Relying On God

Relying On God

A fool is hotheaded and reckless. A quick-tempered man does foolish things.
Prov 14:16-17

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8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,

but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,

but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,

and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and joy may end in grief.
14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,

and the good man rewarded for his.
15 A simple man believes anything,

but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,

but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17 A quick-tempered man does foolish things,

and a crafty man is hated.

Proverbs 14:8-17

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Yesterday I was invited to speak to a group of adults following a Valentine’s
luncheon. As I waited for things to begin, I recognized Cathy. Cathy had been
diagnosed years ago as being ‘mentally retarded.’We obviously no longer use that
term, but it was once important to not only proclaim the diagnosis, but also to
ensure that the person came to understand that this was his or her condition.

Cathy had always been a rather reserved young lady, and as soon as she was able,
she did all she could to distance herself from any person or group that represented
the “mental retardation” label. Before long, she learned to handle simple cooking
on her own and she received as little help as she could to support herself in her own
apartment. Cathy’s days were filled with little jobs and volunteering.

God’s Word uses the word ‘fool’ 69 times in the book of Proverbs and 23 times in
Solomon’s next book, Ecclesiastes; however, it is never equated with a low
Intelligence Quotient. According to what we read, highly intelligent
people can be desperate fools.

Character is related closely to choices we make. It rests on our willingness to
assume responsibility for what we take in through the senses, how we invest the
resources we have been given and the extent to which we rely on God when
responses to negative circumstances invade our personal space. Solomon, with his
God-given wisdom, speaks of fools as being those who choose to waste their
time and strength. He notes that fools live for the moment while wise
people consider tomorrow.

Cathy, in the years since I first met her, has grown into a lovely and appreciated
member of her church family. Her answers are plain as she chooses her words and
sorts out her thoughts. She can be depended on, arrives punctually and fulfills her
obligations. Cathy volunteers to teach others how to cook simple meals so
that they too can gain greater independence.

Proverbs has 31 chapters and each chapter addresses the practical things of life,
sorting out such issues as relationships, providing for one’s self today AND
tomorrow, avoiding temptation and embracing what is good and pure. It might be
wise to read a chapter of Proverbs in your personal time each day. While reading it,
keep an eye out for the ‘fools’ and the ‘wise’ ones, just to see how the exercise of
your responsibility in life’s choices measures up with true wisdom.

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Heavenly Father, You speak of fools in the Bible. Help me to identify the
foolishness in my life and may I grow in wisdom. Amen.

- Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.