Read
24You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
26“So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28You will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.
29No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the Lord.
30You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
31“Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.
32Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.
33But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster.”
Reflect
My father used to tell me, “You reap what you sow.” I didn’t know he was telling me a biblical principle. I thought maybe it was an African proverb or something he made up. He would explain that when a farmer plants corn, he doesn’t grow a crop of strawberries—he grows corn. He told me that when I sowed stupidity or a lack of common sense, I would grow a harvest of calamity. It made sense to him, but it didn’t make any sense to me.
We’ve all been there. We’ve heard of parents telling their children, “don’t touch that hot stove,” only to hear the child scream with pain. Parents who say, “Don’t let go of the handlebars,” only to pick up the child and clean the scrapes and wounds. When you’re young, you feel invincible. You think, “What could possibly go wrong? Why are my parents being so overprotective? Why can’t I have the freedom to do as I choose?”
Humans often feel that God is overprotective and over demanding. That he delights in fencing us in and restricting our movements so that we won’t enjoy life too much. In reality, God loves us more than we could ever imagine, and he always has our best interest at heart. The Ten Commandments, for example, are there to protect us and provide a framework for us to enjoy an enhanced life. Oh, that we might be mature enough to listen to God and avoid the disasters of poor choices.
Respond
Father God, I repent of all the times I have ignored your advice. I know that your wisdom far exceeds mine and that I would be so much better off if I learned to follow your advice. Thank you for caring enough about my well-being to instruct me. Amen.
Barry Slauenwhite
Dr. Barry Slauenwhite is Canadian Regional Director for Best Christian Workplaces Instiute. He is also President Emeritus of Compassion Canada where he has served since 1983. Barry's advocacy for the poor has taken him to 61 countries. From his experience as a pastor and a ministry leader, he passionately works to promote holistic child development through the local church as being the most effective kingdom-building strategy available to the Christian world. Barry's latest book, Strategic Compassion, addresses the theological implications of poverty and draws a conclusion that the gospel is the most effective tool the church has to eradicate poverty.