Introduction

My friends, we are embarking on a new series today. I must admit, the moment I finalized this topic, I felt a pang of regret. The series is titled "Wisdom, Folly, and Arrogance." I quickly realized how immensely difficult this subject is to preach. Looking into the mirror, I do not see a man qualified to speak on such matters. It is a humbling, uncomfortable realization. Yesterday, I paced back and forth, listening to various perspectives, pondering deeply, and I still felt utterly unworthy.

Our first sermon is on this truth: "A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." Who wrote these words? It was King Solomon. It is a fascinating statement. I thought to myself, why did he not just speak plainly and declare that all men are fools? After all, if you take an X-ray of any human being, the heart is physically on the left. By that anatomical standard, we are all fools.

How then can a wise man's heart be on the right? I have never seen a surgeon physically move a man's heart to the right side of his chest. This created a great struggle within me. What did Solomon mean? Eventually, I understood. By nature, all men are born foolish. It is only when we study and internalize the Word of God that we acquire understanding and wisdom. Let me tell you this: wisdom is not innate; it must be acquired. What you are born with is of very little use.

We all remember a story from our primary school textbooks about a child who was born exceptionally clever. Because of his natural brilliance, his father paraded him around, showing him off to everyone. But as the years went by and the boy grew up, he became entirely ordinary. How does a child so brilliant in his youth turn out so mediocre in his adulthood?

It seems strange, does it not? Why did this happen? Because in his early years, his cleverness was nurtured by learning. But once he began to coast on his natural talent, running in circles and refusing to study, he regressed to the level of the common crowd. This is a highly instructive phenomenon.

It reminds me of my school days. There were children who were naturally beautiful, with perfect curls, immensely charming. Teachers adored them, parents pampered them, and everyone doted on them. They were always center stage, performing and dancing. In school, we generally admired two types of people: those who excelled on the sports field, and those who shone on the stage.

They were wonderful, they were impressive. I was nothing like them. As a child, I had no talents to speak of; I was the quiet, unremarkable sort from whom you could not squeeze a word. But as we entered junior high and high school, that childhood charm began to fade.

Think about it. A child of seven or eight running into your arms is endearing. But a teenager of fifteen or sixteen doing the same is merely awkward. Decades have passed since then, and I look back at those who seemed so outstanding in their youth. Many of them achieved very little in life. Why? Because their early charm was not something they worked for; they were simply born with it. Some are born charming; others are born quiet and dull.

But I have observed that what we are born with matters very little. It is what we learn and acquire later in life that truly counts. This brings me to a sober reflection on our modern education system. It is deeply flawed. This is not just my opinion; education experts say the same. Our schools teach vast amounts of knowledge, but they fail to teach character. They do not teach men how to live, how to conduct themselves, or how to relate to others.

Character is not something you possess naturally just because you were a charming baby. After a few years, the dividend of natural charm runs out, and you become no different from anyone else. Character must be learned.

Yesterday, I watched a lecture by a scholar from Peking University who has studied the Guwen Guanzhi (The Anthology of Ancient Chinese Prose) deeply. This anthology spans from the Zuo Zhuan onwards, containing a wealth of wisdom. When I was at university, I bought a copy and kept it by my bed to read. But in those days, I lacked wisdom and did not truly comprehend it.

This brilliant scholar explained it exceptionally well. I highly recommend his lectures. As I listened, I realized it was filled with the practical wisdom of human conduct. How to speak, for instance. Do you know how to speak to others? Or do you speak in a harsh, abrasive manner? If your speech is constantly offensive, how can your life go well? To speak without wisdom is utterly futile.

I realized then that a single lifetime is not enough to learn all that we need. In the Guwen Guanzhi, the historical figures spoke with extraordinary wisdom and tact. Take the very first essay, the story of Duke Zhuang of Zheng, who defeated his younger brother, Gongshu Duan. When properly analyzed, that brief historical account reveals profound depths of human nature and strategy.

Therefore, we must learn how to conduct ourselves. Do not look down on the wisdom of our Chinese ancestors. Their understanding of human relations and governance is profound, accumulated over thousands of years. Do not compare this with the idle gossip of uneducated neighbors who have never studied these things. True culture is entirely different from trivial neighborhood chatter.

My brothers and sisters, character is learned. Competence is also learned. If you rely solely on your natural disposition, you remain in folly. Why? Because your heart is still on the left. It is only when you learn and adapt that your heart moves to the right. Do you see how vital learning is? It saddens me that despite this rich repository of wisdom accumulated over millennia, so few are willing to study it. You must understand that the Mingding Doctrine—the Chinese Mingding Doctrine—is something I established. How was I able to formulate this theology? It is because I drew heavily from the wisdom of ancient Chinese heritage.

Continuous learning is a central pillar of the Mingding Doctrine. Never rely on your own assumptions. Your assumptions will not harm others; they will only destroy you. In my years of ministry, I have been grieved to see how many people are the authors of their own ruin. I include myself in this. Whenever I allow my stubborn, fleshly nature to take over, I bring about my own ruin.

Thank God for His Word, and for the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ. When we look at their lives, we realize when we are off track, and we must quickly repent. Otherwise, we face destruction. Among the cancer patients I have ministered to, almost every single one was destroying themselves through their own attitudes, completely unaware of it. The same is true for those suffering from chronic physical ailments; they are often the cause of their own suffering.

Yet, if you try to correct them, they resent you. It is a deeply frustrating position to be in. It leaves one feeling thoroughly discouraged. But perhaps, through this series on "Wisdom, Folly, and Arrogance," you will be inspired to examine what God's Word says, and to challenge the destructive patterns within your own flesh.

Consider physical ailments. Some people have chronic tension running from their neck down to their hip, or from their hip to their feet. Why? Because they are destroying themselves through stress and bitterness. Others harbor resentment and ruin their health. I have ministered to people with spiritual oppression that manifests as physical tension from their chest to their abdomen.

To change these deep-seated patterns is incredibly difficult. But if a person is willing to change, it becomes possible. As for me, I have stopped trying to force change on others. I have enough work to do in changing myself. If I, in my own folly, try to force others to change, do I not become a fool myself? Therefore, I choose to turn to the right. I have made significant adjustments in my approach recently.

Dealing with the flesh is a personal responsibility. I cannot crucify your flesh for you. My role is to encourage you, to build your faith, and to provide emotional support. In looking back, I realize that my past attempts to force change in people were largely unsuccessful. It was a foolish approach. What must we do when we recognize our folly? We must cry out: "Lord, I desperately need wisdom." When a person stops learning and becomes self-righteous, they are finished. We are all born with our hearts on the left.

Solomon wrote that the wise man's heart is on the right, and the fool's on the left. When I examined myself, I saw that my heart was on the left. My assumptions were wrong. What does the Scripture teach? We are to examine ourselves and put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Holy Spirit. By trying to do this for others, I was overstepping my bounds. I lived in that folly for years before I finally understood.

I have never stopped learning. These years have been demanding and exhausting. Let me give you an example. When I first arrived in Singapore, my English was poor. I had to master the language, then master my professional skills. Once I became proficient in my job and hoped to settle down, I was promoted. That forced me to learn anew, under great pressure. I adapted, excelled, became a team leader, and was promoted again. More pressure, more learning.

Eventually, I found myself without a job, and we began to build the church. Do you think I chose this path because it was easy? I had no desire to enter full-time ministry. But without a job, what else was I to do? So, I had to learn once again, facing immense challenges. I may have appeared composed on the outside, but inside, I was in turmoil.

It has been a journey of constant, rigorous learning. Every Bible study, every sermon, is a process of learning. I have fewer personal assumptions now, and more acquired wisdom.

The Chinese Mingding Doctrine is a theology of continuous learning. We strive to climb higher and apply these truths practically in our daily lives. Becoming wise is a lifelong responsibility. Never stop learning. Challenge your own assumptions and ask if they are leading to your ruin. It is simple to evaluate: would Jesus act the way you do? Would Jesus lose His temper or speak with bitterness? Would Jesus simply give up? No, He would not. Our temper is of the flesh. When we measure ourselves against Christ, we see how wretched and flawed we are. Why then do we cling to our pride? Why do we argue when we are so imperfect? If we cannot match the standard of Jesus, let us look to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Joseph. Any one of them is far ahead of us. Therefore, we must spend our lives learning from these giants of faith.

What have we actually invented? Nothing. We did not discover the laws of motion; we simply learned Newton's work in school. Most of us cannot even comprehend the theory of relativity, let alone invent it. We cannot match the eloquence of the ancient Chinese sages. Have we written anything comparable to the Su Shu (The Book of Plainness), The Art of War, or Dream of the Red Chamber?

Once, I thought of writing a book. I thought I might write something like The Water Margin, only to be reminded that it had already been written. Then I thought of writing The Art of War, but I realized I had nothing of that caliber to offer.

Everything we have is learned from others. Even the Chinese Mingding Doctrine is not my invention; it is simply a theological framework extracted from the Holy Scriptures. I have invented nothing. I am merely a student of truth. If we can truly master what has been handed down to us, we have done well.

Our text today is from Ecclesiastes. I urge you to read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs frequently, and to put their teachings into practice. If you do, you will develop great strength of character. If you find these books too challenging, start with simpler wisdom literature. The fool's heart is on the left, and the wise man's is on the right. This means wisdom must be actively acquired.

Scripture

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. (Ecclesiastes 10:1-3)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our minds today. Help us to recognize our own folly, for by nature our hearts are on the left. Grant us a seeking heart. Help us to put to death the deeds of the flesh and rid ourselves of foolishness. May we pursue a deeper knowledge of You from this day forward. Shape us, refine us, and remove our ignorance. Write Your laws upon our hearts, and incline our hearts to the right. Grant us wisdom and understanding, that we may live for Your glory. We commit our lives to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Background of the Scripture

King Solomon was one of the most remarkable figures in human history. He wrote Ecclesiastes from a position of unparalleled experience. Whether he wrote it after abdicating the throne to his son or during his reign, one thing is certain: Solomon enjoyed every pleasure and achievement this world has to offer.

Yet, after experiencing it all, he declared: "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." He spoke from experience. No one can build a palace grander than his, nor construct a temple more filled with the glory of God. His wisdom was legendary, and his power absolute. We cannot compare ourselves to him.

Look at Solomon. In his old age, he realized his entire life was nothing more than a grand experiment. And what was the conclusion? It is exactly like our situation today. Utterly pointless. You build a palace. On day one, it looks magnificent. Have you not felt this? You buy a house, strip it to its bare bones, renovate it, design it, and move in. You say, "Ah, how beautiful!"

Two or three months later, the novelty wears off. You feel absolutely nothing. It becomes just another object. The satisfaction is fleeting. Is that not true? Years ago, I wanted to buy an RV to travel the world. You do one round, come back, and it rots in the garage. This is a common story. Let me tell you my own experience. When I was young and newly licensed, I thought I was king of the road. I believed owning a car was essential. By the third day, I scraped together whatever cash I had to buy a cheap, used car. I drove to the beach, bought a tent, bought picnic gear—the entire works.

I used it exactly twice. Do you get my point? Only twice. After that, it became a nuisance. Utterly meaningless. I would look down from my apartment window, see it sitting idle in the parking lot day after day, and think, "What was the point?" You must have felt this. Once the novelty fades, the illusion evaporates. It is pointless.

This is why Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity." When you study this, you realize he categorized both wisdom and folly under vanity. It is all meaningless. In the end, the wise man dies just as the fool dies. They live, they die, and the outcome is the same.

Yet, he drew one hard-headed conclusion: the wise man lives a better life than the fool. Vanity of vanities, yes, but the suffering within that vanity is very real. Let us be practical. Life is a struggle; it is a series of hardships. But a man of wisdom suffers far less than a fool. That is an undeniable fact. Therefore, wisdom is of paramount importance.

As long as we have breath in our bodies, wisdom remains crucial. Once you draw your last breath, wisdom is irrelevant. So, while the wise and the foolish share the same grave, how we live before that grave matters. Wisdom makes life tolerable. The foolish live in sheer misery.

This brings us to the core principle: "Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." This is a profound truth. Take a clean white towel. Put a tiny speck of filth on it—just a minute speck, the size of a matchhead.

Unfold that towel, and I guarantee you, everyone's eyes will lock onto that single spot. They will say, "Disgusting! How can we use this?" The entire towel is ruined. Do you understand? You do not need to cover the whole towel in filth to render it useless. A tiny speck is enough to make it stink. That is how folly operates. A single act of foolishness ruins everything. But what do we do when we are full of folly? Solomon addressed this very issue.

He wrote: "A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he shows everyone that he is a fool." Solomon observed countless men in his lifetime. Think of the sheer volume of disputes he arbitrated. He analyzed the data, read the cases, and concluded one thing: fools are in the absolute majority. Solomon had the stature to make such a judgment; I do not. He wrote this out of deep frustration. What was his frustration?

His frustration was that humanity is inherently foolish. If a wise man's heart is on the right, where are these wise men? There are none! His point is clear: if a tiny speck of folly ruins a man, what hope is there for a man who is entirely foolish?

Therefore, he classified all of humanity under folly, with only one remedy: continuous, rigorous learning to acquire wisdom. And make no mistake, true wisdom comes from God. If you master God's word, it is mathematically impossible for you to live a failed life.

Show me one spiritual man in the Scriptures who lived a failed life. Look at Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—they were powerful patriarchs, sovereign rulers of their domains. Joseph was the Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Daniel held supreme executive power under the king. These were highly spiritual men of caliber. David was a magnificent king, as was Solomon.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, do not shortchange yourselves. Some of you say, "Pastor, I feel guilty; I have failed God." Let us be realistic. God does not need your pity. God is not lacking because of you. You are failing yourself. I urge you to study, to shift your heart from the left to the right. Stop shortchanging your own lives.

Why did I have these reflections in the past? Consider this: if a man is successful and happy, does he seek out a pastor? No. The pastoral ministry can be highly draining. Those who seek me out are the unemployed, the sick, those with broken families, or those failing in their careers.

We see PhD candidates who cannot graduate, students who cannot focus, and those who fail their examinations. If a student gets into Tsinghua or Peking University, he does not come to me saying, "Pastor, I want to follow Christ." I have never seen such a case. No one comes to say, "Pastor, I am highly successful today, let us celebrate." Never. After years of hard-headed ministry, I have reached a firm conclusion: people are the authors of their own ruin.

If you can take this single truth to heart and stop destroying your own lives, that would be my greatest satisfaction. That is the stark reality. The depressed, the sick, the broken—they all come. This is why the Mingding Doctrine must focus on how to make men wise. Yet, after all my research, I sometimes feel I have researched myself into folly. It is exhausting. If I speak too harshly, people take offense; if I speak too deeply, they do not comprehend; if I speak too shallowly, it is useless; if I speak too softly, it is ignored.

Let me tell you, Solomon observed the exact same patterns. His ultimate conclusion was that the fool reveals his ignorance as he walks his path. What is this "path"? It is the journey of life, defined by a series of critical choices. When you analyze the choices people make based on sheer emotion and personal preference, almost all of them are acts of folly. It is as if they are parading down the street shouting, "Look at me, I am a fool! See how disastrous my decisions are!" They are blind to their own ignorance, but it is obvious to everyone else. And those around them watch in silence, daring not to speak the truth.

Some people are highly peculiar. They do not mind being foolish, but if you expose their folly, they will despise you. If a high-ranking official has his zipper undone, you keep quiet. You pretend not to see. If you say, "Sir, your zipper is undone," he will hate you. He does not mind the exposure; he minds the humiliation of being corrected. That is human nature.

Solomon then outlines a series of practical lessons. These are the areas of human folly where we must acquire competence. The first is managing your relationship with your superior. If the ruler's anger rises against you, what is your move? If you are a foolish, hot-headed man, you fight him. But he holds the power. You will be crushed. It is a losing proposition. You must learn to navigate this.

Even if your superior is incompetent, you cannot afford to be reckless. You must exercise extreme caution. Do not assume that because you occupy a high office, you are intelligent. Many fools sit in high places. They enjoy a smooth ride, rise to the top, and eventually end up in prison. Is that not utter stupidity? Never mistake high status for wisdom.

Then comes the execution of tasks. If you quarry stones, do not let them crush you. If you dig a pit, do not fall into it. If you split logs, guard against the danger. This is risk management. You must master risk. If you drive recklessly and crash, the airbags deploy, and that is the end of your story.

Consider this, my brothers and sisters. How can you survive if you do not manage risk? You pull out from a side road onto a major highway, your view is blocked by a truck, you rush out blindly, another vehicle broadsides you, and the game is over. If it ends your life, that is one thing; but what if you are left permanently disabled? Risk management is absolutely vital.

Furthermore, you must master the art of communication. If your daily labor is exhausting, you are, without a doubt, a fool. Efficient work should not leave you depleted. You may ask, "Pastor, are you not working yourself to the bone?" Yes, I admit my own folly. Do not press me on this. I work hard, but I am constantly learning so that I may work smarter.

Once I master a subject, delivering it becomes effortless. Frankly, sharing this with you now requires no painful effort. If you are to rule, you must undergo rigorous training. If a leader behaves like an undisciplined child, the nation is doomed. Laziness leads to inevitable ruin. You must also learn the discipline of joy. Solomon lays out these fundamental realities of life in Ecclesiastes Chapter 10. He urges us to master these areas. Let us now dissect this text, piece by piece, to understand it thoroughly.

Learning the Art of Human Relations

To succeed in life, human relations are absolutely critical. The most vital relationship is the one with your superior. If you cannot manage your relationship with your boss, you are in serious trouble.

In my corporate days, I observed a simple truth. Who was "the company" to me? It was my immediate supervisor. My boss's boss was distant, and anyone higher up was completely irrelevant to my daily survival. If my immediate boss made my life miserable, I could not function. Do you not agree?

Therefore, my "company" was my immediate boss, and at most, his superior. My primary strategic task was to manage that relationship. If he was angry, he was still my boss. I had two choices: find another job, or manage the relationship with absolute competence.

I must tell you, I was highly adept at managing my superiors. This is the core of human relations, because your boss holds the power to make your life comfortable or miserable. Why sell your labor only to live in misery? Once I grasped this reality, I made it my policy to maintain excellent relations with my superiors.

In fact, I managed these relationships so effectively that whenever I sought new employment, my immediate bosses wrote my reference letters. That is leverage. When a prospective employer sees a strong recommendation from your direct superior, it carries immense weight. No organization wants to hire a troublemaker.

Scripture says: "If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest." This is superb advice. A fool reacts with emotional defiance. He lacks the training and knowledge, and it ruins him. If you read classical history, the stories of ministers and kings are essentially case studies in political wisdom. Without wisdom, you cannot survive in any hierarchy. Fighting your superior is a recipe for mutual destruction. It is illogical. Learn to be tactful and composed. Whether you are leading or being led, you must manage these dynamics. If you are a subordinate and your superior is foolish, how do you respond? What does the scripture say?

"There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on the ground like slaves." If you encounter this situation and lack competence, you will resort to useless grumbling behind your boss's back: "He is incompetent, he is useless." Is this truly an error of the ruler? No. Solomon wrote this to illustrate a deeper point.

The apparent "error" of the ruler is a mechanism to sift out the wise. If you possess true wisdom, you can manage an excellent relationship even with an incompetent boss. That is the test of competence. If you find yourself in a high position, you must learn rapidly. When I first established the church, I was completely ignorant of pastoral administration. But I studied, adapted, and built it step by step. That is how we survived.

Do not look at these realities and become paralyzed. You must extract the lessons: what works, what fails, and what constitutes correct action. This is the essence of human relations. The Chinese Mingding Doctrine places immense value on this competence. Without it, you will ruin a winning hand. You will never live a successful life, you will never find satisfaction, and you will end up in a miserable mess.

Mastering the Art of Execution

I have categorized Solomon's insights into distinct areas. Let us examine the art of execution; it is highly instructive. Scripture states: "The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city." He lacks even the basic knowledge of how to return home. Furthermore: "If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed."

Learning to Work, Speak, Manage Risk, and Find Joy

I have observed how people work, and frankly, it is deeply concerning. So many people drag their feet. Why? Let me tell you. They do not learn before they act. They do not sharpen their tools before they start the job. They just rush in blindly, working themselves to exhaustion, completely disoriented. They cannot even find the city gate, let alone the door to their own home. The city gate is massive, yet they miss it. What kind of efficiency is that? It is sheer folly. They waste their energy because of sheer ignorance.

My logic has always been clear: "Learning is learning; working is working." When you learn, you test it on a small scale. Do not scale up until you know what you are doing. If you do not know how to build, and you rush to build a hundred-story tower, only for it to collapse at the seventieth floor, what is the point? Have you got that? Some people refuse to learn. They just do, demolish, and redo. It is a colossal waste of time.

If you do not know how to do a job, of course you will be exhausted. Incompetence breeds fatigue. We see this all the time. They do things the hard way, the wrong way, wear themselves out, and then complain about how heavy the workload is. And when someone points out their mistake, they get defensive and hurt. What is the point of all this useless labor? Can we define the scope of the work clearly? How big is the task really? Let us be realistic.

You must work smart. I have said this before: tools are critical. If you want to drill a hole in a wall without the proper tools, what do you do? Use a screwdriver? Or scratch it with your fingers? It is ridiculous. Today, we have tunnel boring machines that can clear a kilometer a day. That is efficiency. If you rely on old picks and shovels, you will be digging until the end of time.

People wear themselves out because they refuse to spend time learning how to work. This is why I insist: separate learning from working, and separate planning from execution. These two principles are absolutely vital. If you plan well, execution is swift and effortless. If you plan poorly, you will constantly miss things. Those who drag their feet lack wisdom. They procrastinate, complicate simple tasks, and ultimately exhaust themselves for nothing.

If this description fits you, do not argue with me. Argue with King Solomon. If you feel targeted, it is because Solomon is indeed addressing you. Take your anger up with him. Learning how to conduct oneself and how to get things done is a lifelong pursuit. If Solomon’s words make you uncomfortable, go read the Chinese classics—Guwen Guanzhi, Zuo Zhuan, Zizhi Tongjian, or the Records of the Grand Historian. There is plenty of wisdom there to correct your foolishness.

Learning to Speak

How you conduct yourself is deeply tied to how you speak. Some people simply do not know how to deliver a good message properly. They speak with sarcasm and unnecessary friction. When a guest arrives, instead of a warm welcome, they sound cynical. "Oh, you're here?" It sounds mocking. Or worse, they imply, "When are you leaving?" Do we have people like this among us? I know we do. They speak with bitterness and constantly offend others.

Look at what Solomon said: "Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness. Fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming—who can tell someone what will happen after them?"

Communication is a critical skill. Can we learn to speak constructively, whether the message is positive or negative? You must learn this. In the old days, if you did not know how to speak to the emperor, you would lose your head in no time.

Therefore, learning how to live, how to work, and how to speak are paramount. It frustrates me deeply to see how "fools multiply words." Some people try to explain something to me, and they go round and round in circles, babbling endlessly. I have to cut through the noise and summarize it for them: "Is this what you mean?" And they say, "Yes, exactly!" Why waste so many words? If you cannot speak clearly, it is because your mind is cluttered.

Make no mistake: if you cannot explain something clearly, you do not understand it yourself. Cluttered speech is the result of a cluttered mind. Write this down. This is not about whether we "agree" or "disagree." Some people typed in the chat, "If talk is disagreeable, even half a word is too much." You have missed the point entirely. I am talking about clarity of thought and expression, not personal compatibility.

A wise person thinks things through before opening his mouth. Over the years, the most frustrating thing in my ministry has been dealing with people who think blindly, speak blindly, and act blindly. They end up in a complete mess—like smelly, fermented shrimp paste. When you act without thinking, failure is guaranteed.

Words have immense power. If you want to be wise, you must master the art of communication. Years ago, when I was in my twenties, my boss told me: "An intelligent person may not always speak well, but a person who speaks well is undoubtedly intelligent." To speak well means your words have substance, and you can articulate complex matters with absolute clarity.

"Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips." If you speak recklessly, you will destroy yourself. You want a good life, but you bring ruin upon yourself. You curse the authorities in your private rooms, or you curse the rich out of envy. In the spiritual realm, these words carry weight. They attract evil spirits, specifically the spirit of poverty. This explains why James, the author of the Epistle of James, was likely poor; he held highly biased views against the wealthy, even taking issue with Abraham's wealth.

The root of the problem is a failure to speak wisely. And let me be clear: do not mistake the gossip of uneducated neighbors for the essence of Chinese culture. True Chinese culture is profound, built on thousands of years of intellectual heritage. Do not judge it by the standards of the unrefined. When properly understood, the art of speech in our heritage is exceptionally sophisticated.

Learning Risk Management

We must learn how to live, how to work, how to speak, and crucially, how to manage risk. Let me read this to you: "Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee."

Risk management is a matter of survival. Some risks are terminal—they put a full stop to your life. When driving, the most dangerous thing is a pedestrian suddenly darting out from a blind spot. If you do not anticipate this risk, your life ends right there.

Risk is everywhere. Dealing with high-voltage electricity or deep water carries inherent dangers. If you mishandle high-voltage lines, it is instant death. You must manage these risks. But fools ignore them. They drive recklessly, ignoring blind spots, and before they know it, they have crossed over from the highway to the graveyard.

Every activity has its hazards. Quarrying stones, splitting logs, electrical work, water sports—all carry risks. If you go swimming or diving without proper safety measures, you are inviting disaster. If you drive through a desolate, uninhabited area without preparation, what happens if you encounter a pack of wolves? You must prepare for every contingency. That is what risk management is about: having a plan for every "what if."

My brothers and sisters, risk is a serious matter. One wrong move can cost you your life, your limbs, or your lifelong peace of mind. Sometimes, people misunderstand me. Once, when a couple was dating, I spoke out of turn—a moment of folly on my part. I advised them to evaluate their relationship carefully. They reacted defensively: "We are in love, why do you object?" I was trying to tell them to build their relationship on a solid foundation, but they twisted it to mean I was against their marriage. I realized then that giving unsolicited advice is a risk.

Recently, a woman was scammed of 120,000 Singapore dollars by a man she was dating. This is the reality. Now, I hesitate to intervene in cases of domestic violence or debt because people refuse to manage their own risks. If a husband is abusive, and I suggest separation, the wife might say, "But he has his good points." Fine, if they choose to endure it, that is their decision. But remember: entering a marriage, starting a relationship, or taking a job all involve risks that must be managed.

Learning to be Happy

Life must have joy. But without wisdom, happiness is impossible. If you constantly make mistakes at work and have to redo everything at your own expense, how can you be happy? Scripture says: "A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything." Why did Solomon write this?

If you host a feast only to end up in an argument and flip the tables, you have missed the entire point. A feast is meant for celebration—what the Cantonese call hoi sam (happy). Whether you can achieve this happiness depends entirely on your wisdom.

The purpose of a feast is joy and laughter, enjoying wine and good company. If you use alcohol only to drown your sorrows, you are doing it wrong. "Money is the answer for everything"—indeed, hosting a feast and buying good wine costs money. A bottle of Maotai is not cheap. The biblical principle is clear: God wants us to enjoy life.

Look at your own life. Are you genuinely happy, or are you constantly anxious and creating unnecessary trouble for yourself? This is the ultimate test of wisdom. Living a joyful life is crucial. Yet, I see so many people who actively seek out misery. It is highly frustrating.

Solomon understood the value of fine dining. His palace must have had master chefs who perfected the culinary arts. He enjoyed the finest beef, mutton, and seafood. Why? For the joy of it. God cares about our well-being and our joy.

To live joyfully, you need wisdom. You can choose to live in misery or in joy; the choice is yours. If you carry a miserable face all day, you ruin it for everyone around you. Parents who constantly nag their children to get married only drive them away because the children look at their parents' unhappy marriage and think, "No, thank you." Whether you have money or not, live well. Even if you are in debt, face it with a positive attitude. What is so difficult about that?

Once, I ministered to a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis. He had tried every hospital, massage, and traditional Chinese medicine to no avail, but he was healed through our ministry. He drove down to see me, so I hosted a dinner to welcome him. I chose a decent, clean restaurant. I suggested we open a bottle of wine. He immediately objected, saying, "Our church elders forbid drinking."

I was astonished. What kind of elders are these? Are they Buddhist monks from Shaolin or Mount Wutai? Jesus himself drank wine. He even turned water into wine. Yet these people claim to follow Jesus by banning alcohol. It is absurd. Of course, we do not condone drunkenness, but when friends gather, wine gladdens the heart. Why not enjoy it?

They completely miss the point. They live under legalistic bondage, looking miserable. I told him, "Forget the wine then, but we must not lose our joy." "Money is the answer for everything"—this is a practical reality. If you want the latest iPhone with AI capabilities, you need money. Some foolish people even sell their kidneys for a phone. That is madness.

My brothers and sisters, rethink your priorities. Happiness is paramount. If you know how to conduct yourself, how to work, how to speak, how to learn, and how to manage risk, but you lack joy, you have failed. I once had a near-death experience, and in those final moments, I realized how vital joy is. Joy does not cost a cent; it is a state of mind. Stop looking for trouble.

Conclusion

Have you acquired wisdom today? Let me summarize: we are born ignorant. Wisdom is acquired through disciplined learning. If you find learning painful, you must change your mindset. Make learning the most rewarding pursuit of your life. Once you do that, you will undoubtedly become a wise person.

Let us approach life with joy. Whatever you do, do it with a glad heart. Fill this fleeting life with God's wisdom and joy. Our God is a God of joy and wisdom. We must put to death the misdeeds of the flesh and refuse to let the anxieties of this world disturb our peace. Let all distractions be cast away.

Amen. May God bless you all!