LifeLink Devotions for Thursday, February 20, 2025

I wonder how many people have died because of foolishness. It’s probably a lot.

One example from the Bible is a man named Abner. He was a military man who fought against David on behalf of King Saul. David had already been declared by God to be the future King of Israel, but Saul was fighting hard against God to keep his kingdom for himself.

In the middle of a battle, while fighting on the wrong side against David, Abner saw his defeat coming and fled. He was chased down by the brother of Joab, David’s commander-in-chief.

Abner killed his hunter, and as a result of his foolish choice to live outside of God’s purpose, he faced a foolish death himself. The story is in 2 Samuel chapter 3.

“Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.”

Hebron was a city of refuge where Abner would have been safe. But he was lured outside of the city gate by Joab, who killed him to avenge his brother’s death. Abner’s foolish death is an illustration of what it is like to have life ended by foolish choices.

Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus is our city of refuge, and yet many great, discerning men are going to die like fools because they will die just outside the gate of the city of refuge.”

Our wisdom verse for today is from Proverbs 9, verses10 and11.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”

Let me make one thing clear. This verse does not promise that God will make your life longer because you fear Him. What it says is this. “If you grow in wisdom that comes from knowing and fearing God, and apply His wisdom to your life, it will keep you from doing foolish things that get you killed.”

In the early church at Corinth, people were stepping outside of God’s wisdom and using the Lord’s Supper as a means of personal gratification. As a result, the Apostle Paul says, “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” (1 Corinthians 11:30) That seems harsh, yet God’s standard has always been that we either live life by faith in Him according to His wisdom or we will suffer death. Not just eternal death, but maybe even premature physical death.

We would be wise to consider our level of fear of the Lord. Fear that produces awe and wonder at His majesty. Then to let that awe inspire us to learn from Him and apply what we learn to how we live so that we can fulfill the days He has ordained for us. May God challenge you to do that and bless you with the fulfillment of His plan for you.

Pastor John