The Scarcity and Value of Good Sense
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The benefit of good sense
Do you ever wonder, “What are they doing?” I do. Sometimes it’s while driving when I see someone drive erratically and nearly cause a collision or two. People in government say and do things that raise this question for me too.
It could be a myriad of other things that defy reason, and this brings up the topic of common sense for me. I also wonder why common or good sense is so scarce.
Perhaps the expression common sense seems outdated and irrelevant today. But the need for good sense or common sense is more apparent than ever.
But do we even know what common or good sense is? It used to be typical for parents to tell children to use good sense through various stages of childhood. Perhaps the expression is out of touch with our relativistic culture.
First, let’s consider what the phrase good sense means. In general, it speaks of sound judgment, discernment, or wisdom. Within the context of Proverbs, the basis of good sense and wisdom is God—the One true and living God of Israel.
We can find God’s revealed and recorded wisdom within the Scriptures. During Solomon’s time, this included the first five books of the Old Testament, the history of Israel, and many of the Psalms up to the time of his father, King David.
We are not born with good sense. We gain it. How? Our family of origin is usually an important foundation, but isn’t a requirement.
Although our childhood is a critical part of our moral development, many people from troubled or abusive family environments overcame this to gain good sense. Consider the following verses from Proverbs, as well as other words of wisdom in that book.
Scripture
A person who gains sense loves himself.
One who guards understanding finds something good.
A person with good sense is patient,
and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.
Home and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a sensible wife comes from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:8, 11, 14 GW)
(Context—Proverbs 19:1-14 GW)
Simple insights
These three selected verses give us insight into the benefits of good sense and why it’s valuable. This is, as so often seen in Proverbs, contrasted with the consequences of lacking good sense. I see three areas in daily life where we can benefit from gaining good sense—personally, in all our relationships, and at home.
Personally
When we gain good sense and wisdom, we love ourselves in the best way. Not in the popular self-indulgent or selfish way. The sense of verse 8 from the original language is to love one’s own soul.
Another way of saying it is—the person who gains wisdom is his own best friend. You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “They’re their own worst enemy.” This is the opposite of that.
Relationships with others
An important benefit of wisdom and good sense is to help a person cope with troublesome people and situations. The idea of patience here is to be slow to anger and to overlook an offense, so we’re not easily offended.
Another expression goes, “offense is not taken, it’s given.” Many people would disagree with this saying. But there’s some truth to it. Wisdom and good sense enable us not to be hypersensitive and reactive when others say or do things that are offensive or irritate us.
This is a valuable benefit in our present time! Our current, polarized culture majors on taking offense at almost anything and everything. So good sense can be a lifeline to pull us out of the hypersensitive swirl of reactions around us.
Home
Lasting wealth and security depend more on who rather than what. This verse is the positive contrast to the verse that precedes it (verse 13). A sensible wife is a gift from God. I know this firsthand! Don’t have a spouse? No problem! This could apply to wise parents and children as well (see Prov 1:8-9 and the study guide download below).
Here’s how I see these verses applied in my life—
The Lord gave me the gift of a sensible and wise wife. She helps me see others in a better light than I do at first. I’ve gained from her wisdom and good sense many times.
Being thankful for her and loving her is like loving my own soul. After all, as it says in the Bible, we are “one flesh” (Gen 2:24), and when I love her as myself (Eph 5:28), I’m not so easily offended when she points out my lesser qualities if you get what I mean.
I’m thankful for the many times the Lord blesses me with good sense and sound judgment. I’ve benefited from His gift of wisdom and insight personally while serving Him in ministry to and with other people, and with our family, including my marriage.
Reflection—
How would you apply the insight from these verses in your life? When you gain good sense and wisdom, it’s much easier to live with yourself, others, and those in your family.
Prayer Focus—
Start each day being thankful and ask the Lord for good sense and wisdom. God promises to give us wisdom when we ask Him for it (James 1:5). Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance on how to benefit from it in all your relationships.
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