Proverbs 1:33
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster
One of the biggest frustrations we have with our children sometimes is that they don’t listen to us. We give them sound advice, sometimes based on our own experiences, and they end up doing exactly what we told them not to do. As a result, they end up enduring some tough consequences, making life more difficult on themselves than it had to be.
The problem is that “not listening” to sound advice is not just a problem with children, but also with adults. Overall its just a sin problem…we want to do what we want, when we want, the way we want, with whomever we want. We choose pride, selfishness, deception, laziness and ignorance over sound advice. Then we hope the consequences of our bad decision don’t show up.
But God has provided an “easy button” for us. The “me” in verse 33 is Wisdom. God promises that if we ask Him, He will give us Wisdom generously. All we have to do is ask, listen, trust and follow through. (James 1:5 – 8)
What’s keeping you from hitting the “easy button” of life? Are you ignoring some sound advice? Are you “hell bent” on doing things your way? Or have you just neglected to ask God about a situation? God doesn’t promise that we’ll never encounter any problems in life, but we can make our path a lot smoother by just hitting the “easy button” and listen.
It shouldn’t take a dog to remind you of what Proverbs instructed 3000 years ago…exercise self control…have a cool spirit.