At times in life we receive invitations to go to parties, a meal out, an outing at a lake, and other places. …but we can’t always accept those invitations, for what seems a good idea at the time, in reality, turns out to be a very bad idea, and brings on consequences of our choices.

I accepted an invitation to a lake outing once, and never made the same mistake again, for what I had in mind at the lake, and what the crowd had in mind was not the same thing. …and if that wasn’t bad enough, I had ridden with other people to go to the outing. Worst mistake ever. I did learn a valuable lesson in discernment. Had I had my own car, I would have immediately left, but I was at the mercy of the people that brought me, and no way of escape other than not to participate in their worldly activities. A terrible situation to have placed myself, and I felt ashamed that I did not use any discernment, judgment, nor prudence in having accepted the invitation. I should have known better.

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: ………….” Exodus 23:2

The crowd that I was with associated the lake with drinking, and then people that drank too much brought on more problems. One got into a shouting match with another, and I cringed at having heard that argument, and then scolded myself for having placed myself in such a situation. I repented to my Father for not having had more discernment in choosing better, but I suffered the consequences of my poor decision. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

As George Washington said, “Better to be alone, than in bad company.”

When we work with people we have one view of them. We, or at least I, thought they were nice people, and they were, at work, but in a social situation, it wasn’t the case. There idea of fun was not the Christian’s idea of fun.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Discernment is so important in the Christian’s life. I certainly learned a valuable lesson, and since that incident, I no longer accept invitations outside the Lord’s church, unless they are people that I know well, and do not participate in such worldly activities, and even then I take my car.

“Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?” Luke 12:56-57

I now go to work, check on my friend, help him if need be, and come home. I like that much better. When those two had the argument during that lake outing, I perished at the thought that the argument may get so out of hand that it makes the front page news. I certainly did not want that. Discernment, discernment, discernment.

“If you move with the crowd, you will get no further than the crowd. When 40 million people believe a dumb idea, it is still a dumb idea. Simply swimming with the tide gets you no where. So if you believe in something that is good, honest and right. Stand up for it. Maybe your peers will get smart and drift your way.”

Eileen Light