| David Jay Jordan's All Opinions aren't Equal Plato was right when he said that there were four levels of intelligence. Firstly there are those with no opinions, almost total vacuums, who have never really thought about life and what's happening. Then there are those that have drawn up opinions and even theorized on other matters. The only problem being that they have never gone very far with their opinions and haven't based them on facts but on what their personal interests are, or on their feelings. So many times, someone's opinion is just that ….. as it isn't based on real principles and the real world. And consequently all opinions aren't equal. because no matter what are opinions are, they aren;t going to change truths that are independant of our thoughts about them. For the third level is knowledge as Plato found out. Because in order to have reasonable opinions we have to base our opinions upon knowledge. We have to learn and study life, but knowledge itself is merely details and trivia that have to be formulated by real experiences. Knowledge is more like facts and figures, and isolated id-bits of information. But to get to the fourth and highest level called Wisdom, we have to know how to use the Knowledge we have accumulated. Wisdom tells us when and where and how to apply the knowledge we have gained. It gives us discernment and down-to-earth practical advice for ourselves and others. It isn't pie in the sky, but WISDOM, here and now. Wisdom gives us the ability to make wise decisions, rather than choosing foolishly. It is not dependant on what others do, but on what we personally decide to do. It isn't superficial or short term but long term, weighing the consequences of our actions upon others and ourselves. And where do we get wisdom, well in my opinion and from scriptures, Wisdom comes from the Lord because He is Wisdom, and His Holy Spirit speaks only His Wisdom (John 14)….. if we choose to listen. We might get it when young or old or at any time when we honestly try to find out what's happening in life. And it all starts with a Fear and respect for the Lord. For as it says in Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. So we have to seek to find. Therefore if any miss this first step, it is much harder to get it later, because again wisdom is built on wisdom. Why because as the Prophet Isaiah said."For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (Isa. 28:10). And yet it doesn't have to take ages or much time at all to get wisdom, as the young can be wiser than the old. For "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou (the Lord) ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." (Psalm 8: 2) Why because they have simple faith and don't know it all and ask the Lord for wisdom. They fulfill James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men (and women and children) liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (or them or any). So are all opinions the same and do they all carry the same weight … NO. The more our opinions coincide with the truths of the Lord and the real physical and spiritual world, the more our opinions are to be valued. The more our opinions are the same opinions as the Lord, the more powerful they are, and the more they will help us and others in the future. In My Opinion David Jay Jordan |