Do What is Right Before You Know Why

You probably recognize this line of reasoning from when you were a child.  “Why should I learn the alphabet?  It’s too hard.  I never needed it in my entire life and I do just fine without it.”  The logic carries on as the child grows older: “I don’t plan to be a historian, so why should I learn history?” and “I don’t plan to be an English teacher or write books, so why should I learn English?”  In every case, it’s followed up with, “I never needed it before, so why should I learn it now?”

Fortunately, younger children have parents who can force them to learn to read, and by that the child is benefited beyond his wildest imagination.  After learning to read, the child can read comic books for his entertainment.  He can later read a driver’s manual to get his driver’s license.  He can get a job.  He can buy a house.  He can do scientific research and cure cancer.  He can build a rocket ship to send people to the moon.  He can solve the world greatest scientific mysteries, if he can only read.

Whole new worlds are open to the people who learn basic human skills.  The benefits to themselves and to others are beyond calculation.  But before they have those skills, they do not, they cannot, understand the necessity and benefit of those skills.

Wisdom is doing what is right for you to do even before you know what benefits you will reap from it.

How do you do that? You start by listening to and believing your parents. Believe your adult, mature friends. Don't be rebellious against those who are guiding you for your own benefit.

And the statement, "But you don't know my parents," is engaging in rebellion. I don't know your parents and you don't know mine. Start your journey to wisdom by listening to and believing your parents and adult mature friends.