“Change Podiatrists!”

Tom Barnard

 

“A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”

Proverbs 14:15 NIV

 

In Consumer Reports’ helpful book, The Best of Health, someone submitted the following question: “I’m 72 years old and have a hammertoe and bunions on both feet. I’m in no pain whatever, but my podiatrist insists that I need surgery to correct the problems. What do you advise?”

 

Answer: You should change podiatrists.

 

I am no expert on hammertoes or bunions, but I do know a great deal about gullibility. I have been inflicted with the “G” disease for more than sixty years. I am a sucker for everyone with a story that leads to a request for money. I believe people. I could not run a charitable organization that doles out cash. I would give it all away. But I have discovered I have a gift. I can spot a fool quicker than I can say “Sorry.” When some guy says to me, “You’ve got a problem, and I know how to fix it,” I look for the exit as quickly as possible.

 

Believing anything is not a gift of the Spirit. But discernment is. God expects us to exercise wisdom when it comes to things that can harm us. “Prudent” is the word. It means being careful or cautious. It suggests that something (or someone) is off-base, wrong, or simply ridiculous. When I was a teenager, a stranger found our church youth group and wanted to join. No one knew him, but he had a story. He said his name was Lefty Frizzell, and that he was a country and western star. I didn’t know anything about C/W music, but I could tell a phony when one showed up at church. Our youth group had a few naïve ones on board, and they took up for the guy. Someone asked him what songs he had written, and he was quick to name a few that sounded authentic. A fan club was in the making. And then someone asked the right question: “Where is your guitar?” His lame excuse didn’t satisfy. Someone else asked, “Why don’t you sing one of your songs for us?” That did it. He couldn’t sing. His cover was blown.

 

In this year of political malaise there will be many people who step forward with an appeal wanting our support. It’s time to be prudent. It’s time to ask the right questions. If the answers we get are too good to be true, they probably are. My advice? Change podiatrists—or whoever wants all your money.

 

Heavenly Father, you have given me a gift of discernment. Help me to use it with care. Give me the wisdom to seek truth; protect me from those who would persuade me to join their cause, no matter how noble it sounds. Your word teaches, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many prophets have gone out into the world.” I want to follow that advice. Encourage me to do that today. Amen.