Would You Know the Difference
Proverbs 9 tells of two different women: Wisdom and Folly. What jumped out at me today, was that BOTH "seem" to be doing something nice: "inviting people in". However, it is the wording as well as the outcome that are VERY different! Wisdom is going to bring clarity and life. Folly is saying she offers the same thing, but uses words that we all KNOW are triggers to selfishness and wrong. She offers to "steal away" "in secret" enticing with "you'll have the time of your life" which ALL of these ways of doing things lead to destruction and even death.
How do we "know the difference" when faced with two different types of people or situations? Well, first off - if you HAVE to make a decision right then and there, on the spot or "you'll never get this offer again" then RUN!!!!!!!! If it is "secret" or offers something way too good to be true, it usually is 'too good to be true'. Not always, but usually. Secondly, you need to have good godly advisers in your life. People around you that you know are of sound mind and have good judgment. People that will pray about it with you. People that have "lived a little" and can offer you wise counsel based on what they have experienced.
When people offer you solutions or explanations for a decision, and it has words in it like "Oh don't worry about it, it will all work out" or "You deserve it, just do it" or "If you want it, just go ahead, no one will know" on and on, you get the picture, right?!?! When you are given advise like this, you need to RUN, don't walk, away from that circumstance or situation. A wise friend and counsel will do things like look at the pros and cons to a decision or situation. They will draw on their life experiences and lessons learned. They will not jump to a conclusion instantly. Impulsiveness is NOT the answer to solving your life's issues and or troubles.
Learning to 'know the difference' in people like this, takes practice. Yes, we ALL learn some things the hard way, it's how we can be there for someone else in the future. The thing about wisdom: it's all out in the open, you see and know what is there. Folly on the other hand, normally has something hidden. You just never know what is actually "behind the door". Wisdom is respectful and honors purity and life. Open and honest, not afraid of showing everything in the light. Folly is deceiving, alluring, secret, selfish, up to no good, leads you away from truth and those who are in your life that are truthful. Does most things in the dark and late at night. Wisdom = Life. Folly = Death. Plain and simple.
How do we "know the difference" when faced with two different types of people or situations? Well, first off - if you HAVE to make a decision right then and there, on the spot or "you'll never get this offer again" then RUN!!!!!!!! If it is "secret" or offers something way too good to be true, it usually is 'too good to be true'. Not always, but usually. Secondly, you need to have good godly advisers in your life. People around you that you know are of sound mind and have good judgment. People that will pray about it with you. People that have "lived a little" and can offer you wise counsel based on what they have experienced.
When people offer you solutions or explanations for a decision, and it has words in it like "Oh don't worry about it, it will all work out" or "You deserve it, just do it" or "If you want it, just go ahead, no one will know" on and on, you get the picture, right?!?! When you are given advise like this, you need to RUN, don't walk, away from that circumstance or situation. A wise friend and counsel will do things like look at the pros and cons to a decision or situation. They will draw on their life experiences and lessons learned. They will not jump to a conclusion instantly. Impulsiveness is NOT the answer to solving your life's issues and or troubles.
Learning to 'know the difference' in people like this, takes practice. Yes, we ALL learn some things the hard way, it's how we can be there for someone else in the future. The thing about wisdom: it's all out in the open, you see and know what is there. Folly on the other hand, normally has something hidden. You just never know what is actually "behind the door". Wisdom is respectful and honors purity and life. Open and honest, not afraid of showing everything in the light. Folly is deceiving, alluring, secret, selfish, up to no good, leads you away from truth and those who are in your life that are truthful. Does most things in the dark and late at night. Wisdom = Life. Folly = Death. Plain and simple.
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