We’re in Proverbs 8 today and I’d like to talk about excuses. Excuses stop us from being wise but first we must understand that wisdom is not just knowing the right thing to do. True wisdom is an obedience to instruction. Proverbs 8:33 says
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Think of how silly it sounds to think of someone that doles out wisdom about finances and sexual integrity and then has $100,000 in credit card debt, sleeps around on his wife, watches porn to pass the time and spends all their money at the mall. It doesn’t add up. In order to be wise, you have to be wise. In other words, it’s not just a head knowledge.
Proverbs 8:12 says
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence
That word prudence has a negative connotation these days. If you’re known as prudent, you’re a bore, a stick in the mud, a fuddy dud. I think, though, once you look at the actual definition, that prudence is quite complimentary.
The verse says wisdom dwells together with prudence. It’s saying if you have wisdom, you will then be able to discipline yourself, you’ll be able to manage your affairs, you’ll be able to properly use your resources. Prudence ought to be a natural outflow of the inflow of wisdom. In other words, you are not wise if you don’t act like it.
But what is in between wisdom and prudence? Excuses! Many times excuses stop us from putting into practice what we know to be wise. Take the last week of posts here for instance, what excuses are you making for carrying these wise instructions out?
Wednesday we talked about honoring God with our possessions and money. Have your excuses started…but I can’t…but we have…
Friday we talked about having joyful sex with your spouse. Have your excuses started..but he won’t…but she won’t…but he didn’t….
Saturday we talked about debt. Have your excuses started…but I need…but she wanted…but I can’t…
Sunday we talked about staying far from porn. Have your excuses started…but it doesn’t…but I’m not…
It’s easy to try to excuse ourselves but the rewards are so good if we would just lay them aside in obedience. Proverbs 8:35 says
For whoever finds me[wisdom] finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
I just can’t imagine a better reward. So what are your excuses? Be wise and excuse yourself from them.
This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series
It is so much easier to make excuses and point our finger at someone else, rather than examine what WE need to do! Thanks for the reminder that I’m not wise unless I ACT out what I’m learning.
Richelle Luchkowec recently posted…Harlem Globetrotters – Discount Tickets
Yes! I’m continually going back to these posts and asking myself what is MY takeaway for this?