"But wisdom is justified by her children." What does it mean?

I've been sharing my faith journey on this blog for over 11 years now.  One of the challenges for me is finding new things to write.  As a Type A personality I have very little patience for repeating others repeat themselves.  That extends to the things I write as well.  I've read the Bible so many times in my life that sometimes it seems that everything I am reading I have already commented on.

 

But today this phrase caught my attention.  "But wisdom is justified by her children". 

Has a cool sound to it doesn't it?  Almost sounds like some of the platitudes thrown around when I was a teenager in the 70's.  Had a cool sound to it as you scanned over it but if you thought about it you were left thinking what the heck does that mean?  Know what I mean?  :)

 

Here is the passage so you can get the whole context.

 

Matthew 11:18-19(NKJV)

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

 

In the context of what is going on here, this is the life lesson that I take from it.

 

In all aspects of society we have to make decisions about things.  Some things we know about and can make those decisions with not much problem.  No big deal. 

Other times we have to listen to others who say or can demonstrate that they know more about an issue than we do.  It may be relationship issues, religious issues, medical issues, political issues, whatever.  Doesn't matter.  The point is we have to get input from others to form an opinion of our own.
 

So who do we listen to?  How do we determine who's opinions or views of the "facts" are worthy of our consideration? 

 

First and foremost pray about it.  Ask God to lead you.  Does that mean that God is going to put a halo around the head of the person(s) you should listen to and put horns on everyone else?  LOL!  Nope!

What God will do is lead you to a way to make that determination.  This is one of the reasons it is important to be in the Word continuously.  By being in the Word God can direct you to parts of His word that may help you.  Words like this phrase.

 

"Wisdom is justified by her children"

 

Here is what this phrase says to me.  Before you listen to someone, take a look at how correct they have been on previous occasions with their pronouncements.  Think of their previous pronouncements as their children.  If they are more often wrong then correct (bad children vs good children so to speak), why the heck would you continue to listen to them?

 

If you have read my blog long enough you know that I try to look for confirmation of my interpretations in both the OT and the NT.  In this case I think I have an easy confirmation.

Isn't "Wisdom is justified by her children" pretty much the same thing as when Jesus said " you shall know them by their fruits"?  I sure think it is.

I hope you all have a great weekend!