When you open up your favorite video game, you usually start out with a pretty basic character. You haven’t leveled up. Your character is vulnerable and highly at risk of being eaten by a grue. But in time, that changes, you find the best loot, you improve your skills and if you’re really lucky, you pick up something that adds a permanent buff that you’ll carry with you throughout the game.
If you aren’t a video gamer, you may be lost with some of the jargon, but a buff is a something that gives you an advantage like +3 strength, starting your turn with a free wild card or the ability to freeze time in the midst of the fight. These things can swing the game in your direction and give you edge to clear the level and move on to victory.
Today people like to talk about privilege and power dynamics in real life, not just in video games. Very few people want to say they are privileged, but it is a common complaint that a group with a certain characteristic is privileged over your group. It might be gender, skin color, or socioeconomic status, but the temptation is to look at another group and say they have a +5 or greater advantage in life.
It would be foolish to completely dismiss the idea of privilege and say it doesn’t exist, but I’ve found that viewing the world from this perspective can actually act as it’s own penalty. The idea that the world is out to get you or set against you or that everyone else starts out too far ahead to catch is one that can set you up with your own -3 penalty in your pursuit of your own hopes and dreams. Personally, I wouldn’t want my children to get locked into this perspective, even if it could be applied to them.
I’ve lived for 26 years outside of the United States and living in countries where you aren’t a native speaker is like living with a permanent -5 communication and culture penalty. Actually, it starts out much more severe and it takes a lot of work to overcome it. It would have been easy for us to assume it was impossible. One of the most encouraging things is seeing others who have managed succeed despite these challenges.
In my experience, the greatest buff or privilege that is rarely talked about is wisdom and wise decision making. As a counselor, I’ve heard many of my clients who regretted the penalty brought by their own decisions, whether it be from addictions, youthful rebellion or a momentary lapse in judgement. A foolish decision can set a person back far more than any characteristic they are born with or into.
Many times people think of wisdom as the valuable insight learned from lived experience, and that is true, as that is one source of wisdom. For the subject of this article, I would say that while we do want to learn from our own mistakes and experiences, it can be much more valuable to learn from other sources of wisdom, especially God’s Word. The Bible is filled with practical wisdom that finds it’s way into every corner of society.
The Book of Proverbs is one statement after another that talks frankly about wise and foolish decision-making. Just using this book as an example, look at some of the ways wisdom can benefit you in the following areas of life:
| Area | Wise Statement (Buff) | Foolish Statement (Penalty) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationships | A wise man quietly holds back anger (restraint builds peace). | A fool gives full vent to his spirit (rage destroys bonds). | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. Proverbs 29:11 |
| Relationships | Do not waste your time on fools (protects from contempt). | Fools will despise the wisdom of your words (scorns advice, isolates). | Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. Proverbs 23:9 |
| Money | Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person (builds lasting security). | A fool devours them (squanders resources). | The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. Proverbs 21:20 |
| Money | Wealth is a crown for the wise (honors stewardship). | The effort of fools yields only foolishness (leads to poverty). | Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness. Proverbs 14:24 |
| Decision-Making | Every prudent man acts with knowledge (deliberate, effective choices). | A fool displays his folly (exposes poor judgment). | Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. Proverbs 13:16 |
| Decision-Making | A wise man listens to counsel (gains direction). | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes (self-deceives into disaster). | Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15 |
When it comes to succeeding at the game of life and leveling up, wisdom is the most valuable buff and the greatest privilege. The great thing is it is available to all people, regardless of economic status or upbringing. Passing along wisdom is ultimately more helpful than wealth. There are many children from wealthy families who end up with a life in shambles, even though they may have seemed to have every advantage. If you want to turn around your life or lay the foundation for a bright future, I’ll close with one more piece of advice:
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
-Proverbs 4:7 (NLT)
Seeing God 