H. Norman Wright states in his book “How to get Along with Almost Anyone” that; “Wisdom is the practical translation and application of the Word of God to everyday life.” Proverbs 4:5 (NET) states; “Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.” God wants us to be wise and to do this we need to understand His Word and what it means to have wisdom.
There are four components to wisdom: (1) Words from the wise, (2) Asking wisely, (3) being a person of understanding, and (4) showing a little kindness. Beginning with words from the wise; H. Norman Wright states in his book “How to get Along with Almost Anyone” that; “The words you use connect you to other people. But how are you connected: by a cord that binds you together or a barrier which keeps you at a distance?” Words like “I” has a much different meaning than if you were to use “you” or “yourself”. Choosing our words carefully can take us miles ahead in getting along with others. Asking wisely (2) connects with the words we use. We need to ask questions open ended as opposed to closed. A good example is “What did you think of the meeting today?” as opposed to “Man, wasn’t that a bad meeting today?” One allows the other person to interject their own thoughts and perspective while the other closes the other person out and just shows your own viewpoint. Number (3) is that we need to be a person of understanding. We need to understand where the other person is coming from and be able to put the attention on them and not just on ourselves. Proverbs 14:29 (NET) states; “The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.” We need to make it about the other person, and not about ourselves. We also need to show a little kindness (4). We all know what it feels like to be taken for granted. So why do we take others for granted? Show kindness towards them and their situations. H. Norman Wright states; “Sometimes people need to be gently reminded about the need for sensitivity and appreciation.” (Wright, H.N., 1989) A little kindness can take you a long way in our path to getting along with others. These four components of wisdom are all steps in better ways to get along with others. By better understanding each other, and by possessing wisdom, you will be able to have better relationships with the people around you.
The component that I feel is most applicable to me is better understanding others (being a person of understanding). By putting me in someone else’s shoes I can better understand them and their situations. It’s not going to be always about me; most of the time it is about the other person. Being a person of understanding can show great wisdom, and can take you a long way in getting along with others. It helps you to build better relationships.
In summary, understanding that true wisdom is understanding and following the Word of God can take you a long was in getting along with others. It is a two part system; translation and application. It is important to understand the Word of God; and it is equally important to apply it to our daily lives.
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