Proverbs 29 starts with the most convicting statement:
Whoever remains stiff-necked
after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
OUCH! At first glance
I thought, “I really feel sorry for those people. They are so…stiff-necked!” As I have done through most of Proverbs, I agree
with each verse. Much of the wisdom in Proverbs is self-evident. So why is this book so important?
Life can be a bit like a maze, or maybe one of those
pictures that looks like a collection of random dots and colors but becomes a
vivid picture after you stare at it for a while. We live our daily lives in pursuit of the
“right” path, which means making wise decisions with diligence. We make our decisions based on the information
that we have and how we feel God is directing. Most times we don’t know if it was the “best”
choice until we look in the rear-view mirror.
“I’m glad I made that choice.”
“That was a wise decision.”
OR
“That didn’t go well.”
“I wish I had never gotten out of bed THAT day.”
My oldest son asked me, “What does being ‘called’
mean?” Honestly, it was a discussion
that I had been looking forward to for years.
I told him that it’s usually not an audible voice, but one inside us. And that if we listen to trustworthy friends,
and read what the Bible says, we can put those together and have a good idea of
what God is calling us to do. It seems
very simple.
But this is where I begin to worry…about myself.
Proverbs 29:1 refers to “stiff-necked” people as those who
ignore rebukes repeatedly. I think I’m a
fast learner, but what if God is sending a message and I’m not hearing it? What if I’m not hearing God because my head
is too clouded with other things, and those rebukes are getting lost in the
noise?
God is speaking, but are we listening? I pray that I would not only hear the joy in
my Heavenly Father’s voice but also the rebukes as he shepherds me in the right
direction. I pray that I will never be
so arrogant as to think that “stiff-necked” refers only to “those people.” And I pray that following God’s direction
will become easier as I grow in years and hopefully grow in wisdom. We may never have the map to tell us the
exact choice to make, but listening for God’s voice from the Scripture, wise
advice from others, and the Holy Spirit within us will surely give us a good
start.
How has God spoken to you today?
Family Ministries Pastor
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