Verse: Proverbs 19:20-21 (ESV)
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Devotion
As parents, how often do we find ourselves saying something like this to our kids? “I’m only trying to help you.” “You’ll thank me for this one day.” “I know things that you don’t know.” “Why won’t you just trust me?!” It’s frustrating, isn’t it, having knowledge someone else doesn’t have access to, but having them willfully ignore your advice? Imagine how God must feel with us. He has ALL the knowledge, ALL the wisdom, yet we constantly want to do things our way, don’t we? But like a loving parent, he doesn’t lose his patience with us. He just continues to advise and instruct.
We are exhorted here to receive advice and instruction that we “may gain wisdom in the future”. We’re not even promised the wisdom immediately, are we? Don’t you wish it were easier to delay our gratification? One of the most commonly referenced verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11, which begins, “For I know the plans I have for you…” You know what the rest of the verse doesn’t do? Spell out those plans, at least, not as specifically as we’d like.
We don’t have the ability (or the responsibility, thank God) of planning the entire future for our children. But if we did, I think we’d see what God sees – “I can’t tell you all the wonderful things I have planned for you, because you wouldn’t be able to comprehend them. And you’d get caught up in the how and why, instead of enjoying the what.” Instead, we’d ask them to trust us, to take our advice. And we’d remind them that as they grow in wisdom, they would see the plans beginning to unfold. And that one day, even if it wasn’t until right at the end of their lives, it would all make sense.
God has a purpose for your life (Christian said so on Sunday). Maybe he has begun to reveal it to you. Or maybe he’s waiting for you to grow in wisdom, so you’ll be better able to understand it when he does begin to reveal it. Either way, continue to listen to advice and accept instruction, because wisdom will eventually help our plans to fall in line with his.
Prayer
God, thank you that you have a plan for my life, and that you didn’t place that responsibility on me. Help me to be better at listening to advice and accepting instruction, so that I can see your plan revealed. Amen.
Author: Dave MacDonald
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