Today’s Gospel

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that listens to counsel is wise. - Proverbs 12:15

Reflection

In this verse, we can see that those who never accept others’ advice but place too much trust in themselves are arrogant and foolish. Those who modestly listen to other opinions are people who have true wisdom. Such people are rational and not self-righteous, and easily accept the truth. They are pleasing to God.

Speaking of listening to counsel, a story crossed my mind: There is an owl named Dada who decides to find a bigger hole after delivering five cute babies. She singles out a large tree deep in the forest. Dada’s friend Benben suggests to her that she should not make her new home there, for a fox lives under the tree and it is very dangerous to be a fox’s neighbor. However, Dada brushes it aside. She believes there will be no danger since she and her cubs live at the top of the tree and the activities of the fox can only be under the tree. So, Dada does not take Benben’s advice. Then, Benben says, “If you must move to the tree, you’d better choose the hole on the right as your new home, because it is farther from the fox’s house and more concealed.” But Dada denies Benben’s suggestion again. She thinks the hole on the left is sunny and spacious. In the end, Dada moves into the hole on the left alongside her babies. One stormy night, Dada does not return after foraging for food long outside. The young who wait anxiously poke their heads out and look around in search of their mother. Suddenly, there is a wind. The small cubs are blown out of the hole and fall right before the fox. When Dada returns, it is conceivable that ...

Just imagine Dada had let go of herself and carefully considered Benben’s advice, could she have avoided the tragedy? The Bible said, “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath” (Proverbs 21:24). Proud and arrogance make one foolish and extraordinarily self-right. In the face of other opinions, such people never consider whether others’ advice is reasonable but directly refuse it. Or even though they know what others put forward is correct, they don’t accept the advice because they cannot let go of their arrogance and vanity, but think it debases themselves. Driven by this arrogant disposition, we are self-important and self-conceited, always insist on ourselves and deny others and cannot accept others’ advice, and thus we will be the ones who suffer loss in the end. In fact, man can’t be perfect. One’s ability is limited however high it is, and one’s knowledge is limited however profound it is. We can do a better job only when we are able to listen to proper suggestions and learn from others’ strong points to offset our own weaknesses. Jesus once said, “For whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The verse tells us that God loves those who can humble themselves. God says, “What is vital now for you all to do is to learn to obey that which is right and to obey that which comes from the truth and that which conforms to the truth; in this way, you are walking and practicing toward being obedient to God. … Through obeying, seeking, praying more, retreating to your spirit and coming before God then, unbeknownst to you, a change will happen in your inner condition.” Only those who can obey God and obey that which is right are the wisest and most sensible. So, we should try to let go of ourselves and learn to listen to other opinions. If you practice this way, you will gain something different. Testify God wishes you and your family and friends a happy life!

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