to ask him a rhetorical question. And he is aware that her speech reflects a reservoir of childlike wisdom. The sister takes a little longer to warm up to Anne and learns quickly that Anne’s dramatic speech can do as much harm as good, adding to Anne’s wisdom with her own. To her credit, Anne takes her comments to heart and grows in her understanding and decorum. She is teachable and eager to improve, even if she can’t quite stop talking.

Children are naturally impulsive and must learn to guard their ways; adults can be foolishly impulsive, lacking the self-discipline expected of mature Christians. We know that foolishness starts in the heart; irritation, self-centeredness, and anger begin there. It is unwise to allow these emotions full reign in our hearts because they hinder our walk with the Lord. They are all symptoms of a problem that is best examined. But we are especially foolish when we let our irritation be known, parade our ignorance, express our opinions without censure, and lose our tempers. Surely only foolishness would make us want to reveal our ignorance to others, but then folly seems to be unaware of being senseless. A levelheaded person, who may not even be particularly wise will at least refrain from discrediting their reputation by thoughtlessly giving air to annoyances and frustrations.

One would have thought that the Sadducees would be eager to hide their ignorance of Scripture in front of Jesus, but they did not (Matthew 22:23-33). They provided a good example of Proverbs 18:2, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” Rather than learn from Jesus, the most excellent teacher to ever walk the earth, they merely wanted to compete with him, thinking themselves right. If we do not take God’s Word seriously, we are like them, unteachable, only caring about what we think we already know, and destined to remain spiritually immature.

How will you increase in learning and wisdom today? Will you impulsively go on your way as always or will you examine your vexations, resistance to correction, and trust in your settled opinions?