Bankrupt Fools

Friday, July 28, 2010

Scheduled Reading: (Click here to read passages, click back to return to devotional)

• 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:22
• Psalm 90:9-15
• Proverbs 19:1-3
• Acts 18:18-19:12

Selected Passage: Proverbs 19:3
³ A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

Bankrupt Fools
I am constantly amazed at those who make foolish decisions - be they Christian or not - then suffer the consequences, and then "rage against the Lord!" I compare it to a man who is having a hard time paying back his creditors and is in danger of defaulting on his loans. He ignores the problem hoping it will go away. It never does. Eventually the man falls behind on his payments and the creditors start calling or pursuing collections. His credit rating is ruined. He is accruing finance charges, penalties, late fees, etc. His problem is getting larger by the day.

My dad taught me long ago a sound principle: A creditor will loan you money because he wants to get paid back with interest. If you run into a hard time in paying the creditor back, call him and talk it out with him before you fall behind. He will more than likely be willing to help you through a rough patch rather than risk not getting paid back at all.

The fool in the proverb lives his life as he sees fit, ignoring the Word of God. The problems he creates by his actions begin to pile up. They eventually crush him. Instead of turning to God for help, he rages against him. He blames God for his problems. He fails to see that God's principles were established to prevent the problems. Instead the foolish man views his resulting problems as God "getting him" or punishing him for having fun.

Have you ever been the fool in the proverb? We all make stupid mistakes. We all wish we had an "undo button". At least I do. While no button may exist, we do have One Who promises that He can make ALL things work together for good! I'll run to God when I mess up instead of blaming Him. I KNOW He can fix the fine mess I got myself into!