My nieceâs husband recently wrote these words on a social media site: âI would say a lot more online if it werenât for this little voice that prompts me not to. As a follower of Jesus, you might think that little voice is the Holy Spirit. It isnât. Itâs my wife, Heidi.â
With the smile comes a sobering thought. The cautions of a discerning friend can reflect the wisdom of God. Ecclesiastes 9 says that the âwords of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heardâ (v. 17 nkjv).
Scripture warns us not to be wise in our own eyes or proud (Prov. 3:7; Isa. 5:21; Rom. 12:16). In other words, letâs not assume that we have all the answers! Proverbs 19:20 says, âListen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.â Whether it is a friend, a spouse, a pastor, or a co-worker, God can use others to teach us more of His wisdom.
âWisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning,â declares the book of Proverbs (14:33). Part of recognizing the Spiritâs wisdom is discovering how to listen and learn from each other.
The author of the book of Ecclesiastes is unknown. Many believe it to be Solomon, the legendary wise son of King David. However, we are only told that the author is âthe Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalemâ (Eccl. 1:1). This description would fit King Solomon. J.R. Hudberg