In a recent Reddit thread, users were asked a question by u/puzzle_headed_issue: “Christians say that the Bible is filled with wisdom. What are some specific examples of wisdom that even a non-believer could appreciate, which do not involve supernatural phenomena or events?”

The conversation and insight from these posts are more helpful and beautiful than I was expecting. The space that was created was a place where atheists and Christians were discussing together to find the common ground they see in the Bible.

Knowing how find common ground with those who disagree with us is more important that you may think when it comes to evangelism. In order to show someone love, it’s important that we understand who they are, where they come from, and how to love them. Much of that is knowing what they believe, and why.

This question quickly got hundreds of comments, some very simple and beautiful, others deeper and profound. Some of these were sent in by Christians, but many of them were also sent in by atheists:

For me, the wisdom is in Christ’s teaching and words. Pretty much everything in red writing (my Bible differentiates between Christ’s words and everyone else).

For this sums up the law and the prophets: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Book of Proverbs is packed with them. Some of them are zingers.

Proverbs 26:17:

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

… followed immediately by

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I am only joking!”

Proverbs 27:14

He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be taken as a curse by him.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

As we know pride comes before the fall. Humility will allow to always be a student and not be so prideful that I don’t think I can’t learn something in any scenario.

A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back. Proverbs 29:11

The book of Ecclesiastes is a good example.

King Solomon decided to explore life and see what the true purpose of it all was.

He tried gaining as much knowledge as possible, but he found in the end that both the wise man and the fool both die the same.

He then tried indulging in all the physical pleasures of the world, he had hundreds of wives/concubines etc but he found that that brought no true happiness either.

Then he tried material gain, he literally built an entire nation, gained more wealth than anyone at the time but that did nothing for him either.

In the end he decided that doing God’s will was the only thing really worth doing, everything else was utterly meaningless.

But even if you take away his final conclusion, it’s still true that none of the things he tried will bring true peace or joy if an individual dedicates their life to it.

Let he who is without sin throw the first stone

My favorite wisdom from the Bible is “be ye not unequally yolked” or something like that. Basically make sure your with someone who’s values are your value.

You can read the whole thread for yourself here