Wisdom

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

(Proverbs 19:20)

Meditation

No one is born with the letters Ph.D. or MD or MBA after their name, so they have to receive training. From birth, we have to be taught how to do everything. We have to learn how to feed ourselves, how to talk and walk. We have to understand what behaviors are acceptable and experience the penalties for those that are not. During this time, it is our parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles that we are supposed to listen to. Of course, as youngsters, we aren’t always the best listeners. We don’t like to be scolded or corrected, but we have no problem sharing our thoughts about everyone else.

I went through those painful years of growing up. All of that training in the practical things I needed to live in this society, was meant to teach me wisdom. For instance, it’s not wise for a child to begin school who was not taught the consequences of poor choices. Unless he learns, his school career will not be a happy one. The same can be said when we enter the workforce. The price to be paid for constantly failing to show up for work is termination from the job. A wise person is at work every day he’s supposed to be.

It’s a wise person who tries to understand their existence and purpose. As adults, we are responsible to know the truth of the cross. We cannot go by our opinions or the opinions of friends who know nothing either. I spent most of my adult life thinking I knew everything I needed to know about the Bible and rejecting its truth. I foolishly confirmed my opinions with my friends who didn’t know any more than I did. It was literally the blind leading the blind. There is no excuse for believing a preacher who teaches false doctrine from the pulpit. A wise person will check the scriptures to find out what’s true.

After I was saved, I was like a babe all over again. I could read and understand some of the scriptures but others I needed help with. The concept of the Trinity was especially hard for me. I had to listen to the instruction of a mentor to grasp that truth. There have been many other scriptures and other teachers in the last twenty-something years. There have been times when I needed to be corrected when I had it wrong. I have become wise enough to accept both. I cannot begin to claim I have all the wisdom of God and I never will have, but I’m trying.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, we adore you and seek to follow your lead every day. Father, we ask you to put people into our lives that will help us grow in our relationship with you. Help us to be ready to take a needed correction from a more mature believer. When a brother or sister in Christ loves us enough to point out a weakness or a sin committed unaware, we should be gracious enough to accept. Never let us react with anger or bitterness to an act of love from another believer. Help us to be able to discern when someone is honestly trying to help us, and to disregard the advice of people who don’t care about us. We’ve been so blessed with everything you’ve given us. One way we can show our gratitude is to kindly accept the instruction from someone you’ve put in our path. You desire is for all of us to be with you in heaven. Our place for eternity is secure because of Jesus, who is the firstfruits of the promised resurrection. It’s in his precious name, we pray. Amen!