"But, Mommy! You promised!"
If you are a mother, you have heard that one, haven't you? So often we make promises and when we break them or have to break them, we are quickly reminded of our oath, aren't we? Sometimes our excuses are pardonable. Sometimes, not. Sometimes we wish we gave a bit more thought to our words before we make a promise. I am forever wishing I could eat my words--especially when the granddaughters want to paint and I am not in the mood and I say "later". I should qualify that promise with much later. Or tomorrow. However, I know in order to quiet them at the moment of inquiry, it's best to give them an intangible "later", and hope it suffices--that they forget about it altogether while they busy themselves with some other activity.
Sometimes that works. Sometimes not.
What about us? When we hear promises, we measure the assurance behind them, don't we? Our attention peaks when the promise comes from someone we know is faithful to keep a promise. Yet the opposite happens when we hear a promise from someone with whom we have been betrayed--we ignore it. We rebuke their promises in our mind. When we meet betrayal in the marketplace, in government, and in the workplace, it is harder to trust an entity or institution or a person when they promise something. In the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon warns his son to beware of those who try to entice him with grand promises...then, he adds:
"but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33
Who is the "me" that makes such a promise in this verse?
"Me" is wisdom. And wisdom is of God-- it is discernment, discretion and understanding. When we have the wisdom of God we will discern how to act and how to speak. Discretion is "the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information". Ah, to own discretion. It's better than owning gold.
"How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16
Grab onto that and don't let go. Wisdom is far better than one of the most treasured and valued possessions of this earth--gold. Understanding should be "chosen" over silver. Why, oh why do we struggle and fret to gain more material wealth? Why do we waste time accumulating that which will rust, rot and be wiped out by one stock-market bubble bursting? Why? Look again, my friends, where the safety, ease, and freedom from harm is-- it is in wisdom. God's wisdom. :Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you." The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. When we get that imbedded deeply into our souls, man cannot harm us-- nor can death's threat. selahVtoday by hariette petersen
