Our world is such a complicated place it is difficult to do really good things. We give clothes for people in Africa and while the clothes do arrive in Africa they end up being sold in the markets for prices that undercut the local tailors and drive them out of business. We send food to Africa and when free food is distributed the local farmers can no longer sell their products in the market place and we end up destroying the local economy. Our good intentions end up doing more harm than good.
Most of us have on occasion tried our best to rectify something that is wrong only to make it worse. We go to someone to apologize and end up aggravating the situation. We go away wishing we had said nothing. Sometimes we do our very best with the very best intentions only to be misunderstood and have our speech and actions interpreted as selfishness. Life becomes a minefield to be crossed instead of a meadow of flowers to be picked.
No wonder Solomon urges us to seek wisdom. He wrote, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, . . . for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 31, 2003
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453