Today’s scripture: Proverbs 16:17-24 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Lynnette Pullen):
There is an old (possibly Chinese) proverb that says: If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish he’ll eat for a lifetime. I feel like that is how God works sometimes. For example, if I ask God for peace, I am given chaos so that I may learn to find peace in the midst of a storm. That way, peace is not mine for a just a moment in time, but is a part of my very being that I can carry with me. So of course this week was no exception!
I was reading through my assigned passage and having a little trouble figuring out what to write. These particular selections instruct on wisdom and discernment a lot. I’ve often prayed for wisdom in life in general, but this week I prayed to understand what wisdom really means. I looked up definitions and asked people what they thought and it was all very interesting and thought-provoking. Jeff even gave a great sermon on the use of wisdom to balance grace and justice. However, I still couldn’t come up with anything to say about “wisdom.” So, true to form, then came the multitude of situations over the course of this week that called for use of good solid wisdom. I mean it was one dilemma after another. Many people gave me advice on how to handle things, but in the end I was the one that had to make a call.
Did I always make wise decisions? Nope. I definitely botched a few things. But I learned some things I’d like to share:
- Be willing to be wrong. I learn best when I make an error and correct it.
- Seek wise counsel. People who love you or have strong opinions are biased at times. Be willing to talk to someone with a different and sometimes uncomfortable perspective to gain a better understanding.
- It’s ok to say “I don’t know.” I once heard: A wise man knows that he knows nothing.
Prayer for the day: God, help us to use wisdom in each situation we encounter. Even small decisions can affect us and others in ways we might not imagine. Help us to use our wisdom for your glory and for the benefit of others. Please watch over us and keep us safe. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.