Guard Your Way

One of the places where I am reading these days is the book of Proverbs. I read just one proverb each day. I find that that works better for me than reading a whole chapter. The other day I was reading in chapter 16, and I came upon a proverb that stood out a bit.

The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Proverbs 16.17

As I considered this proverb, it seemed to have some things that would be good for you to know. That’s why I’m preaching on it this morning. And right at the outset I want you to know my goal. It’s simply this. I want to help you preserve your life. There are many threats against your life that you need to take seriously lest they succeed in undoing you. I’m hoping that what I have to say today will help you do that.

Scripture to Meditate On

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 

Proverbs 28.13

Here's a bit of reality. And what's at the heart of this bit of reality is the matter of success. What goes for common wisdom these days says that if you want to succeed then what you'll need to do is hide your mistakes. Don't let anyone know what wrongs you have done. Keep them hidden away for as long as you can.

God begs to differ.

In fact, according to His wisdom, the route to success includes coming clean - honest admission of your screw-ups. But it's not just admitting whatever it is that you've done. It's also rejecting those ways. It makes no sense to admit that what you've done is wrong if you're just going to go and do it again. So, to say all of that differently, it's about repentance. God says that those who repent - and those only - will prosper. They will do well because God promises to bless them with His mercy, covering their sins.

This is incredibly good news for people like us, people who sin so much.

The Need to Strive

This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts. Psalm 119:56

The ability to obey is a blessing from God. This does not obviate the need to declare one's desire to obey, as the Psalmist does in other parts of this Psalm. But it gives a context. I obey because I am enabled to obey. But the ability does not come out of the blue. God blesses with obedience those who desire to obey and work at it.

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Proverbs 14:6

There are many who utter prayers for wisdom and yet receive nothing. And then they wonder what is wrong with God. And yet, prayer is worthless where there is not a matching attitude of the heart. The scoffer will not receive wisdom no matter how hard he tries, by prayer or by other means. A heart that scoffs is not the only impediment to receiving good gifts from God by prayer. We need to do more than say some prayers if we expect to be blessed by God.