When I think about instruction I think immediately to those pages that come with that new item purchased that needs to be assembled before use. There is listed out the how to place the parts together to make it functional and useful in the manner it was intended. I believe the one area that I tend to overlook are the warnings of what not to do. There is this focus on the end result that I will overlook that which was shared to help me avoid the pitfalls that come in the use of this item.
“11Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (ESV)
In the verses above Paul is referring to the Israelites in the wilderness as they fled Egypt in route to the Promised Land. There were many instances of disobedience where the people were punished for their actions by God. All of these things they did where chronicled and told throughout the ages. They were written down as instructions of what not to do. They were the pages of the instruction that should be seen as the “Caution – Don’t Do This, it Leads to Destruction”. These were the warnings to those coming later, the what not to do that are overlooked in the focus on the results.
I have to remember all instructions that have been shared with me. Those that take me somewhere and those that are cautionary and guide me in what not to do. All instruction is great and useful. I may not see the value in it at the moment, but it is still useful for me to be aware of and dig out from time to time.
When you look at instructions, how do you engage with the what not to do items? Are you so focused on getting to the end, that you don’t even recognize or remember that the cautions and warnings were even there? What if you were to take all instruction seriously and remember those “what not to do” items?
Trevor's Thoughts 