Lesson from Pinocchio - Take Heed to Wisdom
by Audrea Winbush Lott
It's not such a good idea to do anything and everything that you want to do. (1 Corinthians 20:23) Wisdom is available to make the right choices. Choosing to do as we please can lead us to destruction and despair. (Proverbs 16:25)
One of my most treasured childhood memories is my mother taking me to see the movie Pinocchio. In addition to the lessons that were gleaned concerning telling the truth (definitely didn't want your nose to grow), there were other lessons packed into the story, as well. One was making the choice to be obedient, to listen to your conscience, and to exercise wisdom and discipline when faced with opportunities.
When Pinocchio wandered off and began to enjoy all of the pleasures that he thought he desired, trying to fit in with the others, throwing caution to the wind, things were great initially. Pleasure Island was the place to be! However, after a period of time, he looked up and he looked like and sounded like something that he wasn't. Make sure that you are not deceiving yourself. In your own mind you are simply exercising your freedom, your choice, and fulfilling your own desires. But after while, you may realize you've grown a tail, have giant ears, and are braying like the donkey that you've become. We have to pull out the mirror and take a good look at ourselves, and be honest about what is really going on and where we really are. (James 1:23-24) The Word of God is our mirror and it tells us what we should look like and how we should conduct ourselves. We have to avoid the temptation to see/hear what to do and then choose to "forget" so that we can do as we please. Some decisions don't seem like such a big deal, but they can lead you places that you never envisioned or imagined.
We don't get to that place with one step; there usually is a series of steps or missteps that get us there. Pinocchio began to listen to his conscience less frequently and eventually ignored and outran wisdom in order to be able to do what he wanted to do. We have to make sure we don't ignore the call, the cry, the plea of Wisdom. She is always standing in the path attempting to help guide us in the right direction. (Proverbs 8:1-11) We may not always like what we hear and may feel that we know a better way. But in the end, her ways are found to be the way we should travel. God knows where He is trying to take us. We cannot afford to give in to the distractions and be pulled by desires that don't line up with the wisdom of God. Let's make sure we are getting out of the place that being determined to do things our own way.
Our way may make a lot of sense to us or may feel good to experience something new or different. We may want to break away from the boundaries that are set in place. But we don't have the full story, we don't have the details about the consequences that await us. That's why we need to listen to the voice of Wisdom and allow God to guide us to and keep us on that path that He has laid out for us. We must take a good look at ourselves and be honest with ourselves. It's time to get it right!
#GetTheMirror #GetWisdom #GetOnTrack #GetBackOnTrack #GreatGraceAbounds #NoEarsNoTailForMe
Scripture references:
1 Corinthians 10:23
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
23 Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.
Proverbs 16:25
Living Bible (TLB)
25 Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road he thinks is right, but it ends in death.
James 1:23-24GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
23 If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. 24 They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like.
Proverbs 8:1-11
The Message (MSG)
Lady Wisdom Calls Out
8 1-11 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
everyone out here on the streets!
Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!
You blockheads—shape up!
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
I’m telling you how to live at your best.
My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth--
I can’t stand the taste of evil!
You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;
truth-ready minds will see it at once.
Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money,
and God-knowledge over a lucrative career.
For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
by Audrea Winbush Lott
It's not such a good idea to do anything and everything that you want to do. (1 Corinthians 20:23) Wisdom is available to make the right choices. Choosing to do as we please can lead us to destruction and despair. (Proverbs 16:25)
One of my most treasured childhood memories is my mother taking me to see the movie Pinocchio. In addition to the lessons that were gleaned concerning telling the truth (definitely didn't want your nose to grow), there were other lessons packed into the story, as well. One was making the choice to be obedient, to listen to your conscience, and to exercise wisdom and discipline when faced with opportunities.
When Pinocchio wandered off and began to enjoy all of the pleasures that he thought he desired, trying to fit in with the others, throwing caution to the wind, things were great initially. Pleasure Island was the place to be! However, after a period of time, he looked up and he looked like and sounded like something that he wasn't. Make sure that you are not deceiving yourself. In your own mind you are simply exercising your freedom, your choice, and fulfilling your own desires. But after while, you may realize you've grown a tail, have giant ears, and are braying like the donkey that you've become. We have to pull out the mirror and take a good look at ourselves, and be honest about what is really going on and where we really are. (James 1:23-24) The Word of God is our mirror and it tells us what we should look like and how we should conduct ourselves. We have to avoid the temptation to see/hear what to do and then choose to "forget" so that we can do as we please. Some decisions don't seem like such a big deal, but they can lead you places that you never envisioned or imagined.
We don't get to that place with one step; there usually is a series of steps or missteps that get us there. Pinocchio began to listen to his conscience less frequently and eventually ignored and outran wisdom in order to be able to do what he wanted to do. We have to make sure we don't ignore the call, the cry, the plea of Wisdom. She is always standing in the path attempting to help guide us in the right direction. (Proverbs 8:1-11) We may not always like what we hear and may feel that we know a better way. But in the end, her ways are found to be the way we should travel. God knows where He is trying to take us. We cannot afford to give in to the distractions and be pulled by desires that don't line up with the wisdom of God. Let's make sure we are getting out of the place that being determined to do things our own way.
Our way may make a lot of sense to us or may feel good to experience something new or different. We may want to break away from the boundaries that are set in place. But we don't have the full story, we don't have the details about the consequences that await us. That's why we need to listen to the voice of Wisdom and allow God to guide us to and keep us on that path that He has laid out for us. We must take a good look at ourselves and be honest with ourselves. It's time to get it right!
#GetTheMirror #GetWisdom #GetOnTrack #GetBackOnTrack #GreatGraceAbounds #NoEarsNoTailForMe
Scripture references:
1 Corinthians 10:23
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
23 Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.
Proverbs 16:25
Living Bible (TLB)
25 Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road he thinks is right, but it ends in death.
James 1:23-24GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
23 If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. 24 They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like.
Proverbs 8:1-11
The Message (MSG)
Lady Wisdom Calls Out
8 1-11 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
everyone out here on the streets!
Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!
You blockheads—shape up!
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
I’m telling you how to live at your best.
My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth--
I can’t stand the taste of evil!
You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;
truth-ready minds will see it at once.
Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money,
and God-knowledge over a lucrative career.
For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
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