fooling around?
"In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom." —Daniel 1:20
We need parents, pastors, politicians, employers, and leaders who are at least ten times better and wiser than those who have developed this culture of death.
One of the keys to wisdom is our lifestyle. A godly lifestyle is not only partly the result of wisdom; it is also the means by which the Lord graces us with wisdom. When we don't "fool around" with our money and time but invest them in God's kingdom, we grow in wisdom. Whether we eat or drink, when we do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), we grow in wisdom. However, if we "fool around" with the TV, the Internet, and video games, we are being programmed for foolishness.
Daniel and the three other Jewish exiles were exceedingly wise not only because of their lifestyle but because their lifestyle was the result of their faithfulness to the Jewish law, in particular, the kosher food laws. When God's revelation and law are the foundation of our lives and lifestyle, we have the atmosphere in which we can grow in wisdom. Then we can help make a world not of tragic foolishness, sin, and death but of life, truth, freedom, and love. Live a lifestyle based on faithfulness and filled with holiness. Be wise enough to change the world for Jesus.
Prayer: Father, make us wise men and women and not "damned fools."
Promise: "They make contributions out of their surplus, but she from her want has given what she could not afford — every penny she had to live on." —Lk 21:4
Praise: When in session, several Christian legislators gather for a weekly prayer meeting in seeking God's wisdom concerning the current debated issues.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Living the Sacramental Life on audio AV 56-3 or video V-56.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert A. Stricker, May 8, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 18, 2001