Listen, and be Willing to Take Advice

“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Pr 29:1 NIV

Years ago civil engineers examined a dam in Pennsylvania that controlled the waters of several rivers which flowed down toward a valley where there was a town. Concerned by what they saw, they told the town officials, “The dam is unsafe and you are in great danger. You need to relocate.” The officials said, “We’ve heard it all before. The dam is all right.” A year later the engineers visited the dam and again came back saying, “We are warning you; you are in danger every hour.” By this time the engineers’ report had spread to the townsfolk, and they laughed it off, saying, “They’re just trying to scare us.” A few months later the engineers issued the same warning, and again it was dismissed. Fifteen days later a boy on a horse rode through the valley shouting, “Run for your lives! The dam has broken and the water is coming.” But the people laughed at him, certain he was trying to scare them. Suddenly a wall of dirty water struck, and in less than thirty minutes Johnstown was in ruins. More than 3,700 people died that day. Question: Has God been warning you about certain things in your life: relationships, habits, attitudes? If so, here are two Scriptures you’d do well to consider carefully: “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Pr 12:15 NIV). “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” The word for you today is: Listen, and be willing to take advice.

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