Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:11-14
Cows can be stubborn. Occasionally, a herdsman needs to give his cows a little encouragement to get them moving in the right direction. To do that, he will tap them with a goad or cattle prod.
In times past, cattle prods were made by hammering nails through a stick. Giving a wayward or stubborn cow a sharp poke with the nails hurt the cow a bit, but it got her moving. This was done for her own good. She needed to stay with the herd to be safe from predators and to be led t ofood, water, and shelter.
According to Solomon, in today's Bible reading, "The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails — given by one Shepherd" (verse 11). Wise words from mature Christians are like a cattle prod. While it sometimes hurts to hear them, wise words serve as a sharp poke to remind us that God wants us to be moving in a certain direction. They reminds us to obey God's commands. They remind us that we should always follow God's plan for our lives.
While wise words act as a prod to keep us on the path God has for us, the words of human people are only truly wise when they are in agreement with the words of God. We need to have a firm understanding of God's words, found in the Bible, for two reasons. First, God's words are the truest, wisest words there are. They can clearly help us know the path God has set out for us. Second, when we know and understand the wise words of God, we will be able to determine if what people are saying is honestly prodding us along God's path.
It's also important to remember that God never prods us maliciously. His prodding, and any pain it causes, is for our own good. God prods us so we
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man."
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to say on the path that You have chosen for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.