Discernment and Wisdom

The Virtue of Discernment & Wisdom - HE Metropolitan Youssef

What is Wisdom and Discernment
Wisdom in the Scripture
Heavenly Wisdom vs Earthly Wisdom
How can we acquire Heavenly Wisdom?
  1. Prayer: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5)
    • King Solomon, when he became king after his father, King David, felt the weight of his responsibility. And the Lord spoke to him and told him to ask for whatever he wants and King Solomon asked for wisdom. And he was the wisest man to ever live.
    • In the Bishop Canon: "You were granted... the wisdom of Solomon"
    • If this wisdom comes from above, let us ask for this wisdom from above

  2. The Scripture: "I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts." (Proverbs 119:99-100)

  3. Counsel:
    • Any president in any country has many counselors; Many people retire and work as advisors
    • Ask, and learn wisdom! Especially from the elders, from the clergy, from your Sunday School servants
    • When you ask and learn with the spirit of a disciple, you will build up your wisdom
    • St Athanasius described St Anthony as a bee - a bee flies from one flower to another flower to collect the nectar. St Anthony used to go from one father to another father to learn from them.

  4. Learn from the Mistakes of Others:
    • You need to learn from your own mistakes, but don't wait to repeat the mistakes of others to learn!
    • You know from statistics, life experience, research, etc. how drugs have destroyed many youth. So learn from this! Don't go into drugs or smoking or gambling or alcohol... learn from the mistakes of others!
    • If someone told you that fire burns, you don't need to put your hand in the fire to know that it burns.
Wisdom is Needed for Making Decisions and Choices
  1. Some decisions are well known to be very very bad
    • Drugs and sexual immorality
    • I know it is bad, I will stay away from it. This decision is easy.

  2. Some decisions are well known to be very very good
    • Fasting, Helping the poor, Visiting the sick, Attending Youth Meeting, Going to Church
    • I know it is good, this decision is easy to make

  3. Some decisions are more difficult - I don't know if this will help me or hurt me
    • e.g. you are accepted to a college in a state that does not have a church. Every situation is different, and it requires discernment to figure out what is the best decision for you.
    • Pray about wisdom from God to help me to discern
    • Ask myself which one is better for my Spiritual Life? Which one is edifying?
      • Is it edifying or wise to live in a place where the closest church is 4 hours away?
      • Is it suitable for me and my family?
    • Go and get the opinion of others
      • Get counsel from wise, godly people. Don't get opinion or advice from people who are not wise, or from people who are ungodly.
    • Use your mind
      • Make a table, write the choices and the pros and cons. In writing. And this table should not be filled in one session - my thoughts are in one direction now, but tomorrow may be in the opposite direction. I need to fill out this table over a period of 7-10 days. When I remember a point, I write it down.
      • So at the end, when I look at the table, it will be clear (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit) which decision I should make
    • Don't make quick decisions. Quick decisions can be a hinderance to wisdom.
      • St Macarius one time had the idea to enter into the inner desert to find the anchorites. From outside, this decision looks good... but, he writes, "I examined this thought for three years to know whether it is from God or not from God."
      • Someone upsets you and you immediately say "okay I quit, this friendship is over... I'm not gonna talk to him anymore." - you did not use your mind, you followed your emotions. And since your emotions are negative, your decision was bad.
Wisdom's Benefits
Wisdom vs Intelligence