Wisdom: discern what is being asked before committing to do it

It is not uncommon for someone to ask a close friend/relation to do for them whatever they ask. It often goes like this: person A asks person B, “Will you do something for me?” and person B replies, “Sure, what is it?” Unwisely, person B has already committed to respond affirmatively even before knowing what is going to be asked.

An example of this unwise commitment is Mk 6.14-29 where King Herod who committed himself to give his granddaughter whatever she asked, before learning what she was going to request. When she asked for John the Baptist to be executed, though he didn’t want to do it, he was committed.

An example of acting wisely in such situations is Jesus’ response to James and John’s request in Mk 10.35-36. They asked Jesus to do for them whatever they asked, without first specifying what they were going to ask. Instead of agreeing, Jesus replied, “What do you want?” Before committing Jesus wisely learned what their request was.