Learning from Foolishness 从愚昧中学习

[Dexu Xia]

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense. Ecclesiastes 10:2–3

A man walked into a convenience store in Wollongong, Australia, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer? Fifteen dollars.

We all act foolishly at times—even if, unlike this thief, we’re trying to do the right thing. The key is how we learn from our foolish behavior. Without correction, our poor choices can become habits, which will negatively shape our character. We’ll become “fools . . . [who] lack sense” (Ecclesiastes 10:3). 

Sometimes it’s hard to admit our foolishness because of the extra work it requires. Perhaps we need to reflect on a particular character flaw, and that’s painful. Or maybe we need to admit that a decision was made hastily and next time we should take more care. Whatever the reason, it never pays to ignore our foolish ways.

Thankfully, God can use our foolishness to discipline and shape us. Discipline isn’t “pleasant at the time,” but its training yields good fruit in the long run (Hebrews 12:11). Let’s accept our Father’s discipline for our foolish behavior and ask Him to make us more like the sons and daughters He intends us to be.

What’s a recent foolish choice you’ve made? What do you think God wants you to learn from it?

Thank You, Father, for using my foolishness to train me. May I accept Your discipline graciously as You continue to work in me

智慧人的心居右，愚昧人的心居左。并且愚昧人行路显出无知。—传道书10章2-3节

有名男子走进澳洲卧龙岗市的一间便利商店，将一张20澳元纸钞放在柜台上，要求找换零钱。当店员打开收银机时，男子突然拔枪，要胁店员将收银机内全部的现金交给他，店员立刻照办。男子拿了钱就赶紧逃跑，却把20元留在柜台上。最后，他从收银机抢了多少钱呢？15元！

我们偶尔也会做出愚昧的行为，虽然我们是努力要做正确的事，而不像盗贼那样做坏事。但关键在于，我们是否从愚蠢的行为中吸取教训。若是没有改正，便容易习惯于做错误的选择，对我们的品格造成负面的影响，成为无知的愚昧人（传道书10章3节）。

有时我们要坦承自己的愚昧并不容易，因这需要下许多功夫。也许我们会因反思自己性格上的缺点，而感到痛苦；也许我们需要承认某个决定太过仓促，下次应更加小心谨慎。无论如何，无视自己愚蠢的行为，总是得不偿失的。

感恩的是，上帝可以藉着我们的愚昧来管教和塑造我们。虽然接受管教在“当时不觉得快乐”，但经过操练之后，最终就能结出美好的果子（希伯来书12章11节）。让我们接受天父上帝对我们的愚昧行为所做的管教，好叫我们成为祂所喜悦的儿女。

你最近做了什么愚昧的选择？
你认为上帝要你从中学习些什么呢？

天父啊，谢谢祢使用我的愚昧来操练我。
当祢继续在我生命中动工时，求祢叫我乐意接受祢的管教。