Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
The wise understand this principle, for it is what led them to a higher plane of wisdom. Their desire to learn allowed them to seek instruction in the first place. Their interest is not in being perceived as knowledgeable, but rather they value knowledge itself. Furthermore, they understand that what may seem to be useless knowledge when they first learn it, becomes valuable in the future. The advice of the father to his son that seemed pointless in younger years is what came to their rescue in later years. The seemingly useless facts learned in school became applicable years later.
But it is not only the information itself that enhances wisdom in the future. The more the skill of listening to advice and accepting instruction is honed, the greater will be one’s advance in wisdom. Listening is a skill, and the earlier one develops and practices it, the better equipped he will be in the future to gain the knowledge and wisdom needed.
Learning information is important. You build each year upon the knowledge of earlier years. But knowing how to listen to advice and having the temperament to accept instruction are invaluable for equipping you throughout your life to handle the challenges you will face. The best insurance for the future is wisdom, and the route to wisdom is listening well and accepting instruction.
How well will you listen today? Will you listen to some advice and automatically tune out the advice that is good, but doesn’t come from the source you expect? Will hurt feelings keep you from receiving instruction that will help you and increase your wisdom? Listen and accept.
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.