At dinnertime, a boy asked his father, “What does it mean when they say a fellow has
horse sense?” “It means he can say nay!” replied the father. It’s horse sense to learn
to say “no.” Power for daily living and success demand it. We face a barrage of
requests from every side that requires us to say “yes” or “no.” It’s easy to say “yes.”
It’s the “no” that’s harder to say.
Joseph is the perfect Bible example. Sold as a slave into Egypt Joseph came into
contact with a lustful woman. This woman happened to be his master’s wife.
According to Genesis 39:7, “his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said,
Lie with me.” How will Joseph respond? Will he say “yes” or “no?” Listen carefully
to verses 8-10, “But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my mas-
ter wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath
to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any
thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by
day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” What a powerful
example of saying “no.”
As we live our lives we will be faced with many situations where we need to say
“no.” I pray we will have the horse sense to do so.
Ken Tyler
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