A WORD TO THE WISE

After David crowned his son Solomon as king, and before the LORD lowered the curtain on his life, he offered young Solomon a quick course on spiritual virtues and ethics. David knew from experience that bad analysis, biased counseling, and self-serving ideas were all too plentiful from people who want be noticed and gain influence. His advice to Solomon is just a relevant now as it was back then. Perhaps this inspired Solomon to ask God for more wisdom when he became king. He wanted to learn how to use God’s wisdom in assessing life’s situations. Before a person makes a choice they must be aware of all the options available to them. God may have given man a free will to decide, but He also gave him clear guidelines to follow.

“The person who doesn’t allow evil-minded people to influence their thinking; permit immoral people to dictate their lifestyle; or grant conceited people sway over their attitude, can count their blessings. Instead, delight in living by the Teachings outlined in the Word of the LORD Eternal, and recites those guidelines constantly. They are deeply rooted like a tree growing next to a river; always producing good fruit without growing tired and weary; and successful in all their endeavors. But people who don’t think this way are a different story; they are like the husk on an ear of corn that you throw away. That’s why these evil-minded people and immoral sinners will never be judged by the same standards or allowed to represent those who live right. The fact is, the LORD Eternal has placed His stamp of approval on those who live right, but the evil-minded are destined for complete ruin.” Psalm 1:1-6

Reflection: There was an old fisherman who kept getting lost every time he went out to sea. So his concerned friends bought him a compass so they wouldn’t have to worry so much. However, the next time he went out to fish he took the compass along, but he got lost again. After his friends finally found and rescued him they asked why he didn’t use the compass. “I tried,” he replied with frustration, “but I couldn’t get the needle to aim in the direction I wanted to go.” The old sailor felt so certain he knew which direction was east he tried to force his personal will on the compass. When it didn’t respond the way he wanted it to, he threw it away as worthless and lost any benefit its guidance offered. In the same way our spiritual choices become important because first we need to know in what direction we are headed and compare it to the way God wants us to go. Remember, any frustration or disappointments we experience in trying to follow God’s guidelines cannot be compared to the grief and sorrow awaiting those who get rid of God’s compass and go their own way.