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Wisdom As Shelter

June 14th, 2025

Ecclesiastes 7:11-19        

Living in the North most of my life, the primary value of shelter to me was protection from cold weather. A year in Houston gave me a new appreciation for protection from the heat as our air conditioner struggled to keep the house several degrees above where we had the thermostat set.

Wisdom is like that too; it protects in and from a variety of situations. It helps us know how to handle ourselves, finances, conflict, and other things. It is an equal-opportunity protector.

College was the first time I faced conflict with leaders with whom I didn’t have a personal relationship. Their choices caused stress, frustration, and impeded growth in a small group of which I was a part. They weren’t malicious, just oblivious. I was fired up and wanted to fix things.

A wise man told me, “It wasn’t my problem to fix. It affected me, but it wasn’t my problem.” Then he helped me to articulate a letter to work toward a solution.

The point? If you don’t have shelter (wisdom) of your own, see if someone will lend you some of theirs.

Author: Evan T. Offutt Boesiger