Don't Borrow Trouble

There is a saying that I have tried to live by in my older, wiser years of life that I did not exercise in my youth and young adulthood, because I thought I knew all there was to know about life and making decisions.  No-one could tell me otherwise.  I was hardheaded and quite independent; learning-by-doing rather than listening to what others told me to do.  Their attempts to steer me away from problematic situations were in vain.  The saying I was referring to is “Don’t borrow trouble.”

When I was nineteen years old my dad tried to tell me something that would have been beneficial to me, but I took it in a negative way as if he were trying to tell me what to do.  I said something off the wall to him regarding his advice and I remember him saying, “Son, if I broke an axle by hitting a chuckhole down the street, wouldn’t you want me to tell you about it so you don't break your axle?"

Dad should have popped me, because of the attitude of my response.  I exclaimed, “No, just let me hit the chuckhole and learn by my own mistakes!”  I was rude, impudent, and thought I had all the answers.  As I grew older I learned to appreciate his input.  It is amazing how smart Dad became in just four, short years.  Age twenty-three was a turning point in my life.  I began asking Dad his opinion on things and listened to sound advice and wise council.

One sensible safeguard he tried to get across to me was “Don’t borrow trouble.”  I have learned through the years that this phrase can pertain to a plethora of things ranging from worrying about something that may or may not happen; to becoming financially involved with someone that is devious in nature.

It is an eye opening experience to be on the receiving end of being blindsided by someone.  For this reason, and more, a person must exercise caution by using wisdom in every area of life.  “Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you” is another saying that goes hand in hand with “Don’t borrow trouble,” which is the ability to use good judgment when making decisions.

The quotes in the preceding paragraph imply that there are always enough problems that need our immediate attention without looking for more.  It is much wiser and less stressful to “Let sleeping dogs lie” as it were.  I believe this proverb parallels the above thought. 

If something isn’t causing obvious problems in the present, then get on with more pressing issues that are hanging over one’s head.  Sometimes it is hard to let a matter that is at rest stay at rest, and to not create a disturbance by bringing the matter up again, which brings me to another saying “A stitch in time saves nine.”  My dad often used this quote to make an impression in the minds of his four children that follow-through was most important.

Dad tried to get across to each of us that when a person procrastinates or postpones something that needs to be looked after or repaired, it seldom pays off in the end if due diligence is not exercised.  He taught, by example, that when ends are kept tucked in, this positive action helps to prevent surprises and actually costs less money to fix things in the now rather than waiting to do so sometime in the future.  It takes implementing this type of behavior to realize the dividends, and it helps prevent being taken unaware.

Let us not forget the Boy Scout motto “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”  It is not wise to stick one’s head in the sand, figuratively speaking, and hope that things will go away or work themselves out.  Responsibility and awareness are both imperative attributes that help maintain accountability.  But sometimes this concept is hard to grasp and maintain when individuals blindly or worse yet, willfully allow themselves to become caught up in questionable activities or involved with people that can lead in the opposite direction of righteousness, down the wide road to destruction.

We must take the blinders from our eyes and not become involved with sin at any level.  It is spiritual suicide to think that we are strong enough in ourselves to resist what or who is tempting us, and that we are able to maintain spiritual healthiness on our own merits. 

Even though something is pleasing to the eyes or any of our other senses, we must realize that yielding to temptation will most likely lead to sin.  Being tempted is not sin of itself, it is when a person partakes of, dwells on, or lusts after things they shouldn’t that it becomes sin or generates a sin nature.

I knew when I gave my heart to God, through Jesus Christ His Son that I was turning over a new leaf in life and that old things needed to pass away and all things would become new in Christ the Lord.  I knew that God had a plan for me and that He also had someone with whom I would share my life with.  I believed God had a companion for me somewhere. 

I was quite vigilant and attended places where single, godly women would be, such as Christian, singles groups and other church affiliated activities.  I was putting myself out there in all the right places, because I knew God would come through for me someday.

One evening while pumping gas at a local gas station, a very attractive woman drove in that certainly caught my eye.  “Is this the one?” I asked myself.  I watched as she got out of her car and, WOW!  Not only was she beautiful, but she was wearing a tight, red dress that revealed every curve of her gorgeous body; and she was smiling at me.

I finished filling my gas tank and casually walked over to her and struck up a conversation.  She was very responsive and all was going well.  I thought, “Dear Jesus, my prayers are answered.”  Small talk led to my question, “What are you doing tonight?”  It was her response that caught me off guard; causing my mouth to become dry to the point that it was hard to swallow, because of the intense sickness I was feeling.

Please do not judge me for my actions or my response to her answer, but for me, being a new Christian and all, I had decided when I asked Jesus into my heart that I would leave the old lifestyle behind me, because there was no peace whatsoever in the things I once did, only momentary satisfaction; nothing lasting.

I don’t want to hurt your feelings if you are an exotic dancer or someone looking for the same Savior that I met years ago, but I was and still am determined to live for Christ no matter what temptation Satan tempts me with.  She said that she was on her way to work and that she was a dancer at a local nightclub.  I was well acquainted with this particular establishment, which employed topless dancers.

I was at a crossroad.  Do I or don’t I ask her out.  There was only one choice in the matter as to what I needed to do.  My heart was pounding out of my chest; all conversation immediately ceased.  Bidding her goodnight, I turned and walked back to my car.  She stood there dumbfounded with her mouth open as I drove off.

I praised the Lord for the ability He gave me to say no.  I found inner strength to resist temptation and was thankful that I didn’t throw caution to the wind.  I continued to trust God to send me my soul mate, which He did a short time later.  God blessed me beyond measure, because I didn’t borrow trouble that night. 

I could not ask for anyone more perfectly suited for me than the lifelong sweetheart that I married; a godly woman that loves me unconditionally.  What more could I want than this?  God gave me the desire of my heart.

(Matthew 6:33), “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Romans 12:2), “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

It pays to listen to what God is telling us when compromising situations come our way and then look for the escape route that He provides; it will always be there.  God’s blessings rest on those that seek Him first and shows themselves faithful to Him, while maintaining accountability.

(1 Corinthians 10:13), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd