Proverbs 14:8-9 

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. ⁹Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

In Loved

         Someone asked, “How do you know when you are in loved with someone else?” “How do you know if it is really, and it is not just simply infatuation?”

The song “Perslab” by Hotdog singers may describe someone who could be in loved, “’Di na makatulog, ‘di pa makakain, Sa kaiisip sa’yo, taghiyawat dumadami.” Cannot sleep, cannot eat, and thinking of you, pimples increase.

Have you ever experienced sleepless nights, you did not feel hungry, and your pimples increased also because you were thinking of someone you loved? Have you experienced those memorable moments when someone you loved supposedly preoccupied your mind and thoughts? It could be dangerous to be trapped by emotion if the other person takes advantage of your vulnerability.

Most often, we were warned in 2 Corinthians 6:14, ¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

         The context of this passage is about idolatry, but is it also applicable to being in loved with someone who does not believe God? The primary purpose of yoke is to unify oxen in accomplishing the work before them. So, to have mutual relationship with people who do not believe in God could be detrimental and not helpful to spiritual life but we cannot totally discount as outside the will of God.

         Biblically, the love story of Samson and Delilah was not short of dramatic episodes but God allowed Samson to be in loved with Delilah just to punish the Philistines, and Samson suffered the consequences. And to illustrate practically the unfaithfulness of the Israelites toward the Lord God Almighty, he ordained the unpleasant love story of Prophet Hosea and the promiscuous woman Gomer.

         And if you want to play safe and avoid the humiliation that Hosea endured and the painful sacrifices of Samson, then it is advisable to pray and carefully discern who the Lord has prepared for you as your partner in marriage for life.

1.  Discern

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

         Wisdom comes from God. And we pray to God for wisdom and discern the right and proper decision. Wisdom does not happen overnight after praying. God prescribes practical steps we should take to build wisdom in us. The discerning skill of which step should be taken, will progress together with wisdom.

A prudent person does not randomly make decision at the spur of moment. And wisdom is practically manifested in careful and mindful decision making.

When we pray for wisdom, the Lord allows challenges in life for us to practice faith in him as we employ the wisdom he gave us. When we pray for wisdom, we do not decide instinctively, especially when we are not certain of what to do. As we pray for increase of faith, we trust that God helps us decide.

Shrewd Manager

         Jesus told his disciples about a shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-4, ¹“There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ²So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ ³“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— ⁴I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

         After his master terminated him from his job, the shrewd manager did not randomly decide. He reflected on his ability. He had no other expertise but to do manual labor, and he admitted that he was not strong enough. Probably, he was already old, or he was ashamed to beg because other people knew that he was a manager of his master. The Lord Jesus Christ continued in Luke 16:8-9, ⁸“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

         Listen carefully, if we employ the methods of this world, there will be other people who can deal with us much better than we do, but since we are eternally bound, we have to prayerfully rely upon godly wisdom that comes from the Lord. God had already prescribed in the Scripture some practical steps we should take to progress our skill in discernment on how we build wisdom for ourselves.

How do you personally interpret what it declares in Psalm 1:1-2? ¹Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

         To delight in the law of the Lord has similarity to adolescents who cannot eat and sleep thinking of someone they are in-loved with. We memorize verses that may have touched our heart; that is a start to delight in the law of the Lord.

2.  Delight

⁹Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

         The term “goodwill” can be interpreted as “favor or delight.” The upright follows the law; he is expected to find favorable “goodwill” and pleasant “delight.”

         Traffic rules and regulations were made, legislated and designed for the convenience of motorists. When drivers follow traffic rules and regulations, it will be more convenient for other motorists, including pedestrians. Yet, there’re many bad elements in the society who feels like they are entitled to do what they want.

Reckless Drivers

Some teenagers stole a car and went joy riding. According to report, they intentionally hit a biker.  The victim died in the hospital. Charges were filed related to the hit-and-run but a video showed it was really “intentional act,” and the charges were upgraded to open murder. The teen driver was charged with murder after video shows him laughing when cyclist was fatally struck.

Foolish individuals who deliberately harm other people have no wisdom. They cannot discern the terrible consequences of their actions. Together let us seriously reflect on what it declares in Romans 6:23, ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

         With limited mindset, mankind cannot imagine the terrible consequences of sin in hell. Have you ever had some night when you desire to get restful night but you were just very much awake? So instead of rested, you become restless. Have you ever been in a situation where you were very thirsty and hungry?

         If those terrible circumstances are multiplied with eternity, they are just a partial horrible torture and tragic punishment for anyone who rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. There’s torture in hell more than anyone can imagine.

         Now, think about the most gratifying moment in your life. Have you had restful sleep that you wish to experience every time you go to sleep? What was the most delicious food you ate, and you wish to be your food all your life? What is the most beautiful scenery that you saw and wish to live there all your life?

         If you multiply those restful nights, delicious foods and beautiful sceneries that you have personally experienced, they are but a partial and just a fraction of the experiences that await believers of Christ in his eternal heaven.

Together, let us seriously reflect on what it says in Habakkuk 2:13-14.

¹³Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? ¹⁴For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

         Anything we do in this world has no eternal value, unless they are done through faith in Christ. Meaning: If we want that our performances will have eternal value, we have to seek inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God.

         If you have been awestruck and greatly impressed by the creations of God around us, expect that man-made language is not sufficient enough to describe the glorious majesty of God and his eternal heaven. Reflect on that reality!

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