Proverbs – La Vista Church of Christ

The Will to Be Wise

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:26:26 +0000

by Dee Bowman
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014

In the introduction to the Proverbs, Solomon uses several words with similar connotations, each related to wisdom. Listen to them: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. To give to the young man knowledge and discretion.” (Proverbs 1:2-4 KJV).

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge or experience to a given set of circumstances in order to bring about the best end for everyone concerned. It is the general theme of the Book of Proverbs, the underlying principle in all that is suggested in it.

“Perceive” is from a Latin word which originally meant “to seize.” It is akin to wisdom: someone who has it is usually wise, either through education or experience.
“Understanding” is akin to both wisdom and perception conceptually. It literally means to have insight into a matter. Perspicuity, formerly an optical term, is its equivalent, meaning to look into something and see.
The phrase translated as “wise counsels” in our English (Proverbs 1:5; KJV) has an interesting history. It’s the Hebrew word for “ropes.” As a seaman “knows the ropes,” even so a wise man knows which strings to pull. It obviously has to do with wise choices.
The other words: "justice," "prudence," and "judgment," each have something to do with wisdom in their own way.

I have chosen a passage from some of these timely admonitions for your consideration. Stop now and read Proverbs 10:12-17. Once you’ve read it, rehearse briefly the words we’ve just discussed, and notice how wisdom is in every admonition.

“Hatred stirs up strife. But love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12).

Anger and hatred agitate; love seeks peace. The wise man will not long tolerate anger of any sort, much less outright hatred or disdain. His intention is never in the direction of condemnation, but of justification. The direction he takes on any matter will be predicated on love, the kind that makes choices tending toward reconciliation, not separation.

“Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding. But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding" (Proverbs 10:13).

A wise man will always try to understand before making any choice. Understanding is what lies beneath a matter; it is what forms the basis for good decisions. It is the ability to grasp the meaning of a situation. It blots out bother, dispels trouble ahead of time, and makes solutions to problems possible. Ignorance, on the other hand, is a harsh taskmaster. It’s like a “rod to the back,” invariably causing not only discomfort, but sometimes intense pain. It befuddles situations. It leads to stupid choices, brainless decisions, and continual trouble for its holder.

“Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14).

The admonition here is simple, but potent. It simply advises that one store up the good stuff. To store up knowledge is to make a foundation for making wise choices, no matter the situation. This kind of storage will not spoil. It is ready for use at any time and in any situation. Please note its connection to the mouth. Wisdom is never more obvious than in the mouth of a good man. Few things are more beautiful or wiser than a few well-chosen words. Conversely, few things condemn a man as soon as a few poorly said sentences.

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15).

How wise it is to use what you have with care and consideration. Nobody ever said money was not important; only that it must be used well. It can strengthen a man’s opportunities, fortify his efforts, and bring glory to God when it is used wisely. Like a strong city, it makes for peace and stability. On the other hand, poverty is hard. A Yiddish Proverb says, “Poverty is no disgrace, but it has no honor either.” Society actually rejects the poor, which is an indictment of how we live in this age. It has ever been the case. Solomon knew it early on. It should be remembered, too, that in many instances, poverty is the result of laziness.

“The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin” (Proverbs 10:16).

It’s foolish to work for foolish things-- things that have no lasting value, no true permanency -- but how very sad that most people do. A wise man will work for the right things. He will give his attention to the things that matter-both here and in the hereafter. A wise man recognizes the value of a righteous life, a value that cannot come when one foolishly chooses the way of the world. I read somewhere that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

The sort of wisdom that is spent on wickedness is badly mis-spent. A life dedicated to mere enjoyment and pleasure is a ludicrous, unprofitable enterprise. On the other hand, a life spent in service to God is irrefutably wise. It not only provides quiescence and a settled mind here, but a joyful expectation of an eternal life so beautiful as to be indescribable.

In One Ear … ?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 09 May 2025 15:59:47 +0000

by David Gibson

Listening is a significant theme of the book of Proverbs.

The book is designed to guide young men in making wise choices while avoiding foolish ones. To achieve this, one must really listen, learn, and live accordingly.

Youth must listen to the teaching of godly parents (Proverbs 1:8; 4:1-6; 23:22).
They must listen to wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15; 19:20).
But they must also avoid listening to the wrong people (Proverbs 1:10-19; 7:6-23; 17:4).
It’s wise to listen to needed correction and foolish not to (Proverbs 1:20-33; 15:32; 25:12).
Listening to wise words produces positive outcomes (Proverbs 8:32-35; 21:28).
Refusing to listen has significant consequences (Proverbs 5:1-14; 13:1; 19:27).
God won’t hear the prayers of those who won’t listen to Him (Proverbs 28:9).

Although Proverbs was originally addressed to youth, its practical wisdom, including its emphasis on the right kind of listening, can greatly benefit people of all ages.

“He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9 NASB).

Proverbs on the Need for Wisdom

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:41:47 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

This book emphasizes the importance of wisdom. The young man is encouraged to pursue wisdom, or else he will set himself up for being a loser in life. The book can be outlined as follows:

Obtaining Knowledge and Wisdom. (Proverbs 1-2)
Retaining Knowledge and Wisdom Because of Its Correction in Thinking. (Proverbs 3:1-12)
The Blessings of Wisdom. (Proverbs 3:13-26)
The Conduct of Wisdom. (Proverbs 3:27-7:27)
The Commendation of Wisdom. (Proverbs 8:1-36)
Wisdom’s Invitation. (Proverbs 9)
The Proverbs that Help Us Exercise Wisdom. (Proverbs 10-31)

Solomon, by the Spirit, encourages the young man to listen with a genuine fear of the Lord (1:7) because fools despise having to use their minds. Don’t be one of them.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her (wisdom), and she will promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her (wisdom). She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you”(Proverbs 4:7-9). “

“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Proverbs 8:11).

Wisdom is personified, and she says, “My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver” (Proverbs 8:18). But it all begins with a fear of the Lord. We don’t have to make all the mistakes in life to learn something. We can avoid a lot of misery by listening to the voice of wisdom.

Wisdom is the ability to be discerning and aware of the lessons others learned or should have learned from their mistakes. Be wise to choose the best path for your steps. Walk with the wise, not the foolish. This book helps you to exercise your senses and make the best choices in life. Do you fear God and respect Him enough to listen and learn?

A High Value Man Is a Worthy Man

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:22:52 +0000

by Perry Hall

A term used in our modern culture to describe men and women is "high value." Sadly, "high value" is not God's value. A "high value" man is judged based on income, height, looks, and other "biblically low values." Also, a "high value" woman can look very little like a "worthy woman."

Many have heard Proverbs 31:10-31 used to describe a godly woman at a wedding or funeral (Hmmm, funny how a wedding and funeral are connected!). How about using this same passage to help men be worthy of a worthy woman?

He is willing to listen to his mother’s advice on women (Proverbs 31:10-31)

• After advising her son the king about being a king, the mother moves to advice on a more personal matter - marriage. This is a mother’s description of a worthy woman.
We don't live in a culture of arranged marriages, but such cultures have a lower divorce rate. Marriage is often based upon the wisdom of parents.
Parents should train their children on how to choose a spouse.

Is Careful (Proverbs 31:10)

"A worthy woman, who can find?" If a woman worth marrying is hard to find, shouldn't a man be careful who he dates? Dating an unworthy woman leads to unworthy love and produces unworthy marriages. Worthy men are selective.

Trusts His Wife (Proverbs 31:11)

Trust is essential in relationships, and it includes a willingness to trust. Men who are always suspicious are weak and turn their trusting wives into miserable women.

Wise in His Own Right (Proverbs 31:23)

While every man needs to listen to wisdom, he needs to grow into being wise instead of relying only on others. What woman would respect a man who couldn't make a decision?

Respected by Others (Proverbs 31:23)

If others don't respect the man, then the prospective wife is asking for trouble!

Praises the Worthy Wife (Proverbs 31:28-31)

The specifics follow, but there are many ways a wife needs to hear her man's praise. It makes her secure, a woman's primary need, just as respect is the man's.

Knows True Value Is Spiritual and Not Physical (Proverbs 31:30)

Neither men nor women can keep their looks with age, but their character can become even more beautiful. Plus, "beauty only" might be unfaithful, but "character and beauty" remains faithful.

Praises His Wife in Public (Proverbs 31:31)

Women need this as much as private praise. Plus, public praise for the wife makes the man off-limits in the minds of other women!

Calls on Others to Praise His Wife (Proverbs 31:31)

A good man builds his wife up by encouraging others to build her up. Life is fuller when people encourage one another instead of viewing others as competition.

Want a worthy marriage? Before looking for a worthy woman, be a worthy man.

Introduction to the Book of Proverbs

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 01:20:44 +0000

by Andrew Ulmer and Jeffrey W. Hamilton

For an in-depth study of the Book of Proverbs see Proverbs: Practical Advice on Life

Hope for the Future

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 20:00:42 +0000

by Andy Sochor

Throughout the book of Proverbs, a contrast is made between wisdom and foolishness. Since the wisdom described in the book comes from above, those who follow this and live according to its precepts will be righteous. Conversely, those who reject the way of wisdom will inevitably find themselves engaged in wickedness.

Despite their rejection of godly wisdom, the wicked often prosper in life. They may appear to be better off than the righteous. Not only that but the apparent prosperity and success of the wicked often seem to come at the expense of the righteous.

This sense of injustice is nothing new. We often see those who reject the wisdom from above seem to escape the negative consequences of their sin, laziness, wastefulness, ignorance, and more. The same was true when the wise man wrote the Proverbs. Yet notice what he wrote:

“My son, eat honey, for it is good, yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; know that wisdom is thus for your soul; if you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place; for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him. Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked; for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out” (Proverbs 24:13-20).

In the passage above, Solomon explained that the righteous who follow after wisdom have hope for the future. Therefore, rather than getting discouraged about their current situation (or that of the wicked), there were certain things they were told to do and not do. Let us consider his points and see what we can learn from them.

Pursue Wisdom

“My son, eat honey, for it is good, yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; know that wisdom is thus for your soul; if you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 24:13-14).

When God promised to lead the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, He told Moses that He would bring them “to a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Honey was universally recognized as a blessing. The wise man’s point was that God’s wisdom is a blessing to those who take hold of it. Obtaining wisdom provides hope for something better – either in this life or (most especially) in the life to come. Therefore, rather than following the ways of the wicked, we need to pursue wisdom so that we can enjoy God’s blessings. Paul reminded Timothy that the word of God was “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15).

Keep Getting Back Up

“Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place; for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity” (Proverbs 24:15-16).

Though the wicked often take advantage of the righteous and elevate themselves at their expense, the wise man warned the wicked that this was ultimately futile. This was because, when the righteous person falls, he keeps getting back up. In contrast, the wicked will ultimately fall since he does not have the same purpose and direction as the righteous person. Even though this was addressed to the wicked, it reminds the righteous not to give up; instead, we must persevere through whatever challenges and hardships we have to endure in this life. The Hebrew writer encouraged his brethren as they were suffering for their faith, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Do Not Gloat Over Your Enemies

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him” (Proverbs 24:17-18).

Just before this, the wise man warned the wicked that they would “stumble in time of calamity” (Proverbs 24:16). Yet the righteous person, despite the mistreatment that he may have received from the wicked, was not to rejoice in this. God told the prophet, Ezekiel, “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his wicked way and live'” (Ezekiel 33:11). We are to have the same attitude as the Lord. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). Though we may recognize the justice of the wicked being punished for their sin (cf. II Thessalonians 1:6-9), we should not take pleasure in it. Instead, if we are to have the attitude the Lord wants us to possess, we are to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us], so that [we] may be sons of [our] Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Do Not Envy the Wicked

“Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked; for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out” (Proverbs 24:19-20).

It is discouraging when the wicked seem to get away with their evil deeds without facing any consequences. It can even be tempting to engage in the same sinful behavior as they are practicing. Yet the wise man echoed the counsel of the psalmist who wrote, “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalm 37:1-3). The wise man later recognized this truth: “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God” (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13). As our text in Proverbs indicates, the wicked’s “lamp…will be put out”; meaning that their hope will be cut off.

Conclusion

While the wicked may seem to prosper in the short term, we must look beyond whatever present conditions exist. There is hope for the future if we will follow God’s word and live righteous lives before Him. Regardless of what may happen in this life, let us continue to pursue the wisdom of God and persevere through whatever trials we may have to face. In the end, we can be assured that “there will be a future” for us (Proverbs 24:14). Again, “It will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly” (Ecclesiastes 8:12).

Proverbs Sometime Overlooked

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:18:31 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Proverbs-Sometime-Overlooked.mp3

by Raymond Warfel

The Path of the Righteous

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:51:37 +0000

by Matthew W. Bassford

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19).

Look with me at Proverbs 4:18-19. These are two short verses, but they encapsulate everything I love about the word of God. They are simple, they are beautiful, and they are profound. Indeed, they are so profound that I intend to spend all of my time in the pulpit this morning without citing another verse. Let’s see, then, what we can learn from a close examination of the path of the righteous.

The Path

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

There are three key elements in this proverb that help us to understand it, and the first of the three is the path. Note first of all that Solomon says that there is both the path of the righteous and the way of the wicked. In other words, everybody is on a spiritual path.

This seems simple, but it’s quite meaningful. Sometimes, you run into people who think they are spiritually neutral. They’ll tell you that they leave all that God stuff to somebody else and mind their own business. Well, they might think they’re neutral, but God doesn’t think they’re neutral, and the devil doesn’t think they’re neutral either. Their feet are on a path, and they are headed to a destination.

Second, it’s worth noting too that everybody’s path starts out dark. Yes, Solomon says that the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, but what’s it like before the light of dawn shows up? It’s dark!

In other words, both the righteous and the wicked start out without a spiritual clue. When first we hit that age of accountability, none of us have any sense. We may be blessed with godly parents or other mentors, who are sort of like a spiritual flashlight, but those without help are blundering around in the woods at midnight. Max Dawson likes to say that if you haven’t wrecked your life by the time you turn 22, you probably won’t, but sadly, lots of people do wreck their lives before that. Sometimes their bad decisions leave them with a criminal record or a drug habit; sometimes they cost them their lives and their souls.

Finally, as the above implies, everybody’s path is dangerous. This isn’t like one of those “trails” in the national parks that are four feet wide, paved, and wheelchair-accessible. Instead, it’s more like a deer path in the woods in the middle of nowhere. That’s the way life is for all of us. It’s filled with all kinds of trials and temptations and traps. The devil hopes that we will come crashing into every one of them.

The Light of Dawn

However, the difference between the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked is that the former is illuminated by the light of dawn. This we should understand not literally, but metaphorically, as referring to spiritual enlightenment. The Bible speaks of many ways we can become enlightened. We can study the word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We can benefit from the instruction of older, more mature Christians. We can pray for wisdom. We can observe the lives of others.

Regardless, this is the key difference between the righteous and the wicked. This is what determines the course of our lives and our eternal destinies. The righteous seek enlightenment and benefit from it. The wicked don’t.

Second, because the enlightenment of the righteous is like the dawn, this tells us that the process is gradual. How many of you have ever been outside waiting throughout the time from pitch blackness to a full day? It’s not like God flips on a light switch, is it? It’s sloooow! At any given point in the process, the change that is occurring is imperceptible.

So it is with our spiritual enlightenment. There are lots of people who want wisdom without Bible study and meditation and prayer. Guess what? It doesn’t work like that. If we want God to illuminate our world for us, we have to seek Him day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, decade by decade. There are no quick fixes. If we want our path to get brighter, there is no substitute for time and effort.

However, as slow as it is, the light of dawn is transformative. You start out in pitch blackness, then you start seeing dim outlines, then a black-and-white vision of reality. Finally, everything fills in with color, and there’s no sign left that such a thing as night even existed.

This is how the illumination of spiritual wisdom is. It changes everything. We see life and the things of eternity in vastly different terms than the people of the world do. The more enlightened we become, the greater the difference between us and everybody else becomes too.

Knowing or Not

This difference consists of knowing or not. The path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter until the course of their lives is fully illuminated. This doesn’t mean that the path of the righteous is safe. I have scrapes on my shins right now because I tripped over a branch in the woods in broad daylight.

So it is for us spiritually too. No matter how wise and spiritually enlightened we become, the devil still trips all of us up occasionally. However, we are able to avoid most of the sins that would entangle us, and even when we do get entangled, at least we know what happened and can learn from it.

It is not so for the wicked. The wicked aren’t hiking through the woods in the daytime. They’re still out there in the dark. Again, this may not be something that we experience normally. The streets of my neighborhood all have streetlights. If I want to, I can go wandering around in reasonable safety.

However, that wasn’t the experience of the ancient Israelites, and if we’re out in the boonies, even today, on an overcast night, it can get can’t-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face kind of dark. That’s what life is like for the wicked, but they’re trying to go down the path anyway, and, as you would expect, they end up tripping over all kinds of stuff. The sins and troubles that the righteous see and avoid are the most prominent features of the lives of the wicked. Spiritually speaking, their shins look like somebody’s been whaling on them with a golf club!

Worse still, the wicked don’t even know why they’re stumbling. They don’t get it, they don’t learn, and they go on doing the same dumb stuff. You ever known somebody like that? It seems like their life is playing the disaster song on repeat. Over and over and over again, it’s the same mistakes. These are people who don’t learn because they refuse to learn.

It might seem hard to be righteous. It might seem hard to make that effort to be here Sunday morning and Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. It might seem hard to make time for that Bible reading every morning. It might seem hard to remember to constantly seek wisdom from God in prayer. Do you know what’s a lot harder? Not doing any of those things.

Can you explain “the way of a man with a maid”?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:51:00 +0000

Question:

Hi Jeff,

Can you explain Proverbs 30:19, especially the statement: "the way of a man with a maid."

Answer:

"There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin" (Proverbs 30:18-19).

Agur appears to like lists, and in Proverbs 30:18-19 Agur lists out three things that he finds absolutely fascinating and four things that he doesn't understand how they work.

Eagles soar in the air. They can glide, hover, and climb seemingly without needing to flap their wings like other birds. What holds them up? What keeps them in place? We have a better grasp of the aerodynamics that allow these feats, but it is still fascinating to watch.
Serpents have no feet; yet, they move across the ground and can climb trees. Some species can move amazingly fast. So how does it work? Again, we understand better with microscopes examining the underbelly of serpents, but it still is something can watch for a long time.
Ships have mastered the art of using the wind to propel them along. But more interesting is to watch a sailing vessel tack and actually make progress against the wind. Who doesn't like watching boats sailing?
But all of the above set up the largest puzzle of all: What causes a man to fall in love with a particular woman? Sometimes it seems that opposites attract. Other times the two people seem to have been cut from the same mold. You think that two people will enjoy each other's company only to find out they can't stand each other. Then there are people who seem to have nothing in common but their love for each other. Truly this is a mystery that cannot be solved, but it is wonderful to watch two lovers conversing with each other.

Pearls from Proverbs: A Seemingly Right Course

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:09:00 +0000

by Irvin Himmel

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

So important is the thought of this verse that it is repeated in Proverbs 16:25.

Things are not Always What They Seem

To an infant, a pair of scissors may seem desirable, for the child does not realize the danger in playing with a sharp cutting instrument.

It seemed proper to Saul of Tarsus in his earlier years to persecute the disciples of Jesus. Looking back on that part of his life, he acknowledged, "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities" (Acts 26:9-11). It seemed to Saul at the time that he was rendering God a service by persecuting the followers of Jesus, but he was actually fighting against God.

When Paul clashed with the Greek philosophers at Athens, some of them said, "He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods" (Acts 17:18). They made this judgment because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. But in this case, as in many others, things were not what they seemed.

Right Not Determined By "Seeming"

A way may seem right but that does not make it right. A number of years ago I was traveling south on Interstate 75 in the early hours before dawn. A heavy fog made visibility difficult. I stopped at a restaurant. Daylight was just beginning as I negotiated several turns to get back on the interstate. It seemed that I was heading in the direction of Florida until I began noticing road signs. I had traveled a number of miles before realizing that I was going in the direction from which I had just come. I turned around and headed south, but for a while, it seemed that this should be north. Finally, when the sun broke through the fog, my sense of direction cleared.

In the course of one's life, it may seem that one is on the right track. "But a man is not the highest surveyor of life, and the map that he draws is not the supreme authority" (W. F. Adeney). Thinking a thing is right does not make it so.

Many people rely on their feelings. They say, "This seems to me to be the right thing to do." But what does the word of God say about it? We may honestly feel that we are on the right road and all the while it is on the wrong road.

God gives us the standard of right. No matter how things seem, how we feel, or what we personally may be inclined to think, we must let the Bible be our guide.

Ways That Seem Right

The end justifies the means.

In many situations, people pay little attention to whether or not they are following the Scriptures. They suppose that so long as some good is resulting from their actions, they must have God's approval. But it is never right to do wrong in order to accomplish something worthwhile. One is not justified in stealing in order to give to the poor. There is no warrant for perverting the gospel in order to gain favor with sinners.

God will make an exception.

There are people who think that no matter what the Bible says, they can do otherwise and get by. Recently, a woman who entered into an adulterous marriage was questioned by a preacher about her conduct, and she replied that she felt that God would make an exception to Matthew 19:9 in her case. Apparently, some feel that God will make an exception to Mark 16:16 in their case, and they can be saved without believing and being baptized. The way of the "exception" rule seems right, but do not be deceived by it. God has not revealed that He is going to make exceptions with any of us.

Many others are going this way.

It is hard for some, old and young alike, to resist the current popular opinion. To them, it seems right to do whatever the multitudes around them are doing. Moses warned Israel, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude, to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). Jesus taught that the way is "narrow" which leads to life, "and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14).

A way is not right merely because it seems so!

Destination Death

A way may seem right but consider the end thereof. No one can judge' the end of a road by the appearance that it has at the beginning. The broad road which leads to eternal ruin offers many attractions at the outset. There are bright lights, the promise of fun and pleasure, and the crowd entering this way seems to include the most influential and best educated. Alas, look at the destination!

The end result of what one does should be contemplated from the beginning. A sinful act may offer temporary pleasure, but it is followed by remorse, regret, and misery. A way may seem right, but if it ends in eternal separation from God, it should be avoided at all costs. Read Romans 6:23.