Proverbs 3:35 “the wise will inherit honour, but fools get disgrace”
I went through military basic training as a young man in England. Twelve weeks of assault courses, weapon training, night marches, and watching your gear be scattered all over the barracks room floor by an angry instructor. We were taught to read maps, travel at night unseen, strip and rebuild weapons blindfolded and obey our orders. We were out in the sea in rigid raiser landing craft at silly o’clock in the morning, then swimming ashore onto remote cold beaches in our gear, and lying on the shoreline for ages as part of an all-night exercise. Or we could be up in the hills for three days without sleep on exercises, finding our way to checkpoints in the dark, avoiding parachute flares and using our night vision sights.
We would spend hours at the firing ranges, using different weapons from 50-600 yard targets. And of course, drills on the parade ground, learning to march in order as a unit. My favourite event I think was the early morning commando crawl along a tightrope over an icy cold concrete pool. We had to swing off the rope and then remount in one attempt, if we were not successful then we had to release and fall into the pool. I did at least once have to fall into the pool.
A couple of the instructors had a pick on me because I was Scottish, and would get me to loudly shout offensive remarks about myself as a Scottish man, so my whole platoon could hear.
One day after a gruelling session doing runs with fireman’s lifts and sprints up short steep hills we were standing to attention waiting for the next session when an instructor came up to my face and ordered me to shout an offensive remark about myself which was centred around being Scottish. I refused. He said that if I did not shout the remark now he would march the whole platoon into the sea, rifles overhead and make us stand there till I said it. I could hear my mates in the platoon grumbling at me “just say it” [there were another couple of words in there as well].
Something rose up in me and I said “I won’t say that corporal”. So true to his word we were ordered to lift our rifles overhead and we were marched into the January English Channel, up to our chests. By now there was a constant rumbling against me from the group. I realised I had made a bad decision, and put my own pride over the wellness of the group, and they had all had to suffer. My inheritance for that action was to have all my mates seriously angry at me for at least the rest of that day. Oh, and in case you are wondering if you leave a comment I will tell you what happened in the end.
KNOWLEDGE
What does it feel like to have a guaranteed awesome inheritance? Do you know? If your life is under the authority of God, and you serve him from awe and love, with all your heart, mind and strength, you are walking into your amazing inheritance each moment of each day. You will occupy the hills of hope, the region of rest, the land of love, the stream of success, the river of righteousness, and the sea of safety.
Those who decide willingly not to follow after God are left empty-handed at the end. Worse even, not simply empty-handed, but empty-hearted, devoid of hope, rest, love, success, righteousness and safety – their end is a terrible end.
Each choice we make daily can take us closer to one of these ends. There is one choice to make that will set us on the right path each day, and that is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. When we make this choice we are set up to be blessed and to be a blessing to others, as we then lead others to meet Jesus for themselves.
Psalm 16:6 says, “the boundaries have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance”.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
What an amazing word “inherit ” is. In the Hebrew language, it is pronounced as “nahal”. This word appears 59 times in the Old Testament and is translated into English as words such as, possess; bequeath; have; hold; received; distributed; allotted; heritage; apportion; and, granted. Here in the final verse of Chapter 3, its meaning is connected to be given and also to take possession of.
WISDOM: who have you presented this choice to today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Deliberative is an awesome Strength. You take time to place your feet carefully in places where others may not go. Hand out praise when it’s deserved, it will set you and others free.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [those people who make great decisions from a place of Godly wisdom will live in and occupy a place of splendour. But those people who place no value on understanding, who have no shame and are insolent, will not experience heavenly favour but will find shame and dishonour daily.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me please to seek your wisdom each day, to be aware of the counterfeits and the distractions, and stay focused on you.
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
What happened after your brave refusal that found everyone in those cold January waters?
I’ve read so many stories about WWII resistance fighters who were captured and interrogated, having to weigh the cost of staying silent or capitulating to the enemy. What a test of strength of soul and spirit they faced.
Hi Wendy – We were in the water for a while and I was just being stubborn, but I wanted the training instructors to know that was not going to roll over every time they had a pick on me and actually after this time it was a longer time between being picked on.There was one black guy and me from Scotland that got the worst of the abuse from the instructors most days, everyone else the the platoon was English. Its hard holding your rifle above your head for long too! Some of the other recruits had a pick on me as well because I was Scottish so I did not mind them being in the water with me so much. But there was a growing grumble from the other guys and in the end I said what the corporal asked me to say and we were marched back out the water and on to our next thing.
Hi Ps Allan, I’m so keen to find out what happened when you didn’t listen to the instructor. I wasn’t aware that you had a military background, this is so awesome and would love to hear more please.
I love your strength thought – Deliberative is an awesome Strength. You take time to place your feet carefully in places where others may not go. Hand out praise when it’s deserved, it will set you and others free.
Thank you Ps Allan for encouraging and shareing your story with us all.
Hi Joey – We were in the water for a while and I was just being stubborn, but I wanted the training instructors to know that was not going to roll over every time they had a pick on me and actually after this time it was a longer time between being picked on.There was one black guy and me from Scotland that got the worst of the abuse from the instructors most days, everyone else the the platoon was English. Its hard holding your rifle above your head for long too! Some of the other recruits had a pick on me as well because I was Scottish so I did not mind them being in the water with me so much. But there was a growing grumble from the other guys and in the end I said what the corporal asked me to say and we were marched back out the water and on to our next thing.
Allan, I could totally understand your stubbornness in the situation but I can also see the logic in trading a person in obedience to things we don’t want to do, after all, obedience is better than sacrifice and learning to obey immediately would be an important lesson for battle. Kind of reminds me of the spiritual battle we face daily and the need to obey His ways rather than my own! Now there’s wisdom!
Thank you Allan for sharing your experiences and wisdom!
Interesting story Allan
Hi Allan, sounds like you were put between a rock and a hard place, either having to debase yourself with offensive words in front of others or see your platoon members suffer. In life we often face morally complex choices where it’s hard to know the wise choice. For what it’s worth I think in this particular situation you made that wise choice, having the courage to stand up to your instructors then having the greater courage to sacrifice your personal objections for the welfare of your platoon members, because in doing both the extent of that sacrifice was made all the more apparent to everyone. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for an undeserving world and the Bible tells us to follow his example which I believe you did in this instance. Great also hearing these amazing recounts from your life story and seeing how these experiences, difficult as they were, both revealed and no doubt helped to mould the character and wonderful compassion you bring to your pastoral work.
You continue to amaze me Pastor Allan. Thank you for sharing and encouraging us to see the reward God has in store for us. Although each day with Him is a blessing.
Thanks for a further episode of your younger life Pastor Allan! No wonder you are such an amazing man of God with such compassion kindness & love for others.
What incredibly beautiful imagery of how you describe our inheritance in Christ when we serve God in wisdom awe & love every day ie I will occupy the hills of hope, the region of rest, the land of love, the stream of success, the river of righteousness & sea of safety! How blessed are we as opposed to the foolish who resist & deny God & ultimately end up in ruin.
Well done. So did you inherit honour or disgrace?
That determines if it was a wise or foolish decision
That must have been a difficult decision to make, especially when your decision was going to affect others as well.
I pray for God’s wisdom to think carefully before taking steps forward, and for courage to stand up for myself and others where needed. Thank you for your story that ended well, Pastor Allan.
A huge thank you for Chapter3, with your own experiences. Every verse gave me something to ponder over and digest, and consciously make changes in my daily life.
Eagerly waiting for Chapter4.
Wow, I didn’t know you did military training.
You were brave to refuse, I don’t think I could have.
Thanks for sharing with Wendy & Joey what happened after you refused.
Love your strength thought.
Hi pastor Allan, thank you so much sharing, may God bless you🙏
It’s important to try to make good choices in life so that we can be a blessing to others and set us on the right place each day.
Pastor Allen thank you for sharing from your own life experiences. It brings a reality and realness to your teachings that makes it easy to relate to and apply the principles to ones own life.
Personally I feel it would have been ok for you to repeat what your superior was putting on you. Reason being if you possessed a true sense of who you were it wouldn’t matter what he wanted you to say, you would know who you were and that is what matters.
In saying that I’m not judging you in any way. I’m not sure what I would have done in your place. You certainly faced a lot of “persecution
I think either way your character was being shaped.
God bless you.
When we serve God with all our heart and all our mind and all our strength we are promised an inheritance from above .
To the hill of hope,the region of rest and to the land of love.
Such a beautiful promise from God.
I’m so grateful for his grace and love to all of us
Thank you pastor Allan
Hi Pastor Allen I haven’t received any of your teachings since Sunday.
Was wondering if you are still sending them through?
I would like to keep receiving them.
Thank you and God bless.
Pastor Alan, I remember Basic training so well, it is the back bone of all your army , if you are going to make it or not, yes once you make a decision where you are not thinking of your platoon, and you are challenging your platoon commander (2ic) you will end up having a rough ride, but I bet you look back and say I thoroughly enjoyed my basic training pastor Alan👏🏽😂👍🏾
I stand by you and with you for not speaking garbage over yourself Allan. In any accent. Was a reservist myself so can really relate to this type of behaviour. 🤨