Proverbs 19:19-20

¹⁹A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. ²⁰Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Student

A student had exceptional academic records. He was always listed in honor roll. He completed his college degree, but cannot get a job suitable to his college certificate. He was excellent in academic but sadly, he did not excel in the workforce. Do you know someone who excelled academically but cannot excel at places of work and persevered as ordinary employee?

Certainly, there are many individuals who excelled academically and also became successful in their career. Academic excellence can contribute to success, and there are other elements of success like opportunities, discipline, connection and finances. The United States is called land of opportunity. There are great opportunities in the US for anyone to excel.

Rewards, salary and government support are available in the western world that many other countries don’t have. Someone said, “If you are not exceptionally talented, no money and no political connection, if you are just ordinary person in the Philippines, go abroad to maximize your potentiality!”

That observation is real in Asian countries. God designed us to excel. But we have to be situated in the right environment to realize it. How should we explain what it declares in Acts 17:26? ²⁶From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

We believe God designed adventurous life in Christ. He prepared particular situations and events that help us excel into his blueprint. So, we should prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit when he calls us to follow his instruction. We also pray for increase of faith to trust and obey the Lord.

And that is practically what it advises in Proverbs 3:5-6, ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Compared to complicated option, straight path is interpreted as easy. We trust the Lord to make out path easier. By instinct, we ignore God, but by faith, we trust that the Lord rescues us from deceitful confusing choices.

1. Rescue

¹⁹A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

A hot-tempered person has no self-control. Rescuing anyone who gets angry easily and saved them from penalty for their mistake, they won’t learn. Possibly, you make things even worse, and you have to save them again and again unless you’ll let them pay for the penalty of their mistakes.

Reflect on what it proclaims in Titus 2:11-13, ¹¹For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹²It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Christ Jesus our Lord came to give us fullness of life. Most often, we are deceived to think that if we follow our own human desire, it will be great life experiences. Naturally, we are inclined to choose wickedness. Hot temper that lacks self-control or to get angry easily is human nature.

Many relationship have been damaged by anger. When we’re angry,  our mind is affected. We cannot think of better ways to address the issue.

Drunk

A man who went home after drinking with his buddies. And his wife scolded him. “You’re drunk again. When are you going to change? We need money for the schooling of our children. Yet, you spent your money buying alcohol for you and your friends. What kind of father are you?”

The drunk husband was irritated for his nagging wife. He gets angry and violent and hurt his wife. Criminal charges against the husband were filed, and he was found guilty. Yet, he cannot stop drinking alcohol.

Violence caused by drunkenness is real problem. Drunkards cannot easily control their self or anger. Many tragic problems in the family are caused by anger and drunkenness. It advised in Ephesians 5:17-18, ¹⁷Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

It is the will of the Lord for us to be filled with the Spirit, and we avoid foolish drunkenness. When inspired by the Holy Spirit we sense love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. By God’s grace through faith, we receive the Holy Spirit of God.

2. Receive

²⁰Listen to advice and accept discipline,

and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

To attentively listen to advice and accept discipline from the Lord, we have to receive power from the Holy Spirit. Even the simple person who internalizes and obeys the Lord’s decrees will become wise eventually.

Like medical doctors, engineers, pilots, lawyers, many professionals and experts handsomely paid. Yet, there’re stories about doctors and other professionals who went bankrupt, why? They’re not experts about finances. And because they’ve got high salaries, they spend their money prodigally.

Reckless or prodigal expenditure can be anybody’s problem, expert or ordinary employee. Well, financial wisdom can be practiced but may we internalize what it declares in Psalm 19:7-8, ⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Refreshed soul is what we need in this chaotic world. With the rise of frauds and scams, we need to be smart and wise. With every day problem, we want joyful heart. The law of the Lord is what we need to light our way.

Together, let’s meditate on what the Lord advised in Joshua 1:7-9, ⁷Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Have you ever had prayer items that you cannot readily tell others?

What do you personally pray when you are alone? Do you pray for success, money, relationship, good grades, better employment, spouse? Someone advised, “God had already delivered what you prayed for but you have not received it yet because you are not ready to receive it yet. Maybe, God has delivered according to your time like Philippine time, 1 hour late.”

Together, let seriously internalize what it declares in 2 Peter 1:3, ³His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

If it is useful for godly life, God has delivered the items you prayed for. Pray that you’ll be ready to receive them. Pray for inspiration of the Holy Spirit to tell you practical steps on how you may receive your prayer items on time. Be diligent in the discipline of the Lord, and you’ll be counted wise.

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