The Big Questions of Life - Proverbs 4

Hey, Mrs. Kurtz. This is a weird, vague question with no context, but what can I do to be better and have a good life when I am older and stay happy?

My children, listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment, 
for I am giving you good guidance. 
Don't turn away from my instructions. 
For I, too, was once my father's son,
tenderly loved as my mother's only child.

Dear Friend,

This chapter of Proverbs begins with a call to "listen," "pay attention," and "learn". One of the most priceless things we can do with our lives is to heed good instruction and to continue to learn all of our lives. In truth, the Christian journey is such that we never stop learning and growing. The ones from whom we seek wisdom will change as our lives and situations change, but we'll never stop needing to learn. And be corrected.

My father taught me, 
'Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don't forget my words or turn away from them.
Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.'

Wisdom is good judgment. Good judgment affects all our life. Good judgment guides our steps. This way of wisdom brings protection and honor.

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom's ways
and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won't be held back;
when you run, you won't stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.

As we listen, we are guided on straight paths. Our steps are firm and unhindered. Widsom is the key to life. Biblical, God-honoring wisdom is the key to life. 

Don't do as the wicked do,

and don't follow the path of evildoers.

Don't even think about it; don't go that way.

Turn away and keep moving.

For evil people can't sleep until they've done 
their evil deed for the day.

They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble.

They eat the food of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence!

By contrast, the wicked have their own paths and we have to be careful not to follow them. The wicked so delight in evil that it is compared to sleep, food, and drink. These people find pleasure not only in doing evil, but also in dragging others down with them. We need to "turn away and keep moving"; in other words, RUN! 

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.

They have no idea what they are stumbling over. 

The two choices everyone has are light and darkness, day and night, righteousness and wickedness. It's not complicated. However, it is a lifetime of choices, not a single moment. But, the way of the righteous "shines ever brighter".

My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
Don't lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.

We must cling to the Word; we must study it, learn it, live it. God's Word must penetrate our entire being, for then it will bring life and healing. How easy it is to neglect it! 

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

Here is the expression that we've discussed, "Guard your heart". Our heart guides us. Yet we know that "The human heart is the most deceiful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9) We cannot rely on our heart unless it is grounded in God's Word. We cannot trust ourselves to discern right and wrong; we can so easily slip away from the truth! This takes us back up to the previous verses; we need to study God's Word until it is the essence of our life. God's Word holds the healing that our hearts need!

Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.

As the Word of God brings healing, the words of people around us often bring corruption. Corruption doesn't heal; it causes decay. Avoiding perverse talk and corrupt speech is difficult; it is all around us, and all too easy to accept, and sadly, to choose as our own speech. "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:43-45) Ouch! 

Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
Don't get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

We need to keep our eyes focused on what is straight before us; looking to the side gets us distracted. Our eyes guide our feet, and our feet can stay on the straight path. But we have to be intentional. It will not happen by accident; it is a moment-by-moment choice. 

The words in this chapter are sobering; choosing the way of the righteous is difficult. It requires constant self-vigilance, humble dependence on God, and a commitment to knowing and studying His Word. The way of the wicked is much easier; there is no restraint. One step leads to another, and another and another. But it does not lead to life.

Heavenly Father, we cannot choose the way of righteousness and keep to it without You. How we neeed You! Will You work in us, fill us, guide us, and remind us? Will You enable us to see the truth in a world that does not value it? Will You teach us Your will, Your Word, Your way?

• Why is the way of the righteous compared to "light" and "day"? 
• How can we guard our hearts?
• Do you see the truth in Jeremiah 17:9? Can you trust your own heart? 

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17)

Endings and Beginnings - Joshua

"After the death of Moses, the LORD's servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, 'Moses My servant is dead. Therefore the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given  you--from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east, to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you'." (Joshua 1:1-5)

Dear Friend,

"The end"

Endings can leave us unsettled, if we look only at the ending.

But, every ending leads to a beginning.

God called Joshua to lead the Israelites as they ended their 40 years in the desert, and as they began their new life in the land of promise. And with His call, God gave His promise: "I will be with you". Isn't it amazing how many times we see God give this promise? It shows us His character. He is faithful. He is present. He is involved in our lives.

"Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with  you wherever you go'." (Joshua 1:6-9)

God reminded Joshua to "be strong and courageous". Endings-beginnings can be frightening. The unknown is frightening. How could Joshua be strong and courageous? He had God's promise to be with him.

When God calls us to new paths, 

He goes with us. 

He equips us.

God also reminded Joshua to study, remember and apply the Word. Joshua would find success only as he meditated on and followed the Word of God. There is no other way to walk with God. If He calls us to do something and we try it in our own way, we will not prosper. We must rely on the Lord and His Word.

We must be faithful to know God's Word and to live by it. 

"Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: 'When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you'." (Joshua 3:1-4a)

When something ends, we leave what is familiar, and thus comfortable, and we begin anew. The new may hold the promise of great joy or prosperity, but it can still make us nervous. What is ending, even if not perfect, is known. The beginning is unknown.

• It is natural to be nervous.
• It is natural to have questions.
• It is our privilege to have God's presence with us as we transition from an ending to a beginning.
• It is our call to cling to God and His Word as we face an ending and embrace a beginning.
• We do not go alone.

Friend, today we celebrate and ending and a beginning. I am excited to see where and how the Lord leads. Be strong and courageous!

Heavenly Father, We thank You for going with us, for leading us, as we face endings and beginnings! Will You help us to know Your presence and Your peace for each new adventure? Will You bring us opportunities to introduce others to the hope that we have in You?