Discernment and Our Course in Life

Discernment helps us to maintain a proper course in all our affairs. This is indicated at Proverbs 15:21, which says:  "Foolishness is a rejoicing to one who is in want of heart, but the man of discernment is one who goes straight ahead."  How are we to understand this proverb? A course of foolishness, or folly, is a cause of joy to senseless men, women, and young people.  They are "in want of heart," lacking good motive, and are so unwise that they rejoice in foolishness.

Israel's discerning King Solomon  learned that frivolity means very little. He admitted:  "is said, even I, in my heart: do come now, let me try you out with rejoicing. Also, see good." And, look! That too was vanity. Is said to laughter: 'Insanity!' and to rejoicing: 'What is this doing?' (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 2) As a man of discernment, Solomon found that mirth and laughter alone are not satisfying, for they do not produce real and lasting happiness.  Laughter may help us to forget our problems temporarily, but afterward they may loom up to an even greater degree.  Solomon could rightly  speak of laughter as "insanity." Why?  Because thoughtless  laughter beclouds sound judgment. It may cause us to take very serious matters  lightly.  The kind of rejoicing associated with the words and actions of a court jester cannot be pointed to as producing something worthwhile.  Discerning the import of Solomon's experiment with laughter and mirth helps us to avoid being "lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God." -2 Timothy 3:1, 4. 

How is it that the man of discernment goes "straight ahead"?  Spiritual discernment and the application  of godly principles lead people in an upright, straightforward course. Byington's translation bluntly says:  "Foolishness is bliss to a brainless man, but an intelligent man will go straight." The man of discernment " makes straight paths for his feet and is able to distinguish between right and wrong because of applying God's Word in life. -Hebrews 5:14; 12:12, 13. 

Next time: Always Look to Jehovah for Discernment

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997