Avoid self-destructive actions
*Many bright and brilliant people engage in self-destructive actions. They forget that because they are good and are gifted, they don’t have answers to all challenges of life.*
*Their self destructive actions could be as a result of lack of thoughtfulness or outright disobedience to instructions.*
*Josiah was a wise and God fearing King, but he rushed into a war he didn’t quite need :*
*2 Kings 23: [29] In his days, Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.*
*[30] And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.*
*The king of Egypt came up against the King of Assyria, NOT AGAINST JOSIAH or Judah. But Josiah took it upon himself to mobilize his soldiers against Pharaohneckoh, and because it was not quite a battle God was interested in, Josiah himself didn’t bother to cross check with God whether he should get involved in or not, he ended up becoming the major victim – he unfortunately jumped into a war that didn’t concern him, and the result was obvious.*
*Look at the example of Absalom too – of all the sons of David, he was the most gifted : bold, brilliant, assertive and courageous, but he was rebellious.*
*He ended up killing his step brother -Amnon, and upstaging his own father in a violent change of government drive. With such a life, Absalom was a disaster waiting to happen, no wonder the self destruction that befell him.*
*6) LACK OF HUMILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY :*
*One example of someone who was greatly gifted but who ended up being destroyed by self pride and lack of accountability was Samson :*
*Judges 16: [20] And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.*
*Please know that brilliance without character is very dangerous. Even to his own parents, Samson was disobedient :*
*Judges 14:[2]And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.*
*[3]Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.*
*7) REST AND RENEWAL :*
*As earlier indicated, most bright and brilliant people are guilty of burnouts. Overwork can be very dangerous :*
*Jesus Christ after major public ministrations, would always set himself aside for prayers and REST :*
*Mark 6:3[31] And he said unto them, _Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat_.*
*If Jesus could strongly recommend rest and renewal for his “anointed disciples”, then the good and the gifted, the bright and brilliant need it too to avoid being cut down in the prime of their lives.*
Top of the day to you 👍.
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
