THE DANGER OF INTERRUPTED LISTENING

 

There is a strange but predictable phenomenon that can occur with some godly people. After years of intense desire, cooperation, and growth with the Lord, something happens. They seem to plateau in their walk and can even be in danger of a fall. Both King David and his son, Solomon, illustrate this fact.

There’s a reason.

Look at these three proverbs, found in Proverbs 19.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will find good. (Prov. 19:8)

 

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But he who is careless of conduct will die. (Prov. 19:16)

 

27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge. (Prov. 19:27)

 

Think of the truths of these three verses in succession

• If you love wisdom and hold onto it, you will succeed
• If you obey the wisdom you’re learning and are not careless of your conduct, you will live.
• If there ever comes a time when you “cease listening” to the Lord and His wisdom, you will stray.

WHY?

There is one primary reason why you, like Solomon, might cease listening. Subtle pride. It could happen if, in your pride, you felt like you knew it all. You had enough. You were good and sufficient. At that point, you might begin to neglect your time with God and the intense pursuit of His wisdom that you had known in years past. You might begin to compromise in small areas, feeling that your accrued godliness was sufficient and that you were now “above” the need for discipline, correction, and careful obedience.

Guard your heart. You are never immune to any sin. And sin has the same deadly consequences for a mature believer as a young one.

Pride always precedes a fall. Even a wise, mature man or woman can stray. We must be vigilant and aggressively cooperating with the Lord until death in order to be faithful until the end.