My choice would be wisdom.

I have known times in my life when both were of great benefit to me. Courage to be able to take a stand or venture into the unknown. Wisdom to know how and when to take that stand; to know when to be courageous or when to take flight to survive and be courageous another day.

Courage without wisdom is simply “daring-do”, physical courage, bravado; every teenager has it; and yet that sometimes is enough. However, wisdom without courage can never be, for with wisdom comes courage: moral courage and physical courage.

Think of the shepherd boy David and his courage to stand up to the giant Goliath when none of the mightiest men in the Israelite army would do so, not even King Saul. You say he had great courage; granted, he did. However, I say he had greater wisdom in that he knew in whom to trust for his help. He knew just the right weapon to use and how to use it with knowledge and skill, and faith. He knew that the armor and weapons offered to him by King Saul could only hinder rather than help him. Courage alone could have gotten him killed. David’s wisdom and faith saved the day and the nation.

The Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament has a lot to say about wisdom; and no wonder, since it was largely written by Solomon who prayed for wisdom rather than riches. In all of the Bible (KJV) “wisdom” and “wise” are mentioned more than 480 times, combined. “Courage”, on the other hand is mentioned only 25 times. I wonder why?

Let’s look at another historical figure: Heroine of France, Joan of Arc. Was she simply extremely courageous? No! Though she was only a simple, uneducated farm girl from a small village, she had something that even the Generals of France’s armies did not have: superior natural intelligence or, “wisdom”, and faith in God. When France had finally used her up and wished to be rid of her, she was accused of witchcraft and put on trial. She had out generaled the generals and would out lawyer the lawyers. She served as her own council at court in the trials against her and avoided the verbal and legal traps set for her by her persecutors and prosecutors. She was an extremely courageous and wise young girl. In the end, though, her wisdom and courage could not save her from a king who was neither wise nor courageous, and the politics of the day.

Down through history, and on up to this day, we find that the most courageous people have been the wisest people. Mind you, I did not say the most educated or learned or intellectual people, I said “wisest”. There is often a gap large enough to drive a hummer through between intellect and wisdom. (Don’t fall into it!)

In a contest between wisdom and courage, I believe that wisdom will always win.