The Timid and The Reckless

“The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.” (Proverbs 14:16 NLT)

Once upon a time, three photographers went on a flightseeing tour over the mountains of Alaska. They boarded a single engine plane manned by an experienced pilot. Before takeoff, the pilot distributed parachutes, demonstrated their use, and admonished the passengers not to remove them. Soon they were on their way--flying over the majestic landscape of Alaska. Unfortunately, the parachutes restricted their movements, so one of the guys decided to take his off.  Suddenly the plane started having engine trouble. The pilot managed to put the plane into a glide and told everyone they must jump in the next ninety seconds. The reckless guy who had taken off his parachute saw a lake down below. He decided to take a chance and jumped first. His calculations were off, and his body crashed into the side of a mountain. The other two passengers watched in shock. The pilot urged them to jump with him, but only one obeyed. They deployed their chutes and landed with only minor injuries. The last guy was too scared to jump. He decided he would rather stay on the plane in the hope that he would survive the crash. Instead, his life was crushed.

In this story, the first one lost his life, because he did not like being told what to do and recklessly did what he wanted without thinking it through. The overcautious one lost his life, because he was indecisive and missed his window of opportunity. Both relied on their own instincts--whether they were based on rejecting restrictions, reckless confidence, fear, or insecurity. The wise one followed instructions and jumped at the right time with his parachute. He listened and obeyed.  

How can we find a balance between being reckless and being overly anxious? Instead of merely depending on our emotions and instincts, we must trust God. The burdens that He asks us to carry are placed on our backs for a reason.  A wise person avoids danger by listening and following instructions. His confidence is not in his own skills or instincts but on the wisdom and ability of God.