I love the book of Proverbs. By definition, a proverb is a short saying, stating a general truth. In the Bible, the book of Proverbs is a collection of these statements of general truth. Notice I said general truths. There are some proverbs that are applicable to all people at all times; there are others that are only applicable in certain situations and for certain people, based on where they are in life. Please understand, God’s Proverbs are never falsehoods, as every written word is alive and reflective of Spirit of the Most High literally. Provers are statements of wisdom and truths that we can apply to situations in life.
There are two proverbs that have captured my attention:
Proverbs 14:12KJV- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25KJV- There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Notice the repetition. Just as a parent repeats himself to his child, do you notice God trying to get our attention?
How often do we see mankind make decisions based on what “seems right” and then afterward, look back with regret and/or remorse? Perhaps you have experienced this in your own life?
And what exactly are “the ways of death?”
The “way” of something leads to a place, some end result. Just as the way of righteous living leads to righteous reward; the way of foolish living leads to suffering a means to the way of death.
But what is death? Death is ceasing to live. It is when a being or organism no longer receives or puts to use beneficial things so that it may prosper; it functions no more. It is to be no more.
If we were to summarize Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 we could say that mankind makes decisions that seem right, but those decisions lead to death.
Ouch! No one with hopes of doing the right thing wants to actually receive death as a result. How do we avoid this?
Thankfully God gives us some advice on what we can do to avoid such an outcome and ensure that the ways we select lead to life, prosperity, and blessings.
James 1:5 KJV- If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraieth not (ungrudgingly, without finding fault); and it shall be given him.
This means that if you aren’t sure of the path you are taking, or of the decision you are about to make, you can literally go to God and ask Him for wisdom, and He will give it to you! The access we have to our loving Father is unlimited. He wants us to come to Him and He wants to bless us. For example, when we learn of benefits that we might receive from our jobs we want to take advantage of the opportunity to receive the benefit but it has to be presented to us we don’t just know this by chance. As followers of the Most High, we should take advantage of the benefit our God has made available to gain wisdom and it can be found in his written word. Afterall, he gives it LIBERALLY if we ask for it!
Psalm 32:8 KJV- I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
In addition to the benefit of gaining wisdom when we ask God, we also have the bonus of his continuous guidance and teachings. Our God is not a god who will leave us hanging, struggling to figure out this life on our own. He loves us and nurtures us along the way. If we want to ensure that we do not follow a path that leads to death, we must be receptive to His instruction and His guidance. He tells us that He will guide us with HIS EYE. You can have 20:20 vision, the best prescription lenses, or read top selling self-help books- but nothing compares to the Eye of God. His vision is the best because He already knows the story of our lives. Wouldn’t you prefer to be led by someone who already knows the outcome and wants the best for you?
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Again, the book of Proverbs, and Proverbs 3:5 is a mighty verse: Trust.
If we are to look to God to assist us in life, We Must Trust Him. This means we must put our faith in Him and acknowledge that He is God, that He has the best plan, and believe that He will guide us.
Note- Trusting God is not something you just do with lip-service; it is an act of humility of the heart. Trusting God requires submission. Saying that you trust God, and then attempting to wrestle with Him when He leads you is not trusting Him. Your heart must say, “Okay God, you drive the vehicle and take me where you want me to go” and you have to be in full submission. God tells us in His Word that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), so we know that He most certainly values our submission to His Will.
It is not up to us to know and understand all the ways of life and the paths which we must take. That wisdom comes from God and is where our faith comes in. He has warned us that without Him, we can be subject to navigating the waters of life alone, ending up in destruction and death. However, with Him, He will guide us to life.
Seeking and trusting God can not only prolong life on this earth, it will ensure that after this life on earth, we receive eternal life with Him, through our faith in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are uncertain and don’t know what to do so here goes…. Choose the path of life, not death which is the road to seeking Gods Kingdom first and all things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33