In Acts 27, Paul is being transported to Rome to stand before Ceaser. During the journey, Paul warned of trouble and possibe loss of lives if they continued but the Captain and owner of the ship did not agree with Paul so the Officer believed them (afterall, they were the experts on this subject) and they continued on their journey. When they pushed out to sea, everything seemed great at first and even the weather seemed to favour them. ‘When a good wind began to blow from the south, the men on the ship thought, “This is the wind we wanted, and now we have it.” So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed very close to the island of Crete.’ Acts 27:13 NCV. However, that joy was short-lived as a very strong wind came at them and that was the beginning of the end. Eventually, the word of God came to Paul a second time and he told them no life would be lost but everything else would. By the end of that chapter, they got to land and as Paul had said, and in spite of how much they used their skills to make decisions and save the ship, the ship got destroyed and only lives were saved.
This story is a great example of what Proverbs 3: 5-6 admonishes. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV”.
Complete dependence on skills and intellect alone can be costly mainly because as humans we have no idea about what’s ‘around the bend’. We can’t predict the next 5 minutes how much more the next year, 5, 10 or 20. This is why it is important to allow the One who has seen the end, who decrees the end from the beginning, the One who has times and seasons in His hands and who loves you more than you can ever imagine be a part of your decision making. A way might seem perfect based on your analysis of a situation but can I crave your indulgence to bring God in before you act so you don’t end up in loss and regret? “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 NKJV”
Can you trust that the One who’s thoughts for you are for peace and not evil, to give you an expected end; who formed you in your mother’s womb, has upheld you from birth and can carry you to your old age? (Jeremiah 29: 11 and Isaiah 46: 3-4).
He knows you know what you know. He is the one that gave you the intellect, wisdom, exposure, understanding etc., that you’re leveraging in your analysis yet He says acknowledge me in ALL your ways. Let God be able attest to your faith in Him by your obedience, trust and dependence on Him in your decision making and you will be the one in awe of how beautiful your life will turn out eventually.
Remain connected,
Bolaji Ajayi
And the word became flesh 