The official offer arrived on a Thursday afternoon. The company wanted an answer by Monday. On one hand, it would be foolish not to accept the offer. The dad had been out of work a couple of months and it was a great move into a company he had done work with. On the other hand, there was extensive travel involved with the position and that would put him back into a very similar situation to what he had left. On the other hand, there were no other offers on the horizon so he decided to pray.
The job offer was good. Very good in fact. It would require another move but that was nothing new. The young couple had moved a number of times in their first fifteen years of marriage. They had never prayed about previous moves but this time they decided to pray over the weekend because something just did not feel right. The kids were in elementary school now and they had committed to staying put through the high school years. That could technically still be honored if they moved prior to the start of the new school year. The job would help provide financial security needed for their college years.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. – 1Corinthians 3:18-19a. The wisdom of this world can be a major distraction in the life of a young man working to overcome a rough childhood home. The ‘self-made man’ with a job and money can work a long time to fill voids caused by rejection experienced early in life. God has a tendency to expose voids for what they are – openings for evil to introduce temptation. Jesus the Christ went to the cross to fill the voids, to reconnect man in relationship with the Father. Trusting in Christ may look foolish in this world but it is manifest wisdom in God’s sight.
The job offer was prayerfully reviewed and considered across the weekend. The answer became clear – he would not accept the job. He decided to be foolish and trust God to provide the right next steps. Over the following five years, he spent more time daily in scripture and prayer than he ever had. The Lord brought men into his life that encouraged and equipped him to start a ministry. Over the following twenty years, the Lord blessed he and his family beyond measure as he reached out to others through the ministry. God is great all the time, when we are foolish enough to trust in Him.
Prayer guide: My Father, thank You for being patient with me. Thank You for the clarity You provide in life. Too often I have been the one I trust to make decisions about the job, in family and with friends. Now You have me lifting it all up in prayer and trusting You to provide the clarity needed for the right decision. It may seem foolish to others but You have proven faithful as always. Watch over me and guide me in foolishness that glorifies You this day and every day. Amen.
A faithful father is foolish from a worldly perspective as he trusts the Father.
