November 2009

What Were You Thinking?

Have you ever been in a situation where you saw or heard about someone doing something that wasn’t real smart? I know, I have asked that question to people over the years. What were you thinking when you did …? You can fill in the blank. I wondered what a kid was thinking when he went to the bathroom on the bus and dumped it out the window of the bus on the interstate. Not so smart, he didn’t see anything wrong. In fact he thought I wouldn’t stop so he could go to the bathroom. What were you thinking! Is probably how I said it. Less question, more statement.
 
I discovered the answer today reading Proverbs 16:2, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”
 
We usually think what we are doing is the best decision, the best idea and that generally we are right. Proverbs tells us we see things that way but that God looks at the motives.  I pray I am always open to good constructive criticism and instruction. That I don’t think that I have life, ministry, work all figured out but rather that I am better with a team. And most of all that I am open to listening to the correction of God.

STINK!

I took out the trash the other day and as I got close to the trash can the smell was brutal. It was as if I had walked into a wall of stink. It couldn’t be seen but it was definitely there. Wham!!! Like a frying pan upside the head! Not that I have ever experienced that, just imagining.  It reminded me of this verse from Proverbs.

 
A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.  Proverbs 15:14.
 
There is no way I would want to eat anything that smelled like my trash. That is what
the writer of proverbs was getting at. A fool eats stuff that stinks. I know it isn’t about eating stuff but it is about what we put into our lives. I need to be vigilant to guard my life from trash. Not only that I have to be intentional about being hungry for knowledge. Some days you just want to relax and goof off but the wise person is hungry for knowledge. I know when I am hungry I have no difficulty in finding food. The same is true for wise people and knowledge. I guess I need to be hungrier. 

What did you say?

 Have you ever listened to a speech, an interview, or had a conversation with someone and they just seemed to be talking and really not saying much? I enjoy listening to sports radio.  I also listen to Dave Ramsey. There are times when I hear people call in and they seem to have called in just to hear themselves on the radio. They make no sense and you wonder what was the point. 

Hopefully those thoughts don’t run through anyone’s mind after I have preached. I also try not to speak real long and now I have a good justification for talking less.
 
Proverbs 10:19 says this, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” (NLT)
 
I don’t know that every time someone talks a lot they are going to sin but I have noticed the more I joke around the more likely I am to hurt someone with my words. Which is sin, isn’t it? Proverbs is telling us that we are wise to keep our mouths shut. One of my favorite verses from proverbs goes alone with it.
 
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28(NLT)
 
I guess that is a reminder to choose words carefully. I’m trying. How about you?