Once you make up your mind to something stick by it and don’t drive yourself crazy wondering if it’s right. You’ll find you’re right more often than you’re wrong, and a man who ain’t wrong once in a while ought not to be trusted noway.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
–Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
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If the media would just report instead of having an agenda things would go along much more smoothly. What is it that keeps things stirred up. In my devotions yesterday I came across an interesting proverb.
“Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.”
–Proverbs 19:25
In this verse we see three types of people: the mocker/scorner, the simple, and the one who has understanding.
The mind of the mocker is closed and hardened. There is not much that can be done for this person. This is the person who calls good evil and evil good. These are the ones who cannot and will not listen to logic. They are to be flogged! Imagine that–what would happen if we would take all of those scorners, and I’ll not name any, and have them tied to a post and flogged? My mercy…
Now the reason to take swift and harsh action on the mocker is for the simpleton. This punishment is to show the consequences to the simple, and hopefully he might gain knowledge from it. However, one of the problems of the simple is that there are just that–simple. Some will watch and learn and gain knowledge because of the consequences lashed out upon the mocker for his actions. Some will continue in their simple ways, and some of these might eventually become hardened.
The person of understanding does not need much to be corrected. It might be a mild rebuke, or sometimes even a “look” can straighten him out. Repentance will come immediately and he will be quick to mend his ways.
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I have tried my best, since I was around 12 or so, never to say “good luck.” For I believe, and I am quite sure that the Scripture bears this out, that Christians do not base their life on “luck.” This is one of the things that is borne out in the study of the sovereignty of God. God is in control, and guides our lives, there is no luck connected with it. It is God who works out His purposes and He does so in detail.
When making decisions we cannot hope in luck. That is truly contrary to faith. The Christian should do the following when making decisions:
1) Seek to know the Word of God.
2) Trust in the One who wrote it.
3) Rest in His care.
4) Seek godly advice.
5) Make the decision.
Much of our indecision rests in the fact that we do not know the Word of God on a subject, or that we choose to ignore it and go our own way.
(Oh, and just a thought–why do Christians play the lottery? Trusting in luck, or trusting in the Lord?)