WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO?
Today I find myself asking the same rhetorical question very frequently, “What is the right thing to do in this situation?”
My frequent prayer is, “Lord, I need wisdom more today more than ever.”
It has been said the one of the wisest men to have ever lived was Solomon. We can find his writings in the book of Proverbs located in the Bible.
It was his desire to pass on his wisdom to the generations to come. It seems from his writings that he was very concerned about the plight of young people and the decisions that they must make while growing up.
Growing up in Solomon’s day was nothing compared to the decisions confronting our young people living early in the 21st century, although his temptations were very similar.
One of the catch phrases that our young people must deal with constantly is, “Let’s do it, it’s the right thing to do.”
So, how does one know what is right?
Solomon gives us some good advice in the 10th chapter and verse 13 in his book of Proverbs. He says, “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,”
Then again in Chapter 14, verse 33 he tells us that, “Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning.”
Here, he is equating wisdom with discernment. Most people would define discernment as knowing the difference between right and wrong.
There are two different kinds of wisdom, however. As you progress through the education system, you gain more and more wisdom. But that kind of wisdom is worldly wisdom, it will hopefully get you a good job and keep it, but the wisdom that Solomon is talking about is not that kind of wisdom. Here, is instructing us about Spiritual wisdom. This is the kind of wisdom that we all need, for it keeps us on the path of life that is the smoothest, the good life if you will. It keeps us out of the pitfalls of life and ultimately out of the pit for eternity.
I like what a wise old theologian once said. Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not telling the difference between right and wrong, but between what is right and almost right.”
Wow, that’s what I need today. I can easily tell the difference between black and white, but telling the difference between white and almost white is a challenge.
Sorting out the shades of truth is a difficult job, but does it have to be so formidable?
The mortality rate for a young person swimming through the shark infested waters of today’s culture as they grow up is very high, but there is hope.
There is hope for all of us and especially the young person looking for help.
At Christmas time we read the Old Testament prophecies in the book of Isaiah describing the coming Savior. One of His titles is “The Prince of Peace.”
A Christian is one who has asked the Prince of Peace to come and reside in his heart, save him, and then follow His leading.
If we have done that, then we have that help that we so desperately need available to help for those tough decisions.
The Prince of Peace resides in our hearts to give us a quiet check when something is even one shade off of white, as well a giving us real PEACE when something is pure white, but we must listen to that still small voice.
Someone once said that we experience real peace when nothing is missing and nothing is broken.
Isn’t that what we want to feel in our hearts as we sort out the options while making a decision that we will have to live with?
A wise lady once said, “The decisions that we make today are the building blocks of the quality of our life tomorrow.”
If we, as Christians, listen to the Prince of Peace residing in our hearts, nothing will be missing and nothing will be broken after we make that important decision.
Who wants to stand on a shaky foundation that results from a decision that turns out to be almost right?
Now, when I quoted that verse in Proverbs chapter 10, I only gave you the 1st half of the verse. Let me give you the whole verse, “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, BUT a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.”
WHOA- don’t we know all too well the results of using poor judgment?
Today I find myself asking the same rhetorical question very frequently, “What is the right thing to do in this situation?”
My frequent prayer is, “Lord, I need wisdom more today more than ever.”
It has been said the one of the wisest men to have ever lived was Solomon. We can find his writings in the book of Proverbs located in the Bible.
It was his desire to pass on his wisdom to the generations to come. It seems from his writings that he was very concerned about the plight of young people and the decisions that they must make while growing up.
Growing up in Solomon’s day was nothing compared to the decisions confronting our young people living early in the 21st century, although his temptations were very similar.
One of the catch phrases that our young people must deal with constantly is, “Let’s do it, it’s the right thing to do.”
So, how does one know what is right?
Solomon gives us some good advice in the 10th chapter and verse 13 in his book of Proverbs. He says, “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,”
Then again in Chapter 14, verse 33 he tells us that, “Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning.”
Here, he is equating wisdom with discernment. Most people would define discernment as knowing the difference between right and wrong.
There are two different kinds of wisdom, however. As you progress through the education system, you gain more and more wisdom. But that kind of wisdom is worldly wisdom, it will hopefully get you a good job and keep it, but the wisdom that Solomon is talking about is not that kind of wisdom. Here, is instructing us about Spiritual wisdom. This is the kind of wisdom that we all need, for it keeps us on the path of life that is the smoothest, the good life if you will. It keeps us out of the pitfalls of life and ultimately out of the pit for eternity.
I like what a wise old theologian once said. Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not telling the difference between right and wrong, but between what is right and almost right.”
Wow, that’s what I need today. I can easily tell the difference between black and white, but telling the difference between white and almost white is a challenge.
Sorting out the shades of truth is a difficult job, but does it have to be so formidable?
The mortality rate for a young person swimming through the shark infested waters of today’s culture as they grow up is very high, but there is hope.
There is hope for all of us and especially the young person looking for help.
At Christmas time we read the Old Testament prophecies in the book of Isaiah describing the coming Savior. One of His titles is “The Prince of Peace.”
A Christian is one who has asked the Prince of Peace to come and reside in his heart, save him, and then follow His leading.
If we have done that, then we have that help that we so desperately need available to help for those tough decisions.
The Prince of Peace resides in our hearts to give us a quiet check when something is even one shade off of white, as well a giving us real PEACE when something is pure white, but we must listen to that still small voice.
Someone once said that we experience real peace when nothing is missing and nothing is broken.
Isn’t that what we want to feel in our hearts as we sort out the options while making a decision that we will have to live with?
A wise lady once said, “The decisions that we make today are the building blocks of the quality of our life tomorrow.”
If we, as Christians, listen to the Prince of Peace residing in our hearts, nothing will be missing and nothing will be broken after we make that important decision.
Who wants to stand on a shaky foundation that results from a decision that turns out to be almost right?
Now, when I quoted that verse in Proverbs chapter 10, I only gave you the 1st half of the verse. Let me give you the whole verse, “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, BUT a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.”
WHOA- don’t we know all too well the results of using poor judgment?
posted by Jim Burton at 12:38 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home