Michael Vick was released from jail early this morning. He will serve the next two months in federal custody in home confinement. It has been reported and confirmed by Michael Vick’s agent that he has accepted a full time construction job that will pay him $10 per hour. Here is a man that was the highest paid player in the NFL with a 7 year contract worth over $130 Million dollars now doing construction work for $10 per hour.
I think there is no better illustration right now than Michael Vick to teach people (young & old) the value of making Wise Choices. I don’t believe wisdom has a pricetag, I truly believe it is priceless. Through my own experience (of 28 years) I am quickly learning that the more I learn, the more I come to understand that there is so much that I have not learned so far and that I have a long ways to go to achieve “Wisdom.” However, as I continue trying to be “Wise” nothing is stopping me from making wise choices along the way.
A wise man once said…
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!” Proverbs 16:16
That was coming from a man who could have asked God fo ANYTHING and chose to ask for WISDOM. How many of us are like Michael Vick where we have chosen to seek after the silver and the gold or the fame and prestige over wisdom? I know I have. Fortunately, its not resulted in the loss of millions of dollars. Fortunately, it hasn’t resulted in public scrutiny and a federal prosecution. It is truly by the grace and mercy of God that my stupid choices have not caused me greater shame and harm.
I believe that that it is vital we teach those people (young and old) who God entrusts to our care to make wise choices. After working with students for 14 years I know that if it is not taught early, the consequences will strike, if not at an early age, most definitely at an older age. Through another conversation I had on facebook, it was reminded to me that we cannot expect people to do what they are not taught or trained to do. How can we expect people to make wise choices if we do not teach them to make wise chioces…and how to make those wise choices?
For all of us, its a personal choice to grow in wisdom and understanding or to reject it. Proverbs 15:32 says,
“If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”
I believe we all need people in our lives who can offer the proper correction and discipline to help us obtain wisdom and understanding. I believe as God entrusts us with people in our care, we must be available to be those people who can instruct and guide them towards making wise choices. Michael Vick lost millions of dollars and ruined his reputation because of poor choices, however, some people lose much more.
It encourages me to see Michael Vick reaching out to Tony Dungy for guidance. Tony is a great man of God who is full of wisdom and I believe he can direct Vick in the right direction. I believe Vick will have paid his debt to society when his prison term is up and as he fulfills the rest of his probation. I believe he needs to be given every right and responsibility that anyone who leaves prison would receive. I don’t believe it is too late for Vick to learn what the second part of Proverbs 16:6 says,
“…By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.”
And when people make poor choices and fail, I don’t believe its too late for ALL of us to learn what the first part of Proverbs 16:6 says,
“Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin…”
Join the Conversation…Do you have a Tony Dungy in your life to help point you towards wisdom? Has this person been in your life for a long time or did you find them after making some poor choices along the way?
