Just Listen and Obey

Proverbs 19:20-23; 27

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.  Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”

It sure would be a different world in all regards if those instructions were taught to a child from birth.  Just listen, I know you are 16 – 25, and you do not believe my generation can get out of the rain.  But we also were once 16 – 25 and most of us have set up precepts that have guided us in this life, one that I value seems to have little value, and that is work.  What a blessing, to have been taught how to work by my dad and mother, from about the age of five.  At the age of 12 Bert Theme, the manager of our H.E.B. food store allowed me to bag groceries for a penny a minute or 60 cents an hour.  You know what I got from Mr. Theme, I learned how to meet people, remember their names and children’s names, not as good as Bert, but it was a start.  I also learned the pride of doing a days work for a days pay, to do as I was told and to be on time to work.  In hindsight, what I learned has served me well and was of great value, I should have been paying Mr. Theme for the many lessons that have helped me in my life.

Wisdom does not come with age; we know that from watching the U.S. Senate in the Kavanaugh hearing for our next Supreme Court Judge. 
But it does begin with the fear of the Lord, and God desires you to ask Him for more wisdom so you will be wise in how you treat both God and others.

I must tell you God has a plan for your life, but so does the evil one, and the evil one often seems more inviting.  I recall saying both to God and man that I would never live in Houston, Texas.  But, God’s plan was Houston, Texas and my family and I spent 23 great years in that area.  I was blessed to grow in my faith in Houston, I was blessed to grow in my sales career with the 3M Electric Markets, and I was blessed to establish a friendship of great value.  It was not my plans, but it was God’s to allow Jan, Nat and I to see the hand of God in our life.  Yes, I’ve lived a blessed life, but as I’ve often said, I’m a composite of the many men and ladies God has put in my path to give me good counsel.

But we have not addressed verse 27, and we must, for it is where many in High School and College go astray.  “Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”  If one looks into the Scriptures you will often see this counsel from Jesus, “Watch out” and it is a wise person who does.  Watch Out for the crowds that scream loud but are very ignorant of what they are saying.  A young person or an older one would be wise to listen more and talk less.  To hear instruction one must ponder on what is said, and what the worldview is of the person saying it.  Is it a conviction or just the cool thing at the moment, you know the latest brainless thought that is coming out of some Hollywood simpletons small brain?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice