Use some common sense

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Live long, live well”

Our Bible verse for today: “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Use some common sense”

There’s a fine line between being bold and being stupid, between being adventurous or taking unnecessary risks. God wants us to be bold and even adventurous, but He also wants us to use common sense at the same time.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee, known as “The Old Country Preacher”, once told the story of a young man he knew who was convinced God would protect him no matter what he did. The brash young man even said, “If I wanted to, I could go stand in the middle of the highway in front of a speeding truck, but if it wasn’t my God-appointed day to die, I would be just fine.” To that Dr. McGee replied, “My friend, if you go stand in front of a speeding truck, I can promise you it will be your day to die!”

Some years ago, I had a neighbor who was in his late 70s but very healthy and fit. I’ll call him Frank. Frank was healthy and fit but sometimes not so smart. He had the bad habit of doing things a man in his late 70s shouldn’t be doing – like climbing up on the roof, or lifting very heavy items by himself, or juggling chainsaws (just kidding). One day he decided to climb a tree in his backyard to cut down a large dead branch. The branch was located about 30 feet off the ground. While up there, Frank lost his balance, fell out of the tree, broke his back, and never recovered. His health rapidly deteriorated and that otherwise very healthy man died within a year after that accident.

I’m preaching to the choir here. In some respects, I’m like Frank. I’m older now, still active and able, but sometimes prone to pushing things a little too far by trying to do more than I really should. I know that to be true about myself and so I’m trying to use a little more common sense about such things.

The point is that like Abraham, Moses, Caleb, Joshua, John, and others in the Bible, God does want us to remain healthy, active, bold, and even adventurous as late into life as possible. But He also wants us to be smart. We should not take unnecessary risks.

One of the keys to living long and living well is knowing what’s okay, and how much is too much, when it comes to taking risks. There’s a balance that needs to be struck and as Solomon teaches in Proverbs 22:3, it requires a little common sense.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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