While on a coffee break, I was grumbling about how I had lost
money on a “sure-fire” investment someone had
recommended. My co-workers had told me not to put money in such a
shaky plan, but I thought I knew better. Now, instead of going to
Europe on my next vacation, I didn’t even have enough to buy
gas for my car!
Ben said, “We tried to warn you, but you wouldn’t
listen. A lie stands on one leg, the truth on two.” I
irritably responded, “The worst thing someone can say is
“I told you so!” What kind of a friend are
you?”
Wesley told me, “Apply your heart to instruction and your
ears to words of knowledge. Listen to advice and accept
instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
Naomi chimed in, “A prudent man sees danger and takes
refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Stay away from
a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his
lips.”
I was having trouble following all these words of wisdom because
I was out partying too late last night. I shared some of the
festivities of the previous night, when Ben reminded me,
“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and
wise.” I told him that some people, like me, are night
persons and love to stay up late and then sleep in really late.
Wesley admonished, “Do not love sleep or you will grow
poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. One who is slack
in his work is brother to one who destroys.” Before I even
had a chance to defend myself, Wesley added, “Wine is a
mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not
wise.”
I was feeling pretty downtrodden by all this advice so I decided
to change the subject. I had some juicy office gossip that I
proceeded to share. I had barely finished when Naomi stated,
“A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid a man who talks too
much. He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever
repeats the matter separates close friends. As water reflects a
face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.”
Before anyone could offer me more advice, I decided my coffee
break was over. In my condition, I didn’t even know what Ben
was trying to tell me, and trying to get directions from Naomi and
Wesley was just too much work. Boy, did I ever feel foolish for
sharing my thoughts with people who had so much wisdom!
Please replace the cache properly. Orientation
may be backwards from what some might expect.
