Do you feel trapped? Is there a way out?

Probing Proverbs 13:13-14 
People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

Dr. Laurence M. Gould, president emeritus of Carleton College, said “I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don’t think our civilization will end that way. I think it will die when we no longer care. Arnold Toynbee has pointed out that nineteen of twenty-one civilizations have died from within and not by conquest from without. There were no bands playing and flags waving when these civilizations decayed. It happened slowly, in the quiet and in the dark when no one was aware.”^[1]

This illustration is so appropriate in the age we live in! This Proverb exposes one of the flaws that lead to that breakdown.

When a society ceases to seek anyone’s advice except their own, they are doomed to failure!

When we see things our way, and hold in contempt any other way, the path to doom now becomes a highway!

The very fact that God had His thoughts, boundaries and desires recorded into human language is a testimony of His guidance to us to listen to His advice! 

When we carry an attitude that we don’t need any other input except our own, we are literally “asking” for problems.

Notice, advice coming from wisdom brings life! Remember, wisdom is what brings quality to life! Wisdom teaches you how to deal with issues, when to do it and why it is important.

Lastly, it is no accident that the Scriptures point out that those that listen to wise advice avoid “the snares of death.” This is essential for us to understand! A “snare” is not an accident or a coincidence. A snare is a planned trap!

This should bring a pause…if it is a deliberate action, who is setting the trap? There is a Person that is always for you and desires your best! He created you, however, there is also a person that hates your existence because the Creator of all loves you. The enemy of your soul has set traps for you hoping you will not listen to God, but instead follow the folly of this world! Want to escape the trap…who are you listening to?

The So What: How much time do you spend in the Word? Do you pray for wisdom when making a decision? Have you individuals that you admire that you seek advice from? Are their lives an example of someone that follows the Lord?

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^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 153). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.