The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (78 page)

October 23

To Answer or Not to Answer

     
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

          
or you will be like him yourself.

     
Answer a fool according to his folly,

          
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Okay. So which is it? Should we or shouldn’t we get involved in discussions with foolish people? Well, the answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no.

First, don’t answer a fool in such a manner that you get pulled into their whirlwind of rudeness or anger. Maybe you have a brother-in-law or a neighbor who has a chip on their shoulder. They thrive on riling people up and bringing them down to their level. First time, shame on them, but second time, shame on us. We need to learn that there are times to be the duck. This means we need to know when to let things just roll off our backs and not engage in their foolishness.

But then there are times when we should answer. For example, your teenager might say something very foolish, like, “Mooomm, why can’t I do such and such? Everyone else is doing it.” Or “Why do I need a curfew? You can trust me.” They do not realize how all the pressures of being young can become dangerous. Just one bad decision at the wrong time can change their entire life. So, moms, listen to them and talk it out. Give them wise, logical, and truthful answers. Stay engaged, and be wise enough to pick your battles. Don’t major on minors, so you can major on majors.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

As we study the Proverbs we learn that wisdom is not a set of pat answers that fit into a rigid framework. Wisdom involves principles that set boundaries like the guardrails on a very tall bridge. Life is similar to the fast flow of traffic crossing the bridge. The guardrails are not to hinder our freedom; they are to keep us from falling over the edge. As we grow to respect and apply the truths of God’s Word, our internal sense of right and good and noble becomes stronger and stronger.

Let’s Pray

Thank you, Lord, that you have not left us to navigate this crazy life on our own. Thank you that your wisdom guides and protects and changes us from the inside out.

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 42:1–44:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-21; Psalm 92:1–93:5; Proverbs 26:3-5

October 24

Poison

     
Trusting a fool to convey a message

          
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

So, moms, let’s apply this to the messages—foolish and dangerous messages—that are broadcast to our children. Our proverb says that trusting a fool to convey a message is foolish. It is like drinking poison. We know we can’t control everything our children see and hear, but we can control what they see and hear when they’re with us. When you are watching a TV show and the people on the screen are making wrong choices regarding morality or integrity or the way they dress, the way they talk, or what they talk about, that is a message. If it is wrong and we leave it on and are entertained by it, we are endorsing it. Let me say that again. It’s an endorsement from us. Those foolish people are delivering a message to those you love by saying, “All that wrong behavior is not only okay, but it’s even glamorous and appealing.” That’s a wrong message.

Also, we as parents need to be involved and aware of the things taught at school. When my daughter was in junior high, I asked to see some of the things that were to be taught in the sex education curriculum. It was appalling and undermined all that we taught at home. I chose to take her out of class for those lessons so that a foolish, immoral curriculum did not deliver a foolish, immoral lesson. That would have been like letting my daughter drink poison.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Let’s now apply this proverb to ourselves. There is a strong possibility that you have or are relying on foolish sources of information to form your concept of who you are. Do you feel your life doesn’t matter? Do you look at others and think God loves them more than you? If you’ve made bad lifestyle choices in the past, do you think you will always be a second-class Christian? These are lies. They are poison. Will you let God himself have the last word? He says, “I have loved you . . . with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jeremiah 31:3).

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 44:24–47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22–3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 26:6-8

October 25

Be Teachable

     
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

          
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

To be wise in your own eyes is to be arrogant, unteachable, unapproachable, prideful. To break us of these tendencies, let’s look at a life well lived: Stephen, in the book of Acts. Did you know that 75 percent of the Bible is stories? God teaches us principles and lessons, then he illustrates them through the lives of people.

The book of Acts is the account of the early church. Just like today, problems occurred. Widows in the church were neglected. Who would take care of them? “So the Twelve called a meeting. . . . They said, ‘We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected . . . full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.’ . . . Everyone liked this idea, and they chose . . . Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit)” (Acts 6:2-5).

What makes this story so appealing? Indeed, at this critical time in church history the key leaders needed to be faithful to their calling. Their decision to choose spiritual men for the lowly job of serving tables defined true kingdom ministry from then on. J. Oswald Sanders noted, “All workers must be Spirit-led and filled. Selection of kingdom leaders must not be influenced by worldly wisdom, wealth, or social status. The prime consideration is spirituality.”

Stephen was a young man who was not too arrogant or too important to minister to little old ladies. In fact, he probably learned a thing or two about trust and the faithfulness of God from a few of them.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Oh, to be teachable and flexible! I want to be growing and learning to my dying day, don’t you? I’m learning Spanish. When I make mistakes, people correct me. It’s humbling, but it helps me learn. Actually people love to be helpful, and it’s good to be on the receiving end. Let me challenge you. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Is there a book in the Bible you’ve wanted to study, but haven’t? Would you like to learn to share your faith or learn sign language? Be teachable. There’s no time like the present.

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 48:1–49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalm 95:1–96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12

October 26

Lions and Laziness

     
The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!

          
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

     
As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,

          
so the lazy person turns over in bed.

     
Lazy people take food in their hand

          
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

Laziness
. It’s defined as “slow-moving, sluggish, idleness.” Procrastination is certainly a part of this. To procrastinate is to delay, to put off till another day or time. I have to tell you I hate it when I do that. Not that we are to be workaholics and consumed with busyness, but we are to be good stewards of the time and opportunities that the Lord has given to us.

God does care about how you spend your time, because not only has he numbered your days, but if you are a child of God, your life is not your own. First Corinthians 4:2 tells us, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (
NKJV
).

So what is
faithfu
l
?
Faithful
means “full of faith.” We need to have faith that God put us here on earth for a purpose. We can look at each day, each morning, excited. I look forward to getting out of bed and starting the day with God, reading his Word, connecting with him.

I keep a notepad by my journal. Often in my quiet time, I think of tasks that need to be accomplished. Instead of distracting me, I write them down, knowing that the Lord is ordering my steps. This helps me prioritize, gives me a plan, and a plan gets me going.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

“There’s a lion on the road.” Did you know that fear can paralyze us and keep us from getting started? Fear of failure convinces us it’s no use to go back to school—it’s too late, we can’t learn, we won’t finish. Fear convinces us that we can’t change; why even try something new? Is there a good desire that you keep pushing aside? It might be God stirring you, encouraging you to step out.

Let’s Pray

Lord, I don’t want to miss opportunities and blessings because of laziness and fear. Give me courage. Give me hope. And give me a firm nudge to move forward.

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 49:23–50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalms 97:1–98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16