“Grandma go faster. We’re going to be late,” said the little voice in the back seat. My reply, “We have slow traffic all around us. So, we’re going as fast as we can.” “No, you have to go faster!” The little voice responded emphatically.
I sighed and instructed, “That would be foolish.” “What’s foolish mean?” asked the little voice. My brain searched for an understandable answer. “It’s when I choose to do or say something that puts people in danger and hurts them. If I go faster, I will crash into cars and people might get hurt.” The little voice pondered in silence.
I’m realizing my grey hair, wrinkles and life experience attract questions similar to those asked by the little voice. What’s a wise choice and what’s a foolish choice?
The times I neglect to protect my life and property, as well as the life and property of others, often don’t turn out so well. The wise choice seems to be the more difficult choice to execute because it often involves relational conflict. Wisdom protects and lines up with God’s direction to love him and love people.
Wise choices can stir up uncomfortable emotions. But those wise choices have greater potential for improving life. Seeking God’s wisdom and following his direction give the courage needed to confront foolish thinking and help others have a better life.
A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. Ill-gotten gain has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense. Doing wrong is fun for a fool, while wise conduct is a pleasure to the wise.
(NLT: Proverbs 10: 1 – 3, 21, 23)
I am contending for you that your hearts will be wrapped in the comfort of heaven and woven together into love’s fabric. This will give you access to all the riches of God as you experience the revelation of God’s great mystery—Christ. For our spiritual wealth is in him, like hidden treasure waiting to be discovered—heaven’s wisdom and endless riches of revelation knowledge. (TPT Colossians 2:2-3)