Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Years ago, I was in seventh grade science class. I'm not a huge science fan. I'm in class, there were about 30 of us dissecting some animals, and our teacher was sharing some things that he wanted us to understand. I have to be honest, I wasn't listening. I not only wasn't listening—I had a big wad of Bubblicious gum in my mouth, and I was chewing it and playing around with it, and finally I was blowing it backwards and making those pop sounds.
I was doing that several times. My seventh grade science teacher—we'll call him Mr. M, I don't want to embarrass him—he says, "Rick, I need you to stop chewing your gum. Matter of fact, I need you to not only stop chewing your gum. I need you to take that big wad of gum, and I need you to stick it on your nose for the rest of the class."
For the next 20 minutes—I'm being literal, 20 minutes—I had a wad of Bubblicious gum stuck to my nose because I didn't listen. I will never forget that. I am probably still traumatized by that experience.
Wisdom for Daily Life
It makes me think of a verse in Proverbs chapter 16, verse 20. The Bible says, "Those who listen to instruction will prosper, and those who trust the Lord will be joyful."
Proverbs is a tremendous little book. It gives short, pithy sayings. It's really like a toolbox, a treasure chest of short statements that provide wisdom for daily life. As you think about your family, as you think about your workplace, as you think about maybe your personal life, how wise are you? How wise am I?
Truth #1: Listen to Instruction
Somebody once said, "Wisdom is to be skilled in the art of godly living." Proverbs chapter 16, verse 20 gives us really two beautiful truths that help us live wisely.
He says, number one, right there: listen to instruction. "Those who listen to instruction will prosper." I don't know about you, but I've never regretted listening more and talking less. I actually think listening—the discipline of listening—is one of those skills that I will personally struggle with my whole life. Why? Because I'm verbal, I like to talk, and I like to say things, and I often speak before I listen.
You know, James chapter 1 says in verse 5 of chapter 1 where to ask for wisdom. Further down in James chapter 1, verses 19 and 20, it says, "But everyone, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."
I've taken that verse and I put "STS" on pieces of paper up at the top when I'm in a meeting that reminds me, "slow to speak." I've even put "QTL" at the top of a piece of paper when I'm in a meeting: "be quick to listen."
Truth #2: Trust in God
As you look at this first truth, he says listen. Secondly, he says, "Those who trust the Lord will be joyful." Trust in God. I love that verse in Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 where he says, "Trust in the Lord" and "lean not"—and in the original language it's a strong "don't"—"lean on your own understanding." What's that? Your fears, your worries, your feelings.
It's very, very tempting for you, very tempting for me to lean on what we see, to lean on our feelings, to lean on circumstances. He says, "Don't lean on that." Then He says, "In all your ways"—and all the ways that you go in your life—"know Me, know God, and He shall direct your paths."
Did you notice in the verse, what happens when we listen and when we trust God? He says we'll be joyful. The reason we don't trust—and this is going to sting a little bit, and I have to be honest, I'm talking to myself again—the reason we don't listen, the reason we sometimes don't trust God, is because we want control.
We want control. It's hard to listen to others sometimes. It's hard to trust God sometimes because we're leaning, we're trusting in someone other than ourself. I encourage you to trust God, to listen to Him. Then He says you'll be joyful.
The Joy of Trusting God
Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 10: "The joy of the Lord is your strength." I love Psalm chapter 37, verse 4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I love Psalm chapter 16, verse 11 where it says, "In Your right hand are pleasures forevermore"—treasures in heaven one day for you and me.
Let's be those people who are wise because we listen. We're quick to listen, and we're joyful because we truly do trust God.
