“Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.”
Years ago, when I was a teenager, there was a sentiment that was boiled down to a short sentence: “Trust no one over 30.” My goodness, that seems young now. A mark of adolescence has often been forsaking parents’ and other adults’ advice and instruction. There was a belief among teens that they knew all they needed to know and that they knew better than adults—and their parents for sure. PubMed Central writes, “Adolescents are prone to dangerous, high-risk behavior primarily due to imbalanced brain development, where the emotional limbic system matures faster than the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control. This, combined with intense peer pressure, a high drive for rewards, hormonal changes, and a need for independence, often leads to dangerous decisions.” Well, that just looks like a complete recipe for disaster. I spent over 40 years in full-time ministry with teenagers, and it was an adventure. I loved every minute of it—probably because my mental development was stuck a bit at that stage. The point here, as seen in this portion of Proverbs, is that when we forgo solid, God-focused counsel and teaching very much like a teenager, we walk at great risk. We open ourselves up to the evil in this world that preys on the arrogantly uninformed. Today, look to God’s Word and His wise counselors—and listen. #BeTheEdge
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” —Jesus
