I recently underwent cataract surgery. It's become the most common type of eye surgery. Although I'm relatively young for this, it was time. Why? My vision in one eye was getting worse and I started needing a new lens prescription too often.
Physical vision is valuable and important, but so is a more internal sense of vision. Businesses, non-profits, and ministries know the importance of vision as a basis for direction for their work. This is also true in a spiritual sense for all of us.
Vision provides perspective. My eye that needed surgery affected my depth perception and perspective. Try looking only at the immediate path of your feet, you'll likely run into something or someone. We need to look ahead to go in a straight line, and to avoid running into things (or people).
Scripture
A person who will not bend after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair. When righteous people increase, the people [of God] rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans. A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into. To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad. [vss 1-2, 5-6]
A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor. A wicked person does not understand this. Mockers create an uproar in a city, but wise people turn away anger. A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them. If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked. A poor person and an oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives both of them sight. [vss 7-8, 11-13]
Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind. He will bring delight to your soul. Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow [God’s] teachings. An angry person stirs up a fight, and a hothead does much wrong. A person’s pride will humiliate him, but a humble spirit gains honor. A person’s fear sets a trap [for him], but one who trusts the Lord is safe. [vss 17-18, 22-25]
(Proverbs 29:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 11-13, 17-18, 22-25 GW) [Context– Proverbs 29]
Key phrase— Without prophetic vision people run wild
[bctt tweet="Without prophetic vision people run wild"]
Digging Deeper...
Where are the wise statements addressing vision, discipline, and justice?
What are the contrasts made between the righteous and wicked? Do you see this true in life?
What are the many things spoken here that show the importance of internal discipline?
Why do you think it says people will run wild without prophetic vision? What seems to be an important resolve for this?
Reflection...
When we don't have a clear sense of direction for our life, it is easy to lose heart and give up hope. In working with people battling depression, I found that structure and a sense of hope were very important.
Simply having some structure in their day seemed to help people have a little hope things would get better. Being able to see things can get better creates a sense of hope, which is the opposite of hopelessness, the effect of depression.
It's the same when we see injustice and lack hope that justice will prevail. This also produces hopelessness. Do you wonder why riots occur? Whether you think they are just or not, or make sense, they are the product of hopelessness and a lack of vision.
We all need vision. We need clarity for our own life, and for the world around us. The truth of God and trusting in God are important. They act as anchors in our life. When we make them priorities in our life, we will experience prophetic (far-seeing) vision.
Make it personal...
Read through the Scripture text again to consider and answer the following questions
Are you able to discern what is true and right? By what means do you determine this?
How have you struggled with injustice? How have you contributed to justice being done?
What are areas where you struggle with self-discipline? What have you found that helps you develop self-discipline?
Do you have a sense of vision and direction for your own life? If not, what will you do to gain this?