Ecclesiastes 7-9 / 2 Corinthians 7:8-16 / Psalm 48 / Proverbs 22:17-19
Have you ever been sorry you got caught doing what you knew better than to do? Were you sorry you did it or sorry you got caught? There is a difference. When I was in 9th grade my best friend Sheri lived down the street. We used to get snow when I was younger, now we rarely do. When it did snow, we had the most amazing time sledding on the hills on our street!
If we weren’t sledding with the rest of our neighbors down the biggest hill in the subdivision in front of our house, we were attempting a daredevil feat at Sheri’s house. Sadly, that adventure didn’t end well. We would start in her backyard, head through the front yard, make a sharp right once we hit the street then another sharp right as the road turned. If you didn’t make that last sharp right, you were going through a barbed wire fence into a cow pasture.
I’m sure you can figure out what happened the last time we tried that. Our parents told us not to try this tricky maneuver, knowing that fence might catch us if we missed that turn. But it was so much fun that we wanted to do it one more time… It took only one time to fly right through that fence ripping my brand-new winter down coat to shreds on the barbed wire. There was no sneaking into the house unnoticed that day.
Was I sad about my coat? Yes. Was I sad that I hadn’t obeyed? No. The thought of one more thrilling ride outweighed the possibility of getting caught. And caught I was, in more ways than one.
2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
If only. If only I had listened. If only I hadn’t taken that last ride. If only I had believed that my parents had wisdom for me that day. I would still have had my coat and wouldn’t have had to walk home in shame. If only.
There was plenty of regret that day. I don’t remember what my punishment was; it may have been the loss of my coat. I don’t remember. I certainly did not sled that route again. I may even have been forbidden from sledding the rest of that day. Was the thrill of that last ride worth the trouble I gained? I don’t remember that either.
If I had the right kind of sorrow, I would have been led away from sin. Of course, this verse is speaking more of a sorrow that leads us to Salvation. Much more is at stake in our turning from sin as a whole and turning toward God for salvation. But the small places of obedience prepare for the larger obedience toward God.
We learn obedience from our parents as children so we will better obey God when we’re grown. Or hopefully that is how it works. Our parents are attempting to train us for adulthood. They don’t want us to be adults who want nothing but our own way because they know the worthless places that will lead. They know that we will not be responsible adults unless we are willing to be under the authority of God. In that way, they are doing us a service.
Most of you are probably in the adult season of life, although maybe a younger person might read this devotional. Wherever you are in life, I pray you have found the value of obedience, not simply to keep you out of trouble, but so that you will have true joy in life. There really is joy in listening to and following God along the path He knows is best for us.
You’ve heard the saying, “Pick your poison”, or “Pick your pain.” I tell you to pick your obedience and therefore your consequences. Consequences are coming and they can be either fruitful good ones or negative ones that will suck the life out of you. It really is your choice.
I place before you today life and death; choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:15)
Interesting take on that topic and scripture. Good insight..
Thank you, my friend! I’m glad the post blessed you!