Bible Times 96

  Wisdom for a Man’s Self There was once a man named Eliab who lived in a prosperous town surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and fields of grain. He was known as a capable man. He worked hard, spoke confidently, and was determined to make something of his life. Whenever people praised him, Eliab smiled. Whenever someone questioned him, he became defensive. And whenever another man succeeded where he had failed, Eliab quietly felt that something had been taken away from him. He did not think of himself as proud. He simply believed that he knew what was best. One morning, Eliab went to the marketplace and saw an old carpenter sitting beneath a tree. The carpenter had spent many years making furniture, doors, yokes, and tools. His hands were rough, his clothes were simple, and his words were few. Beside him stood a beautifully finished wooden chest. Eliab examined it carefully. “You have made a fine chest,” he said. The carpenter nodded. “But the wood could ...

  Cunning: When Cleverness Walks Without Wisdom   There is a kind of cleverness that knows how to escape a difficult situation, find a hidden advantage, or make others believe what is not entirely true. The Bible recognizes such cleverness, but it also gives us a warning: cunning without wisdom can become a path away from truth. The difference between wisdom and cunning is often found not in what a person can do, but in why he does it . To explore this truth, consider the following original parable, inspired by biblical principles. The Fox and the Olive Grove At the edge of a quiet village stood a beautiful olive grove. Its trees were old, their branches heavy with fruit, and the oil produced from their olives was prized throughout the surrounding countryside. The keeper of the grove was an old man named Eliab. He was known for his honesty. Every morning he walked between the trees, examined the fruit, repaired broken branches, and gathered whatever had fallen duri...