The right path.
Part 2 - Principles of wisdom
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” –
“In all your ways acknowledge Him” - (Result? – “he will make your paths
straight”.) I have written about this before… What paths? What does it mean to “trust with all your
heart?” What does it mean “in all things acknowledge Him?” Let me quote from my
own words concerning Straight Paths – “Life has been rightly called a
“labyrinth”. Webster defines a labyrinth as “an intricate combination of paths
in which it is difficult to find one’s way or reach the exit.” Life is
certainly full of many different paths, false steps, dead-ends, wrong turns,
and we can easily make unwise decisions. The question is; “How do we make good,
right choices that will lead us through the maze of life and avoid the pitfalls
and consequences of unwise decisions?” (“By His Hand” pg 58)
The Book of Proverbs, says it is written “for attaining wisdom,
discipline, and understanding”. It not only shows us the right way to get
through the labyrinth of life, but also describes for us in no uncertain terms,
that we “reap what we sow”.
These
words encompass several things. First, there is the insinuation of guidance;
“He will make” means that God will guide us when faced with choices and
decisions. Second, is the issue of “straight” paths verses “crooked” paths.
Crooked paths symbolize the junkyards and swamps, the ditches and scars and
bitterness that are the consequences of wrong and unwise decisions. The wisdom
of “straight paths” means freedom from the baggage many of us are dragging
through life; and not being encumbered with painful memories and indiscretions
of the past. The good news is that it is never too late to get off of the road
of hurt and painful decisions, and get on the straight paths of God’s Word.
There is a goal in mind, and an end in sight. There is an exit to find
and a hope for true freedom. God created us for a purpose. He has a goal in
mind, and he desires to help us find it while achieving our purpose along the
way. However, all this is preceded by something required of us – “Trust in the
Lord with all our heart”; “Leaning not on our own understanding”; and, “in all
your ways acknowledge Him.” This promise comes with some “ifs”… If we do our
part, God will do His part.”
“Do
not be wise in your own eyes” – “fear the Lord and shun evil” – Result? – “This
will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” What does it
mean to “fear the Lord?” - In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful,
but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot, or
thinking you know a lot. Being “wise in your own eyes” is thinking you are wise enough to conduct all affairs in life by your
own discretion; or in matters of religion wiser than your teachers, and even wiser
than the Scriptures. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of
life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord—to honor and respect God,
to live in awe of his power, and to obey his Word. Faith in God should be the
controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and
your actions. Trust in God—he will make you truly wise. Our lives are to be
ones that constantly seek the Lord and His wisdom and instruction. There is
only One who knows it all and it is not the person that you see when you look
in the mirror.
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