READ: Proverbs 12:11, 13:4, 21:25
In our culture,
we are bombarded with the relentless message that we need more stuff, better
stuff, newer stuff. Since we also are encouraged to live in the moment, we can
forget that there will be consequences for chasing after things that we don’t
need. Many people have ruined their marriages, their health and their witness
for God by being unwise about what they pursue.
Proverbs has a
stark reminder of what happens when we chase after what the world promotes, “whoever
works his land will have plenty of bread but he who follows worthless pursuits
lacks sense” (12:11). How many times pastors have had to sit with people who
are in complete despair and financial ruin because of their ungodly pursuits!
Let’s exhibit good “sense” as followers of Christ and never allow ourselves to
get to this point.
Proverbs has another
related warning, declaring that, “the desire of the sluggard kills him, for his
hands refuse to labor” (21:25). This refusal to labor can relate to work, but
also in our homes. It’s the “desire” of the sluggard that causes great
problems. Many boys and girls are growing up without emotional bonds with their
fathers and/or mothers due to the desire to chase after many things. They may
be home, but they can be absent because of the desire for video games,
excessive sports, incredible amounts of time on Facebook. These may seem like
trivial matters, but Proverbs is suggesting that we must weigh carefully what
we’re pursuing. We are wise if we take this warning seriously. Any changes we
make now will be worth it in the present AND for eternity.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1.
Ask
God to show you a time where you: i) pursued something which ended up in an
unwise decision AND, ii) when you decided to let go of a pursuit and was
blessed as a result. Ask Him to alert you to things that you may be chasing
which are unwise.
2.
If
you have children, ask God to give you an honest assessment on whether or not
you are emotionally available to them. Then, ask THEM if they feel that you’re
regularly distracted by something. If anything negative is revealed through
this assessment, ask God to give you wisdom on how to make necessary
adjustments.
