April 30, 2012 - Spotters (Better to be wise than strong...)

Last week we drew reference to “caution flags” in our lives – to using God’s Word for daily direction. I hope you are regularly spending time in the Word. Yet in the busy-ness of our lives, we also need something else – trusted advisers! In keeping with the racing theme, these would be our “spotters.”

Think about the racing analogy. The caution flag goes up following an accident or when there is debris on the raceway that could create danger. Yet when the accident happens right in front of a driver, he doesn’t have the luxury of a caution flag to slow him down. This is where he relies on his spotter – the guy that has not only a birds-eye view of the track, but also is trusted as one that can quickly and accurately give direction. The spotter is not only useful during emergencies but also in seeing upcoming traffic during open racing.

Isn’t life similar to this? There are those times that stuff happens that you simply did not see coming. It is nice when we have a picture of what is ahead.

Do you have a person (or persons) in your life that you truly trust to give you a clear picture of life’s road ahead of you? To me that is the definition of discipleship: having someone that can give you clear direction on where you “drive” in life.

So this week is simply a reminder that you have a limited view of the “track” when left to yourself. You need a “spotter” in your life.

Proverbs has a lot to say about this:

1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

20:18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

24:5-6 (The Message) It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.