September 26, 2024 8:00 pm
Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island in England connected to the mainland by a narrow road. Twice a day, the sea covers the causeway. Signs alert visitors to the dangers of crossing during high tide. Yet, tourists regularly disregard the warnings and often end up sitting atop submerged cars or swimming to raised safety huts where they can be rescued. The tide is predictable, as sure as the rising sun. And warnings are everywhere; you can’t possibly miss them. Yet, as one writer described, Lindisfarne is “where the reckless try to outrace the tide.”
Proverbs tells us that it’s foolish to be “reckless and careless” (14:16 esv). A reckless person has little regard for wisdom or wise counsel and doesn’t practice attentiveness or diligent care for others (vv. 7–8). Wisdom, however, slows us down to listen and ponder so that we’re not carried away by rash emotions or half-baked ideas (v. 6). Wisdom teaches us to ask good questions and consider the implications of our actions. While a reckless person charges forward with little regard for relationships or consequences—or often truth—a “prudent [person] gives thought to his steps” (v. 15).
While we’ll sometimes need to act decisively or swiftly, we can resist recklessness. As we receive and practice God’s wisdom, He’ll give us the guidance we need when we need it.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
I'm Wynn Collier, and I wrote today's piece titled Reckless and Careless. Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island in England connected to the mainland by a narrow road. Twice a day, the sea covers the causeway. Signs alert visitors to the dangers of crossing during high tide. Yet tourists regularly disregard the warnings and often end up sitting atop submerged cars or swimming to raised safety huts where they can be rescued. The tide is predictable, as sure as the rising sun, and warnings are everywhere.
You can't possibly miss them. Yet, as one writer described, Lindisfarne is where the reckless try to outrace the tide. Proverbs tells us that it's foolish to be reckless and careless. A reckless person has little regard for wisdom or wise counsel and doesn't practice attentiveness or diligent care for others. Wisdom, however, slows us down to listen and ponder so that we're not carried away by rash emotions or half-baked ideas. Wisdom teaches us to ask good questions and consider the implications of our actions. While reckless people charge forward with little regard for relationships or consequences or often truth, prudent people give thought to their steps. While we'll sometimes need to act decisively or swiftly, we can resist recklessness. As we receive and practice God's wisdom, he'll give us the guidance we need, when we need it.
Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs 14 verses 7 to 16. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but good will is found among the upright. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hot-headed and yet feels secure. Let's pray.
Dear God, we live in a reckless world. Please help us to be wise and live well. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-09-26 20:17:39 / 2024-09-26 20:19:15 / 2
