Proverbs 13.15-16
“Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.”
This proverb draws a contrast between good sense (thoughtfulness) versus “the way of the treacherous.” People who operate on the basis of common sense and thoughtfulness are trustworthy. They earn credibility and favor with people. On the other hand, those who are treacherous act on the basis of impulse and and selfish motives. They cannot be trusted and therefore have no credibility. Their way of life leads to ruin.
Because they operate on the basis of common sense, wise people act with a cool head. They are sensible and thoughtful. What does it mean to be sensible? It means this: Don’t just react to things … slow down and think! Press pause, observe clearly, and think carefully before speaking or acting. Invest the time to see situations with clarity.
How clearly you see determines how effectively you respond.
I shared this message back in October, and it bears repeating here. Thinking is the mental mechanism that God has given to us to plan and pursue objectives, and it is one of the primary ways we look at, evaluate, and respond to the events and situations we experience. The effectiveness of our response to the situations of life is directly linked to the effectiveness of our thinking.This is the E+R=O system. Press pause and gain clarity. Ask yourself:
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What Outcome do I want?
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What Event do I have?
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What Response do I need?
Fools do not use a disciplined system of process for thinking about a situation. In fact, they don’t think. They are impetuous and impulsive. They do not observe situations with clarity, and they lack in self-control. Because they are impulsive, they blurt out and spread their “folly” (iwwelet), a synonym for “stupidity” or “foolishness.” They “flaunt their folly” and put their foolishness on display for all to hear and see.
Proverbs 13.18
“Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.”
Here is our word musar again. Success requires building the knowledge, skill, and habits necessary for character (moral excellence), competence (functional excellence), and connection (relational excellence).
When you ignore disciplined training (musar), when you reject instruction and correction, you will not build the knowledge or skill necessary for success. This is the “discipline over default” message we communicate in The R Factor. There are two different ways to manage the R in your life:
Intentional
On-purpose
Skillful
DISCIPLINE
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DEFAULT
Impulsive
On-autopilot
Resistant
There is a line in life, and every day you are either above the line or below the line. The default mindset is resistant and “ignores instruction.” The best that default can do is mediocrity. Eventually it produces failure. Or as it says in this verse in Proverbs, eventually it produces “poverty and disgrace.”
The disciplined mindset embraces musar, commits to the process of disciplined training, is eager to receive instruction, and “heeds reproof.” Those who commit to the process of discipline-driven training, those who respond to instruction and correction, will be productive and will earn the respect of people around them. Wise people are teachable and coachable. They are not arrogant. They know there are things they do not know.
It’s all about effectiveness and productivity, or what the New Testament often calls fruitfulness. It is the the result of the powerful combination of the Holy Spirit working within you, and you responding to the Spirit and doing the work required.
This is precisely why I often end the devotionals with the admonition to “trust God and do the work.”
