Discretion (1)

Discretion is the quality of behaving in a quiet and controlled way without drawing attention to yourself or giving away personal or private information.It is a derivative of the word ‘discreet’ which means to be prudent or circumspect.

One of the reasons I am blogging on this virtue is to establish the fact that it is Biblical to have discretion.In fact God Himself is discreet! How do I mean?

When God says to the Israelites in captivity:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”-Jer 29:11

Did God tell them the details? Did He tell them it was still going to be many years to come before their Messiah would come? Or which plan do you think this Scripture was talking about?

One of my mentors said something of recent.He said: ‘God is weak on details’! I can’t agree more.He tends to show us the end with little or no details about the process.

God told the Israelites to move forward to the promised land without telling them they would meet the Red Sea on their way. Furthermore, He didn’t tell Moses that Pharaoh and his army would pursue them.He only told Moses to inform the Israelites to pack their luggages and get out of Egypt.Why? Why? Why?

These are questions that run through our minds sometimes when we think God has kept us in the dark concerning some things.

For example,Elisha admitted that God withheld some details from him about the Shunamite woman:

“And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me”-2Kings 4:27

As close as Elisha was to God,He hid that incident from Elisha.

God exercises discretion and in certain situations He expects us to be discreet with certain information as well.

God is still cooking the stew and He doesn’t expect you to start selling the delicacy already! The baby is not term yet,He doesn’t want you to rupture the membrane! Or else you risk having a premature baby in your hands that cannot withstand life outside the womb.

To be continued on Saturday…