Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. (Proverbs 13:15-16, N.I.V.)

Two prisoners were on the chain gang digging a ditch. The first prisoner said to the second, “Why are we down here working like dogs while that guard sits up there in the shade drinking a cold drink?” The second prisoner chuckled a bit and said sarcastically, “Why don’t you go ask him?” So, to the second prisoner’s amazement, the first prisoner climbed out of the ditch and followed his advice. Even more amazingly, the guard actually answered the question.

The guard told the first prisoner, “You are down there because you make poor choices. Here, let me show you what I mean.” Then he walked over to a light pole, placed his hand on the light pole, and said to the prisoner, “Hit my hand.” The prisoner obliged by swinging as hard as he could at the guard’s hand, but the guard moved his hand and the prisoner’s fist went crashing into the light pole. As the pain shot through the prisoner’s knuckles, he heard the guard say, “See what I mean? You make poor choices. Now climb back down into that ditch and get back to work.”

With his hand still throbbing, the prisoner did as he was told. He hadn’t been working too long when the second prisoner asked, “Well, what did he say?” The first prisoner said, “He said that we’re down here because we make poor choices.” A bit puzzled, the second prisoner said, “What did he mean by that?” The first prisoner said, “Here, I’ll show you.” Then he placed his hand over his face and said, “Hit my hand.” Some people just can’t seem to stop making poor choices, can they? Don’t let yourself be one of them.