Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom in the News
Submitted By: Debbie’s Dad
“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord they God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?”
(Deuteronomy 10:12; see also 5:33 and 8:6)
In recent news, the word “wisdom” has been used to describe the principles of a man that was a very thoughtful and successful investor. A billionaire with a revered legacy of investment leadership, Charlie Munger died at 99 years and was considered an investment oracle. [1] His investment wisdom was summed up in five basic principles:
- Know your stuff–Invest in businesses where you are very competent and understand.
- Proper Incentives–Understand the incentives for business management. You can estimate the outcome—their success or failure.
- Safe Businesses–Invest in businesses with a margin of safety from risks.
- Protected Businesses – Favor businesses with a protective layer from their competition.
- Leverage Compound Interest – Reinvest gains from properly incentivized, safe, protected companies.
While they summed this investment wisdom up in a few principles, we can also sum up Biblical wisdom in even less than 5 principles.
The Bible similarly establishes a set of principles that are repeated throughout Scripture to guide those who seek Godly wisdom. They are highlighted in our verse for today–Instructions to God’s people:
- Fear the Lord–Deep, reverent fear of the Almighty God is the beginning and foundation of gaining the wisdom and knowledge of God. (“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” Psalm 111:10). Fools reject God (Psalm 14:1) and the proud or haughty fall, fail to find Him, and are destroyed. (Prov. 16:18).
- Walk In the Way of the Lord–Joshua also instructed God’s people to walk (to live their daily life trusting in the Almighty) in trust and obedience to God’s instruction: “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5 (NKJV).
- Enjoy the spiritual blessings of walking in Godly wisdom–The “Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in His ways” (Psalm 128:1).
Another man, John H. Stammis, summed up these principles of Godly wisdom in 1887. His well-known hymn, “Trust and Obey” captures the principles of reverence, trust, and the obedient walk that provides happiness:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Wise investing is valuable, but wise living for the Almighty God is invaluable – beyond estimation and priceless! May be invest our lives and eternal destiny following the Biblical wisdom to revere, trust, and obey!
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[1] Martin Baccardax, The Wisdom of Charlie Munger: 5 Simple Steps to Investment Success, The Street, 29 November 2023; https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/the-wisdom-of-charlie-munger-5-simple-steps-to-investment-success/ar-AA1kISU8.