Act vs. React

If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge. (Proverbs 19:27)

Plato told us that human behavior had one of three sources: desire, emotion, or knowledge. The desires of one's heart stem from a whole lot of different influences including things we have been taught, some biological factors, and more than a little bit of emotional influence. Emotion carries us much more than we'd like to admit, making us choose things that otherwise we might not just because it felt right at the moment. Knowledge is probably the easiest influence to "control" when it comes to behavior. The things we learn over the course of our lives aren't the primary influence over our behavior, but it can be a very powerful influence, nonetheless.

If we learn that a hot surface is hot when touched, leading to a very unpleasant burn on our skin, we are less likely to touch that hot surface again down the road. Yet, we touch hot surfaces throughout our lifetime, not even thinking about what we are doing. The pot begins to boil over, so we quickly reach for it, and the hot pot burns us. We didn't think - we reacted. Perhaps there is a little lesson in that one. When we don't think - we can react in a manner that isn't wise or trustworthy. So, how do we match up what we have learned with how we react when the moment arises? That might just be the most important question we can ask ourselves and God!

Listen, then act. That is God's pattern. The more we listen, then act upon what we heard, the more our reactions will change. The stimulus still exists to respond one way that isn't the best way, but the wisdom that comes from sitting at his feet helps us 'act' instead of 'reacting' to that stimulus. The 'pot' still overflows - steam still exists - the pot's handles are still blazing hot. The difference is that we have learned to grab a potholder FIRST, then move the pot. We act in wisdom because we learned the lesson. The more we bring all of life's 'boiling pots' to God, seeking his wisdom in how to respond to them, then act upon what he shows us, the less likely we are to be 'burned' by the stimuli of the moment.

Knowledge is only powerful or beneficial when it is applied. God's teaching is meant to be listened to, but it is also meant to be used to navigate through life's 'stimuli'. The more we choose to lean into what he has taught us, the less likely we are to rely upon emotion or even biological influences when life's events come our way. God asks us to learn to 'act' instead of always 'reacting'. Just sayin!