GETTING, USING AND GIVING

Life is about getting and giving; it's about inflow and outflow. What flows in should flow out. That is what keeps the flow. When you get, you must give also. Solomon the great king of ancient Israel sought wisdom and found it. His motive in searching out wisdom was "to know wisdom and instruction"; "to perceive the words of understanding", and "to receive the instructions of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity". He wanted to learn and improve himself. After learning wisdom, he took time and wrote what, today, is called 'The Book of Proverbs'; so that others may learn and succeed with the principles that made him successful; and also take caution to not stumble where he did. He also stated the purpose of writing 'the proverbs'. He wanted to give prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young man; so that he would understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. Having learnt, he wanted to teach others. The goal of knowing is improving self and teaching others. The end of perceiving is showing to others.  The ultimate purpose of receiving is giving to others.  It is through giving, rather than through receiving, that the world is made richer and better. Solomon's book of Proverbs has made the world richer and better. Many people have found help reading that book. People may take notes when they learn; but they write books to teach others. Their notes helped them but their books help others. The libraries of this world are filled with books and journals packaged to help others. After you have built yourself up, do something that will build others up. After you have been increased, do something that will increase others. It's a duty. Solomon said, "a wise man will hear and increase learning; and a man of understanding will attain to wise counsels". If you say or write something of what you have learnt, a wise man will hear it and increase in learning and thereby be able to give more to his world and generation. A man of understanding that has access to the same information will arrive at answers for himself and his generation. The world changes and develops as people increase learning. Increasing learning means going beyond the knowledge level of the previous generation. One thing you learn today can take you beyond where your father stopped. That 'one thing' can come to you through someone else who is willing to share what he had gathered or learned.  Make your world better: share what you have; give what you receive; teach what you learn! You grow by growing others. Life is about getting, using and giving! - Nkem Okemiri