Will You Destroy Yourself or Listen?

You’ve got two choices: Destroy yourself or listen to Wisdom.

^”For the simple are killed by their turning away,
And the complacency of fools destroys them;
But whoever listens to me will dwell secure
And will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Prov 1:32-33, ESV)

The road forks before you.  Either you’ll turn at Wisdom’s reproof (Prov 1:23), or you’ll turn away from Wisdom (Prov 1:31).  The simple lean toward that second turn.  In other words, to do nothing is to make the wrong turn.  Just do nothing, and you’ll ruin everything.  Keep doing what you’re doing, and you may get exactly what you want.  But you’ll be like a suicidally depressed adolescent who bottles everything up when help is available.  If you’re complacent about your walk with Christ, you will severely harm yourself (Prov 1:32).

But if you listen to wisdom’s rebuke, consider what awaits you.  Whoever listens to wisdom (Prov 1:33) will “dwell secure,” “be at ease”, and be “without dread of disaster.”  It doesn’t mean that you get whatever you want, but that you will always get what you most need.

One woman struggled with her husband’s failure to lead.  He would delay decisions and hold his own opinions too highly.  When she registered concern, he would ignore her perspective and stop listening to her.  This young wife would resort to nagging and manipulation to get her way.

This woman was advised to stop doing what she was doing and consider an alternate path.  She could support her husband’s decisions even when she disagreed, as long as they didn’t involve sinning.  She could pray that God would change her husband, and then she could trust that God was at work despite how she felt.

It should come as no surprise that, when this woman chose the path of wisdom, her anxiety levels decreased, and she began asking her husband how she could better help him.  As a result, he felt more respected and started listening to her opinions more.  This couple found greater security and ease, and less fear, in their marriage.  Their problems didn’t disappear, but dealing with their problems became increasingly simpler for them.

Tomorrow we’ll see how to listen to Wisdom.