Does it Pay to Follow the Crowd?

Today, as I was sitting at my computer, my attention was drawn to the headline of an advertisement that said

"Sometimes it pays to follow the crowd; especially when it leads to great rewards".

I spent a while thinking that thought over; it really sounded like an interesting statement. To follow something that can lead you into great rewards sounds like a very smart thing to do. But, then again, I wondered, what if you got in behind a wrong crowd, and wasted all your time and money, and even possibly your life? There are certainly all kinds of people who desire to lead crowds, and all kinds of people who are looking for something they consider worthwhile to follow. So how do we apply wisdom to judge what is worthwhile? It's quite possible to be led down some paths that go nowhere, even though there is a promise of success given.

Some of what I am seeking to illustrate was portrayed in a humorous but true way in the plot of the movie "Forest Gump". In this movie, a thread of the words of wisdom taught him by his mother, played by Sally Field, was woven though the story line. This nugget of wisdom was "Forest, stupid is, as stupid does." The main character, Forest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, began as a young boy being often encouraged by various friends and enemies, to "Run, Forest, run!" On one of his famous runs, as he ran, people, one or two at a time, got in behind him and started following him. It became a very large crowd, and he kept peeking around at the people over his shoulder, seemingly very nervous and looking somewhat bewildered. It seemed to me that might have known within himself that he did not have the foggiest notion where he was going, and wondered why in the world they were following him. Even so, he just kept running, and they just kept following. Do you see the profound truth of human nature
to trust although ignorant in that parable? This was one occasion where the truth of Mrs. Gump's wisdom seemed to shine through.

Scripture certainly supports the wisdom of Mrs. Gump. It describes the one who does not pay attention to wisdom as senseless and stupid.

Psalm 94:8
... Pay heed, you senseless among the people; and when will you understand, stupid ones?

The lesson here is that wisdom is desperately needed by all who are seeking leaders and crowds to get in behind. Wisdom sought and applied in seeking worthwhile leaders and crowds to follow can most certainly lead to great rewards.

I suggest that we may all set our hearts to learning how to follow crowds who have a proven track record for fulfilling rewards promised. Will you consider the great crowd of witnesses in the word of God? Have you heard of Abraham, who set his heart to following and obeying the voice of the Lord, and became the Father of God's family in the earth? Many generations of family and friends got in behind him, and still follow his examples today. For the sake of this one man, nations and people groups are still daily receiving blessing. He began the lineage that produced the Lord Jesus Christ, and that lineage daily brings salvation to the world. Or how about the faith giants from Hebrews 11? Common human beings who have all been commended by the Almighty God as worthy of praise, and left a glorious inheritance for their children following behind them for generations? It might be that you are not called to be as an Abraham, or as a Samson, but we are all called to follow those who follow Christ, with the promise of rewards. God said if we give one of his anointed ones so much as a glass of water because they are his, we will not lose our reward!

Read Hebrews 11 passage; God's Hall of Fame;
http://nasb.scripturetext.com/hebrews/11.htm

By setting the heart to following leaders who demonstrate the fruit of being Christ followers, great rewards will certainly get in behind you and chase you down, and also your descendants. God's promise is to you, and to your children, and to your children's children, both in this life, and in the life to come.

Pray without ceasing that you may be found too wise to get in behind the Forest Gump's of this world. Stupid is, as stupid does!

Romans *8 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

God's Promised Everlasting Love
Romans 8: 31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Scripture Source / Holy Bible