You read about it from time to time. Headline stories that sweep across the world. Men and women in high profile positions making mistakes – bad choices – which result in devastating consequences not only for them, but for those around them as well.
It is something we each need to consider when we are faced with temptation to pursue a choice which we know is bad.
As Andy Stanley advises, before you plunge headlong into a rash choice, ask yourself this:
“In light of my past experiences, current circumstances and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do”
Maybe with those words imprinted on our mind, it will prevent an affair, stop a crazy financial transaction, keep us on the straight and narrow.
Solomon, the wise old king of old wrote it a bit more descriptively in Ecclesiastes 10:1
“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.”
From commonschurch.org
Each of us, as time passes, gains a reputation for something. Generally thinking, as we are adults, we want to have a good reputation. Yet each of us holds in our power the ability to ruin not only our reputation but also that of our faith and our family. We really know how to mess up our lives.
In his Bible commentary, Gill writes,
“One single act of sin may injure the character of a wise and honourable man.”
David and his affair with Bathsheba come to mind. He had to live the rest of his life remembering the error of his ways after he got lured into sin. It resulted in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband who behaved in a more honourable way than King David himself. Somehow, along the journey of life, we need to stop and pause and think about what we are about to do and ask ourselves if it is wise and what the consequences will be.
Matthew Henry adds this common sense,
“Those especially who make a profession of religion should keep from all appearances of evil.”
You and me. We are on display in our personal capacity. We need to be careful of how we behave.
Yesterday I had to write a grovelling letter of apology to someone who I had been a bit curt with. I felt the reason was justified, yet I should have kept my mouth shut.
Hopefully, I’ll learn from my mistake.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂