听 听 听 听 听 Decades ago one of the songs that hit the charts as a best seller contained these lyrics:听 鈥淒on鈥檛 let the smoke get in your eyes, don鈥檛 let the moon break your heart鈥�.鈥� Written by Winston L. Moore (stage name, Slim Willet) in 1952 and recorded by several artists, the most popular version was performed by the famous crooner, Perry Como.
听听听听听听听听听 The theme of the song wasn鈥檛 anything unusual, a lover concerned that his woman might be unfaithful. It was the events of this past couple of weeks that brought the piece to mind: smoke from fires that have devastated thousands of hectares of forest and destroyed the homes, properties and livelihoods of multiplied thousands of people, smoke that will be permanently embedded in the memories of millions of people, all smoke billowing from uncontrolled fires.
听听听听听听听听听 The sad reality is something as essential to life as fire, if out of control, can become a force of destruction. Over the centuries we鈥檝e harnessed fire to cook our food, to heat our homes and to bring light into darkness. In fact, the discovery of fire is lauded as a major step forward in the progress of mankind.
听听听听听听听听听 Like the all-too-common theme of Willet鈥檚 song, it鈥檚 often the good or the legitimate pleasures of life that fail to come into line with common sense, let alone God鈥檚 Word, that too often get us into trouble. The enjoyment of good food, without the constraints of wise eating habits, leads to all sorts of health issues or, the lack of discipline in our daily habits can lead to broken relationships. When God鈥檚 word cautions us use wisdom, it鈥檚 not the result of vindictiveness on His part but evidence of His genuine love for us.
听听听听听听听听听 鈥淎nd David behaved听wisely听in all his ways, and the听Lord was听with him.鈥� (1 Samuel 18:14)
