Bible Reading: Psalm 119:33-40
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Psalm 119:37
Even though God is the one source of total smarts in the universe, there are still plenty of unwise ways people look for direction. They don’t depend on God. They even dabble in dark stuff. This story will show you what I mean.
The audience goes crazy with applause as the emcee glides to center stage. “Welcome to the annual Compass Awards show for the Home Guidance Network,” he says. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Home Guidance Network provides programming to help the public find direction for their lives. Tonight we will honor the best of these programs with the coveted Compass Award.
“This year’s first nominee is the ever popular program Do What I Do, where rich, famous, and successful people tell how they live so our viewers can copy them.
“Our second nominee is the warm and wonderful program If You Can’t Trust Your Friends, Who Can You Trust? where viewers are encouraged to direct their lives solely on the advice of their friends.
“Next is the Monday night runaway hit Keeping Up with the Culture. This knockout show tells us that if we guide our life by what we see on TV, in the movies, and in other media, we will find success.
“Our fourth nominee is the spirited program Direction from the Dark Side. This show highlights occult practices, from horoscopes to tarot cards to psychics to palm readers—all practices by which people make important decisions.
“And our final nominee is the Thursday night drama, As My Feelings Turn, the show that says, ‘If it feels right for you, it probably is right for you.’”
The host produces a large, sealed envelope and begins to tear it open. “And the winner of this year’s Compass Award is—”
Wait a minute! There’s no such thing as a Home Guidance Network—and if there were, who really cares which of these “programs” would win? They’d all be worthless! The practices they’d preach—copying the lifestyles of famous people, depending on your friends to tell you what to do, doing what the culture does, seeking occult insights, or following your feelings—aren’t God’s way to provide direction for your life.
God, who created you and loves you, has a better way to direct your life. Are you relying on his Word—or on these wacko ways that can’t provide you with the wisdom you need?
TALK: Say it in your own words: What are some of the wrong ways people look for guidance?
PRAY: God, we want you to guide our life.
ACT: Have you or any of your friends ever relied on worthless methods for guidance? Talk to God about it.
