Corona Devo 466

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.  ~Proverbs 12:15

Have you ever coached? Whether little league baseball, middle school soccer or even a speech and debate team: It's hard to make progress when you have players (or parents!) who "think their own way is right" (Proverbs 12:15).

Are you a teacher? School, children's ministry or homeschool--it is almost impossible to teach a concept to someone who "thinks that their own way is right" (Proverbs 12:15) and does not accept instruction.

If you are a boss, a parent, a community organizer or the leader of anything, you know what it's like to have a fool block the way of progress.

Those who (only) think their way is right are called "fools" by the Bible.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.  ~Proverbs 12:15

We are foolish to be unteachable, and God is calling some of us out today. He knows our pride, He sees our stubbornness, and it does not benefit us or others.

No one is an expert at all things and there can be such blessing in receiving instruction from others, if we are wise enough to listen. The Bible teaches us many things, like today's Proverb, but God also uses His people and the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15).  

Whether learning how to swing a golf club or how to do long-division, there is humility involved in being teachable, and that's where many people fall off the wise wagon and cling to thinking their own way is right.  Something within us wants to appear flawless and all-knowing, but if we're honest, nothing could be farther from the truth.  

God knows that, and so He gives us instruction, and He also places people in our path to advise.  But which camp are we in today?--Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15).  

I know which camp we were in last week.  While spending some time at our camper, we had a couple campers "tell" us and one camper "tell us off" about our camper being parked unlevel.  Apparently some people had noticed (and wanted to share with us) that we needed to correct that immediately.  Would we listen to others? 

We aren't fools.  We are just new to camping.  And the truth is, we had come to the camper that day to level it because we knew it wasn't quite even.  And so we were wise and we listened to others (Proverbs 12:15).   

But I will say that it is a lot easier to "listen" to those that are kind and merciful in presenting their "wisdom", rather than those that criticize blatantly or demean you for your lack-of-wisdom.  The camper experience helped me remember kindness when we are the ones imparting "wisdom" to someone else.  Nobody's perfect, and whether we are on the side of shepherding or being shepherded--kind instruction goes a lot further and is much easier to receive and submit to than criticism or harsh rules.  (See the ministry of Jesus Christ for example after example.)  

The wisdom of listening to others goes far beyond a campground.  From the conference table to the dining room table, only Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15).

We should listen with discretion, but we should listen.  We all know people that do not listen to others and they are not enjoyable to be at the table-of-life with. 

Self-check--Is this me?  We are foolish to be unteachable, and God is calling some of us out today.

But even if we have been a fool, we do not have to keep the fool-blinders on, and keep thinking (our) own way is right today.

Your Word humbles us, Lord, and it makes us better followers of You and stronger examples of You.  We are tired of playing the fool.  Help us today to be wise and to listen to others (Proverbs 12:15).  And if we have the privilege of shepherding another in some way, let us do so in kindness and love, as You did.  Amen.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.  ~Proverbs 12:15

Which camp are we in today?  Level with God (and yourself) and let's forsake our foolishness and get wise and listen to others.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1156

Image
At work, we provide Trainings for customers, so that they can be updated and educated on all of the latest features (and how to use them) within our product.  Many companies do this--sharing "Best Practices" are a way to ensure positive outcomes on the customer and vendor sides of things. My kids often offer me "life hacks" that they have learned from watching an online video promising to "save time" and "make your life easier".  And just this week, my husband enlightened me about the "tear-away" feature built into most plastic rings holding cans/bottles of pop or Gatorade together.  When separated, the plastic rips open easily, releasing the bottle--saving wildlife that might be caught if it is discarded as trash, and saving me  frustration or angst because I no longer have to pull with all my might to get a bottle out of the plastic rings.  ( Who knew? )  Life hacks do save time and make your life easier! Who couldn't benefit from...
Read more

Corona Devo 1217

Image
The unanswered “why’s” of life, the disorder of our days, and even the unfairness of our struggles can cause us to question ourselves and also to question our God. But the order-of-Creation and the systems that God has set in place are undeniable answers that swing back and forth like God’s pendulum-reminder that He set the world in motion, and He continues to keep order, even when it seems as if we and our world are in dis- order.   Job was a man going through some heavy and hard stuff.   Maybe we are too.   Job’s trials had caused him to question the order of life, and possibly God’s dominion over it.   We can relate.   The “Why’s?” and the “Why Me’s” can stack up in our minds and hearts, but like a parent exercising loving-authority over a child, God reminds Job and us--of His power, omniscience and of His ultimate authority over everything: Creation… and us today .   Then the  Lord  answered Job from the whirlwind: (2) “Who i...
Read more

Corona Devo 991

Running low on " good things " today?  Doesn't it (sometimes) seem like/trend like/read like/tweet like/water-cooler-chat or backyard-fence-visit like/intimidate like/depress like... there are no  good things in the land? . I know. It's no secret that many have abandoned  the Law of the  Lord,  and at times, that's us .   It is evident all around us that people have  followed each other  in this sin.  When we look around...or when we live our days...we can wonder: Are there  any  good things  left in the land? There are still some good things in the land ...and no matter how bleak we feel the "forecast" for today is...there will always  be  some good things in the land, because God is in the land.   T he Bible reminds us of that today.   ~~~ The Israelites (and their king, Rehoboam ) were God's people, but like all of us at times/seasons of our lives...they wandered from Lord and His ways....
Read more