BE WISE FOR YOURSELF

Proverbs 9:12 ULB
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.

Dear Believer,

When I was a boy living with my parents, my mother used to tell me repeatedly that the training I was receiving would benefit me first before any other person.

“For instance, when you start to make money,” my mother would say, “you will spend it on yourself first before you remember anyone else.”

I used to think my mother was merely nagging, but I saw the truth of the matter later as I grew older and became wiser.

You develop yourself for yourself first. You live respectable life for yourself first. You clean yourself and your home to stay healthy for yourself first, not to impress anyone.

This truth applies to our financial life also. You make and spend money responsibly for yourself first. If you are fond of spending money to impress people, you will gain fake friends and when you don’t have money to spend, you get abandoned.

A Believer must walk in wisdom. King Solomon says in our focus scripture today that if you are wise, it is for yourself. If you refuse to gain wisdom, you live to bear the consequences. He says your will carry it on your head. This means the consequences of your foolish choices will be visible to everyone.

I cannot be wise for you. And you cannot be foolish for me. Each person bears the consequences of their own foolishness or wisdom.

This is why every believer must understand that developing yourself in every area of life primarily because of someone out there is a foolish thing.

Growing up spiritually, emotionally or in other aspects of life is like physical growth and development. You cannot eat for me. I cannot bathe for you. You cannot read the Bible for me. I cannot grow for you. If you fail to eat, I cannot be hungry for you.

So, Believer, get to work and make things work. You cannot change the world until you’ve changed yourself. Your vision cannot grow until you grow.

Remember, actions aren’t the only things with consequences; inactions have consequences, too. And sometimes, it takes decades for the regrets of a foolish choice to mature.

“If you mock, you will carry it by yourself,” says the wise man. Don’t mock. Seek and pray to walk in divine wisdom.

Have a great day!

Your friend,
Deon.