An Outside Perspective

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 12

Gold Nugget
Verse 15: 
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

Commentary
The focus of today’s “gold nugget” is one of the foundational themes of the book of Proverbs. As with any important fundamental, its learning and need for application is best applied through repetitive administration. That is to say, the writer attempts to hammer into us. A term that I tend to use to describe the deficiency as described in today’s verse is “Reflection Disorder”. Although not a medical or psychiatric term, it speaks for itself. Usually the most accurate perspective of who we are is from someone other than ourselves. Just as a mother’s opinion of her child in the school talent contest, we are very partial towards ourselves. We are often our own biggest fan and have a blind love toward ourselves and will overlook our own weaknesses. The truest judgment of who we are is from someone on the outside. Now, not everyone has the discernment or love for you in order to guarantee their opinion of you will be accurate, but be sure that we can set out on our own and fail to ever see who we really are or are becoming. We need a steady dose of accountability and council to ensure we are staying in tune with God. Today’s “gold nugget” simply says, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.If we are going to be wise and keep from harm, we must open ourselves up to people that are sincere in their love for us and allow them to have input into our life. In today’s society, this is a foreign concept. Our society today is one of individual evaluation with our own set of criteria. We should put confidence in the blueprint that God designed that includes others as being part of our personal growth. It may not be convenient and may cause us to sacrifice our pride, but if you don’t have this type of person in your life, it isn't God’s fault. If you are open to it, He will provide you with a brother or sister to be there for you. The question is, “If He provides it, will you accept and apply it?”

Prayer
Lord, not long ago you sent someone to me with council that didn't seem “wise
in my own eyes”, but somehow I opened up to it. I did “heed to the counsel”, and you have done a work in me as a result. Thank you for letting someone with an outside and different perspective speak truth over me. Help me to incorporate more godly counsel in my life as you send it. Amen

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