Craig Clouston

Getting Rightly-Related

May 17

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Job 15:8

Kenny’s mindset was rigid, and didn’t leave room for unsolicited-input. He believed he was supposed to do things on his own so that he could show himself capable. He felt accepting advice from others meant he was weak. Consequently, every time Kenny ran into an obstacle he bulled his way through it. He asserted that God expected him to work things out on his own.

Today found Kenny refusing to listen to his wife’s opinion on when they needed to plant what in the garden! Cassie asserted that it was too soon to plant tomato and pepper plants; “I’m telling you, Kenny, we’re going to have one more frost. We’d better wait another week to plant them. It won’t hurt to leave them in the greenhouse another week.”

Kenny immediately took offense, “I know what I’m doing! It’s the middle of May. The last frost is a memory!” and he proceeded to plant the tomato and pepper plants.

Cassie quickly hid her subsequent smile, knowing something he didn’t, and thinking; you’ll find out Big Boy!

Two evenings later, Kenny caught the weather report his wife had seen the day of planting: freeze warnings for the area. The temperature was going to drop into the 20s that night!

He rushed to cover forty-two plants with newspaper, chastising himself for not listening, knowing he was going to have to eat his words when Cassie came home from work that night.

†

When we refuse to consider well-intended input we limit ourselves and may encounter a less than desirable outcome of events. Cassie had seen the weather report the morning they planted the garden. But in her frustration at being openly dismissed, refused to tell Kenny why she was so positive the last frost hadn’t taken place. Kenny’s pride cost him unnecessary work.

Withholding pertinent information is as wrong as not considering someone else’s input.

Only by rightly-relating to God, and others, can we hope to develop to the point spiritually where we can entertain outside influence with wisdom. God expects us to treat others with respect, and regard their thoughts as valid.

Prayer

“Teach me to not pridefully limit myself, LORD. Help me kill that part of me which refuses to consider anyone’s input but my own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”