Embracing Our Ignorance
October 25
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 19:20
It had been a week since George’s near-fatal heart attack when Jean announced, “It’s really nice outside Honey. I think I’ll go mow.”
“Awww, that’s really nice of you.” George replied, genuinely appreciative of his wife’s offer. He was also keenly aware that she’d never driven the riding mower. So, deciding to offer some advice, he began, “Let me give you some advice about the mower…”
“I can handle it,” Jean insisted.
“But you need to…”
“But nothing!” she quipped, effectively cutting him off. “Don’t worry about me. If I can’t handle a simple task like mowing the lawn there’s something terribly wrong,” she declared, and headed for the garage. A few minutes later Jean appeared riding the mower, wearing a triumphant smile. Shaking his head, George watched her go.
Two laps into her ‘simple task’, she noticed their next-door neighbor watching her from the edge of the yard. Let him watch she thought. He’s probably amazed that I know what I’m doing! But as she drew closer, the look on his face caused Jean an inexplicable doubt.
As she approached the spot where he was standing, he calmly waved to her to stop.
Jean pulled up, and shut the mower off.
“I don’t want to overstep my bounds or burst your bubble,” he began, “but the mower works better if you put the mower deck down, and engage the blades.”
†
Jean’s actions illustrate how our hearts can be in the right place and we can still be wide of the mark. Good intentions are not enough to ensure success.
God, through Solomon, urges us to listen when wisdom speaks. Our general response to His instruction is that we don’t readily admit to ignorance; it grates on our pride to admit we are not omniscient.
Regardless of the reason for our refusal to admit we don't know it all, the consequences of rejecting wise advice or instruction can, at the very least, leave us embarrassed and facing unnecessary challenges. At worst, our arrogance will find us paying a high price for our attitude of pride.
God leaves us this choice: Listen and learn, or suffer the consequences.
Prayer
“Lord, I want a heart that doesn’t shun advice and instruction. Help me listen with the intent to learn and become wiser. Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment