A friend of mine wrote to me about a  park he lives next to. He said, “It’s a beautiful place . . . where ducks, geese and other waterfowl splash playfully.” Yet even in this idyllic setting there has been danger. Across one corner of the pond are some power lines. A number of swans have been killed because they didn’t see them as they approached the pond.

He talked with some people about this problem and eventually the power company installed red flags on the lines. Now the swans can see the danger and avoid it. Since the red flags were installed, not a single swan has died.

God has provided some ‘red flags’ for our protection. The book of Proverbs is filled with warnings about evil and encourages us to seek wisdom. In Proverbs 13:1-14 we find several red flags, including:

Don’t ignore instruction and rebuke (v.1).

Guard your mouth (v.3).

Beware of the pursuit of riches (v.7).

Avoid dishonesty (v.11).

Don’t be disrespectful towards God’s Word (v.13).

The Word of God “is a fountain of life, to turn [us] away from the snares of death” (v.14).


God’s warnings are to protect us, not to punish us.

Author

Anne Cetas

Topics

Our Daily Bread