What’s Your Opinion?

What’s your opinion? What do you think about that? Does your opinion matter? When the polls are tallied, what do you do with the results? Who do you trust? Perhaps it began to really gain steam with radio talk shows where listeners were encouraged to call in, offering their 2 cents on various topics. TV news/talk shows today are constantly soliciting viewers to respond to issues through carefully crafted questions and it seems people just love the opportunity to have their say  regardless of their expertise, knowledge or credible research on a given subject.

Opinion polls masquerade as conventional wisdom. People are greatly swayed by what they distill as truth or reality from these compilations of random, unvetted opinions.  If enough people think or feel it, it must be so! Who are these people? And, what do they know . . . not just what do they think?  We are flattered to be invited into the world of opinion giving (this is just an opinion, of course), and one easily drifts into a somewhat shallow, narcissistic and arrogant mindset by satisfying cultural curiosity with “off the cuff intellect.” Sometimes it’s hard to resist chiming in, isn’t it? But where do we seek real answers and truth in the things of life that really matter? If people asked you why you think as you do, where would you say your wisdom is anchored?

Christians are called to be wise, thinkers, not mindless followers as we are sometimes portrayed. Webster defines wisdom as understanding what’s true, right and lasting (eternal, not seasonal or culturally relative). The Hebrew implies artful living or skill in life. Christians rightly cite God as their source and reservoir of wisdom. King Solomon, rather than asking God for wealth and power, was commended by God for asking for a discerning heart (wisdom) so that he would govern well.

The book of Proverbs is a wisdom book. Listen to it. It speaks to where wisdom originates. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:7) “The Lord gives wisdom. Out of His mouth comes wisdom and understanding.” (2:6) “How much better to get wisdom than to get gold; understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (16:16)

Be cautious of consensus and counterfeits. God has provided in His word the reliable eternal truths and principles to live skillfully. Think about it.