MIRROR CHECK

I will devote space at the beginning of each week to share thoughts of others who are much more intelligent and insightful than I, with the hope that their words encourage and challenge you as much as they have me. This weeks thoughts are from Andy Stanley's book: The Best Question Ever

The bible has a term for the person who refuses wise counsel: fool. Solomon summed it up this way: “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15, NIV). In our culture it sounds harsh to refer to someone as a fool, so we soften by saying, “He acted foolishly” or, “How could I have been so foolish?” But the reality is, when we refuse to listen, when we dodge the truth, when we insist on having our own way, we are fools.

Wise people know when they don’t know. The fool is the person who convinces himself he knows more than he really knows and doesn’t need to ask anybody anything. At the end of the day, the wise man breaths a sigh of relief; the fool, a sigh of regret.

Bottom line, when we resist presenting our options to the wise people around us for fear of hearing what we don’t want to hear, we are fools. When we insist on ignoring the warning signs and pressing on anyway, we are fools. And in the end, we pay. Fools always pay.

God knows there will be times when you lack wisdom, times when you will ask the Best Question Ever and come up short.

If you are in the midst of an emotionally challenging situation and circumstances require you to make a decision, go for help. Don’t trust your judgment alone. Just as there are times when physical pain makes us incapable of caring for ourselves, so emotional pain can drive us to the place where we need assistance.

If you are being called upon to make a decision that is out of your league in terms of experience or education, get some help. Don’t pretend. Don’t fake it. Asking for help is not a reflection of your lack of wisdom. Asking for input is evidence of wisdom. When the Best Question Ever doesn’t yield the clarity you need, ask someone you trust, “In light of my past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what do you believe is the wise thing for me to do?”

After all, wise people know when they don’t know and aren’t afraid to go to those who do.

The Best Question Ever