We now have another high school graduate in the house! Our younger daughter had her graduation ceremony on Friday night and it went well. She had to give a speech, which she finished writing on Friday afternoon. Putting it off until the last minute would have made me a nervous wreck, but she did a great job 🙂
I wasn’t real emotional at graduation, but I was totally exhausted and unmotivated on Saturday. Maybe that’s somehow related?? We still have her graduation party this Saturday, and then we head out on vacation next week. We’re all very much looking forward to that!!
In our Sunday School class during the month of June, we’re studying the book of Proverbs. As I was going through chapter one last week, verse 31 caught my attention. The writer is talking about what happens to the simple, the scorners, and the fools who refuse wisdom.
“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.“
The thought hit me that one of the worst things that can happen to us is for God to allow us to have our own way. Yet, so often, isn’t that exactly what we want? We don’t have the time or the inclination to slow down and see if what we want to do is truly wise. We fail to seek God’s leading about a particular decision because we’re already convinced we know what is best.
And then things don’t go the way we planned. People or circumstances change and what started out looking great turns out to be a trainwreck. Often natural consequences end up teaching us a very hard lesson.
In some of the surrounding verses in Proverbs 1, we see three potential dangers of having our own way.
Disaster
“I also will laugh at your calamity…” (verse 26a)
Suffering and distress are often at the end of that path we choose to walk without God. We refuse wisdom and misfortune finds us.
Fear
“I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation…” (verses 26-27)
When we’ve stepped outside of God’s leading, we don’t have the confidence that comes from trusting God and following His Word. That leaves us to figure things out on our own, and it’s easy to be afraid.
Not hearing from God
“Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:” (verse 28)
It’s hard to think about God not answering us when we call on Him. But if we’re not in fellowship with Him, if we’ve gone our own way, we can’t expect to hear from Him.
On the other hand, let’s look at three blessings we can have as we fear the Lord (verse 7) and seek after wisdom.
A spirit of wisdom
“…behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” (verse 23)
Don’t we all want a spirit of wisdom? God gives it freely as we fear Him and seek after it.
Security
“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely…” (verse 33)
If we know we’re in God’s will, we can feel safe and secure. We have every right to rest in God’s promises and trust Him.
Peace
“But whoso hearkeneth unto me…shall be quiet from fear of evil.“
There are still distractions, suffering, and tragedy if we’re following after wisdom. Choosing to fear the Lord doesn’t exempt us from life’s troubles. But God gives us peace in the midst of them. As we follow Him, we know we’re not alone.
You and I, we get to choose. Are we going to fear God and seek wisdom or are we going to go our own way? I hope that God will work in our hearts so that we won’t be classified as the simple or the fool! May we choose God’s way and submit to His leading so that we’re not left to our own devices.
Related posts:
- 10 Traits of a Wise Woman
- 8 Ways to Know if We Have Godly Wisdom
- 5 Powerful Promises from God’s Word for You
Those three responses from God when someone goes his own way are scary! I want to want to go His way!
Yes, I want to want the same 🙂 It’s a blessing when we can look back and see how He’s led when we’ve surrendered to Him. And so thankful that He can even redeem those times when we didn’t!!
Happy Graduation Party Day today and happy vacay this coming week! Well deserved!!!
I’m always surprised when I’m *not* as emotional as I thought I’d be – I think emotional exhaustion is absolutely a factor.
Boy, do I know about not manipulating to get *my* way over God’s way!!! So many times over the last 2+ years, I’ve wanted God to “just make x, y, or z happen!!!” …But every time He doesn’t & I don’t get my way, as much as it hurts in the moment, I know it’s for His best for me.
Thank you!! The graduation party this afternoon was very nice, and I feel like the door is closed on high school life now. That sounds really sad (!) and it is, in a way. But it’s also like a new door is now open to the next stage of life and new adventures!
You’re perspective gives me so much positive hope!!!