Road to Righteousness (Proverbs 4:14-17)

Next, instruction is given on how to travel and where not to go. It is a road sign of sorts. As we drive in our communities, we see various signs that tell us what or what not to do. "Do Not Enter", "Merge Left", "Stop". This is possible one of the most important set of road signs that the Lord has given to us yet.

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men." Proverbs 4:14, Amplified

The first road sign is warning us to not enter the the path of the wicked. It is something that may not we may not have to be reminded of on a day to day basis, however, it is nice to have this sign pop up every once and a while. Signs like these also make us check the path that we are currently one to see if it is indeed a righteous or wicked path; a litmus test of sorts.

"Avoid it, do not do on it; turn from it and pass on." Proverbs 4:15, Amplified

The next four signs are very interesting because they are coupled with the "Do Not Enter" sign at the beginning. It is like watching an episode of Looney Toons where Elmer Fudd is looking for a duck to hunt and Daffy Duck Puts up a bunch of signs showing Elmer where to find that rascally rabbit. I imagine the road to wickedness to be marked the same way by our Lord. There are a bunch of signs that warn us to not enter into that path or that lifestyle or to not make that choice.

Avoid it. This is an interesting sign in that the word can be defined in so many different ways. It literally means "to loosen" but it can also mean "to expose" or "uncover". So what we are seeing here is that the path of the wicked is something that we do not want to allow to have hold of us. We need to expose it for what it truly is; in essence to make it naked. To make something naked is to see it at its core self.

Do not go on it. In the original King James we see that we are to not pass by it. In other words do not entertain the thoughts of sin. As we think less of how much greener the grass may be we will begin the grass that has been given to us. Literally translated, the word means "to cross over". At the school where I work, some of the kids play ball next to a fence so they have a better chance at kicking it over the fence so they can get outside the gate even for just a moment. Sometimes this is just how we are with the sinful lifestyles that surround us.

Turn from it. This means "to decline". Though we may expose the sin and not cross over it, there may be times that it is offered. Banks do it all the time. Swipe the card, and the words come on the screen "Declined" usually coupled with a code or a reason. The codes have various meanings like insufficient funds or there is a hold on the card. Our declaration should be, "Declined!" We should couple that with the reason, "I'm a Christian!"

Pass on. I prefer the original King James when reading this verse. It states that we should "pass away". Not only should we expose the sin, nor should we cross over it and also decline it, but we should die to it. Death is a funny thing, it ends conversation. One day I was talking with my father about various thing, the day that he died I could no longer have any type of conversation with him. Death breaks any ties or bonds.

"For they cannot sleep unless they have caused trouble or vexation; their sleep is taken away unless they have caused someone to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence." Proverbs 4:16-17, Amplified

When we think of sleep, peace should come to mind. The reason for all the signs is for this very reason. The Lord wants us to experience peace in our lives. People loose sleep because they are up late doing things in the darker hours of the evening. Drug addicts are seeking out the next score, alcoholics just need one more drink, whoremongers are looking for next woman to sleep with. These are all things that are destructive to the human body, therefore we must avoid them, do not go on them, turn from them and pass away to them.

Also whenever food is seen in the Scripture we are automatically drawn to communion. In Eastern cultures when eating with someone, you become one with them. The wicked eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. Do we really want all this to become one with us, take over our bodies from the inside out? Thus this is the second reason for all the road signs. Our communion should be with those who are like minded with us. Our communion should be with the Lord: in His Word, in prayer, in fellowship.

(777) NEED-HIM (Proverbs 4:10-13)

There is never a day when wisdom will not be needed. Choices are made by each individual on a daily basis. As prayer is made for wisdom, a steadfastness must also be attained. It is not enough to just pray, but as we receive we must hold on to what the Lord has given to us.

"Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many." Proverbs 4:10, Amplified

Solomon is begging his child to receive what is being taught. I now as a child, I did not want to receive much of what my parents had to say. It was not that I knew it all, but the experience of doing it on my own was so enthralling. Independence is imbedded deep in the human heart, but independence and instruction are not necessarily terms that are not complimentary. I am going through the same thing with my daughter and son right now. Both of my children want to do everything on their own, but it is my heart's desire not to have them have to redo anything; work smarter not harder. No parent wants to sit and have to tell their children, "I told you so." If Instruction is received, a better quality of life is received because that instruction is coming from someone with knowledge and wisdom.

"I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have lead you in the ways of uprightness." Proverbs 4:11, Amplified

Solomon is qualifying his statement for his son to follow and receive his instruction; it is because he has lead his son toward God. If we are being led toward God, we should receive all that anyone has to give us. Being taught in the ways of God and how to walk in uprightness lead to better quality of life, therefore a longer life. Not only that, but Solomon is saying that he has offered up comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God. We are blessed with the ability to also receive that lesson plan as we read the book of Proverbs.

"When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered - your paths will be clear and open; and when you run you shall not stumble." Proverbs 4:12, Amplified

This is all spiritual allegory. Reading the Bible does not create for us a better cadence or a more even stride, but it does help us in our "walk" with the Lord. What this is in reference to is the journey that we are taking with the Lord and towards the upward calling in Christ. What Solomon is trying to convey is that our steps will be sure, there will be no doubt as we make decisions in our lives if wisdom is applied, and that wisdom is godly wisdom. I also believe that Solomon is making a reference to a girding of the loins. In this time, the men wore tunics which would make running very difficult. But if that same tunic was to be brought up between the legs and tucked into the belt, the legs of the man would then not be encumbered with the tunic; there would be nothing left to trip the man as he ran. Peter made reference to this same thing, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming ourselves tot he former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (I Peter 1:13-15, NKJV) This is what the wisdom that is being imparted to us will do for us if we lay hold of it.

"Take fast hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." Proverbs 4:13, Amplified

It is funny what we deem important in life. We put insurance on our toys, priceless collections, homes, cars and lives, but are we placing that same kind of insurance into our spiritual life? If we put the same care into the insurance of our spirituality just imaging the quality of our walk. Wouldn't be nice to have an insurance agency that insured our spiritual walk? Just imagine calling (777) NEED-HIM and we reached an agent who gave us a policy number so that we could rest assured that our spirituality was insured. We already have; every time we open our Bibles to read or our mouths to pray we are reaching out to our Agent, Jesus Christ, who already gave us our policy, His blood. If we hold fast to that, then our life is insured.

Pray Then for Wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-9)

Solomon is desperately trying to convey the idea that the pursuit of wisdom should be the most important in one's life. Any other pursuit is fleeting and will never last. If one were to pursue the opposite sex they would find complete and utter emptiness, never being fulfilled. Solomon gives excellent advice to his offspring.

"Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension and interpretation [of spiritual matters]." Proverbs 4:1, Amplified

Wisdom comes from the Lord. Who better to ask for wisdom than the One who is not bound by the finite constraints of humanity? The Lord sits outside our realm and has infinite wisdom. WE covered before that the Lord came to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything that he desired and Solomon asked for the wisdom to rule over the people of Israel. In any job or occupation or career that we have we should always ask the Lord for wisdom and knowledge. Pray then for wisdom.

"For I give you good doctrine - what is to be received; do not forsake my teaching." Proverbs 4:2, Amplified

It is true, Solomon was giving good teaching and sound doctrine. Doctrine is nothing more than a belief or set of beliefs that is taught to a person or a group of people. Indoctrination is to teach this person or group of people the acceptance of this belief or set of beliefs uncritically. To hear it over and over again, one would begin to take in whatever knowledge was being taught and would be assimilated into that person. This is why one should read their Bibles and pray everyday. We need to indoctrinate ourselves to the truth so as to inoculate ourselves from sin. Pray then for wisdom.

"When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only one in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba], he taught me, and said to me, let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commandments and live." Proverbs 4:3-4, Amplified

Solomon is explaining here that his father did the same for him as he is doing for his offspring. It is important for a father to get involved in the spiritual growth of his child or children. We have a duty and an obligation to give them the tools to survive the world. "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands the intents of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." (I Chronicles 28:9, NKJV) These were the words of David as Solomon was being commissioned to build the Temple. Pray then for wisdom.

"Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding - discernment, comprehension and interpretation; do not forget, and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom] and she will keep, defend and protect you; love her and she will guard you. The beginning of Wisdom is, get Wisdom - skillful godly Wisdom! For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten get understanding - discernment, comprehension and interpretation." Proverbs 4:5-7, Amplified

This is a commandment to every generation, "Get wisdom!" There is a promise attached to the pursuit of wisdom. If we pursue it and attain it, wisdom will keep and guard us. It is impossible to succumb to any obstacle in our lives if we are wise. Any problem can be solved through wisdom. Pray that the Lord would bestow upon us the wisdom that He wishes to give. Even more so, pray for discernment, comprehension and interpretation. It is there for the taking. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives o all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, Amplified) Pray then for wisdom.

"Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her. She will give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you." Proverbs 4:8-9, Amplified

If we make wisdom the chief thing in our life then it will do the same for us. To exalt wisdom is to seek it out and apply it in our lives. As we do this, wisdom will lift us up to higher places. Humanity has a way of exalting the wise of the world. If you look at you calendars, you will find many different holidays that were created to exalt the wise in our nations history. Our past presidents have made this country great through godly wisdom. America has worn its wreath of gracefulness. It is sad to say that this wreath is withering, but for each individual, our crown can still shine. Pray then for wisdom.