Bible Reading: Isaiah 39:1-end
“Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” – Proverbs 2:11(KJV).
Among the many definitions of discretion is this: – ”The ability or power to discern what is responsible and socially appropriate”. From the above scriptures, discretion enhances the preservation of an individual. Discretion is an important tool by which kings rule. A man with good discretion can turn the fortunes of a nation around for good. Life’s decisions and choices we make are expected to be guided by discretion. Discretion is required in our daily judgment. Discretion can be enhanced through meekness and humility, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” -Psalm 25:9(KJV). God’s way is a way of sound discretion that manifest in faultless judgment. One of the product of wisdom is discretion and the exercising of it. The scripture admonishes us to keep sound wisdom and discretion, “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.” – Proverbs 3:21-23(KJV). Application of sound discretion in life is an antidote to decay, failure and disappointments. The scriptures instruct us to seek discretion, “That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge” – Proverbs 5:2 (KJV).
From our bible reading of today, we see a king that exhibited poor discretion in handling the affairs of his kingdom. As spiritual as Hezekiah is he lost out in the area of discretion. It is unimaginable that a king should show the emissaries of a rival king all his treasures. He gave out information that is seriously guided by monarchs from their rivals. He completely exposed the kingdom of Israel to invasion through poor discretion. “And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not” – Isaiah 39:2 (KJV). This is ridiculous! It consequently led to the invasion of the Southern Kingdom of Israel by the King of Babylon. The effect of poor decision and poor use of discretion is disappointment, failure, and destruction. This is what the prophet communicated in Isaiah 39:6 (KJV), “Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.” This is a catastrophe that would have been avoided by sound use of discretion.
Many great futures have been ruptured and destroyed by lack of discretion. My dear reader, discretion is a product of wisdom, and Jesus Christ is the wisdom and the power of God. Jesus Christ is also the Word incarnate by which God created all things, hence the entrance of Christ into one’s life guarantees the infusion of divine wisdom that produces sound discretion. Accept him into your life today in order to begin a new lease of God-directed life.
Prayer: Father, engrace me with meekness and humility so as to learn judgment from you.
Bro Joel Ezeugo