In the early days of the COVID-19 quarantine, I was glued to the news. Like most people around the world, I wanted information about the virus. But before long, the steady stream of breaking news was disturbing my overall sense of well-being. I wasn’t sleeping well and felt a general sense of unease. Constant access to a twenty-four-hour news cycle can cause low-grade anxiety that something catastrophic is going to happen. Having instant access to global events provides plenty of opportunities to be concerned. Epidemics, racial tensions, mass shootings, hate crimes, terrorism, and an unstable economy are common topics of conversation in our world. If we are looking for a reason to be on edge, we won’t need to look far. But the Bible repeatedly reminds us not to fear. In Proverbs 3, Solomon draws attention to some of the benefits of wisdom and how it can keep us safe from sudden trouble.
Solomon wrote, “Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them. They will be life for you and adornment for your neck. Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble” (Prov. 3:21-23).
Wisdom leads us on a path that is in the opposite direction of the wicked. Wise choices lead to sound judgment and avoid traps unwise people fall in. Solomon points out that when we walk in wisdom, there is no need to stay awake at night wondering, “How can I cover this up?” or “What if I get caught?” Wisdom keeps a clear conscience, and our minds free from worry. Solomon points out that there is no need to live with a sense of dread when we walk in wisdom. He says, “Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare” (Prov. 3:25-26 CSB).
When we walk in wisdom, we have an assurance that God will prevent us from falling into traps set by the wicked (v.26). Keep in mind, we aren’t spared disaster because of our competence or good sense. God’s grace is the basis of our protection.
Obviously, wise living doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen to us. We know from experience this isn’t true. And Jesus told His followers, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33). But when we make wise choices, we avoid many of the heartaches foolish people bring on themselves by making poor choices. I’ll leave you with a couple of things to think about.
Thoughts to ponder:
- What do I most often worry about? How has God shown His grace in this area?
- What wise choices can I make now to avoid problems later?
