Articles
Ways to Avoid
Jesus tells us, in the Sermon on the Mount, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13, 14). Obviously, we would want to avoid the wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction, but it seems that what should be obvious is not always obvious, for “there are many who go in by it.” But that is life, isn't it? We sometimes choose the obviously bad or wrong way, thinking that, somehow, we will be exempt from the negative consequences of those choices. And then reality hits us square in the face and only then do we realize just how foolish our choices were.
Obviously [and, again, obviously doesn't always mean we acknowledge what should be obvious], it would be good to be able to hear advice from someone who has gone before us to ensure we don't make those same wrong choices, and that would help us to choose the paths that would be beneficial, and avoid those ways that would negatively affect us. Whether or not we would admit it, our parents quite often give us advice for our good, but what happens is that we think we know better, or those negative consequences really won't happen. We like to think, 'That won't happen to me.' But then it does.
When it comes to life and the many paths we might choose, it would be good to hear from someone who has 'been there and done that.' What if you were able to hear some advice about life from one of the wisest men to ever walk this earth? We have such an opportunity, if we would open up our Bibles and consider the advice of the wise writer as found in the book of Proverbs. Let's consider just a few bits of advice from this man on the ways we should avoid in life if we would desire a life that is free of a lot of trouble and strife. Consider his advice to avoid:
The Way of the Lazy Man. The wise writer tells us, “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns” (Prov. 15:19). What, exactly did he mean by this? First, consider that thorny hedges were often used as protective barriers; at the very least, they discourage anyone from passing through, and they can be quite painful to those who try. That is the way of the lazy man!
The wise writer also says of the lazy man, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing” (Prov. 13:4). He gets nothing, though he desires it, and he gets nothing because he does nothing to fulfill his desires. He knows what needs to be done, but never gets around to doing it. In terms of spiritual things, this is a dangerous path to follow! How so?
Consider that God's word tells us Jesus became the author of salvation “to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9), which tells us we must obey if we want to call Him our Savior. But how many just never seem to get around to doing that? How many men and women keep putting off their obedience, telling themselves, 'Someday I will obey'? Spiritual laziness will not bring salvation, and the way of the spiritually lazy man does not end in heaven!
But the wise writer also tells us, “The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’” (Prov. 22:13). In other words, he's got an excuse for everything, especially when it comes to answering why he did not do what needed to be done. Again, how many are using these excuses for why they never obey the Lord? One day, it will be too late for excuses, and when we stand before Him in the final Judgment, those excuses will seem very foolish.
Instead of following the way of the lazy man, go the way of diligence because God “is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Diligence!
The Way of Darkness. The wise writer also warns, “Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you…From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness” (Prov. 2:11-13). The “ways of darkness” he would describe as that path where those who walk it “rejoice in doing evil… And…are devious in their paths” (Prov. 2:14, 15). In other words, those who walk this path are not exactly honest, upright, or trustworthy. They choose the paths of darkness to conceal their true intentions and aims, if only to gain an advantage over those whom they seek to exploit and harm.
This path is not a safe one, spiritually speaking, for that darkness obscures truth and the reality of its sad end. The wise writer further warns, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Prov. 4:19); they stumble because they remain willfully ignorant of the way of truth and the light of God's word. Unfortunately, some choose the path of “darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19). Walking in darkness may enable one to deceive himself by hiding otherwise obvious sins and error, but the reality is, those sins and error are still there. You might turn out a light so you don't see that lion just outside your tent, but when the light goes out, he's still there; the danger has not gone away!
Instead of choosing the dangerous path of darkness, choose instead to “Walk as children of light… And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:8-11), and “walk in the light as He [God] is in the light” (1 John 1:6, 7). While it might be painful, at first, to have your sins and error exposed, the end result will be much more desirable than the way of darkness. Light!
The Way of the Fool. The wise writer tells us, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (Prov. 12:15). Nowadays, it seems we have many more foolish ones than in times past, for this habit of thinking one's self to be wise is at epidemic proportions. How often do we hear that it doesn't matter what one believes, as long as you are sincere? How often do men say one opinion is as good as another — even on spiritual matters? Thinking one's own way is best [especially in contrast to God's ways] is foolish, indeed, for it is the fool who “trusts in his own heart” (Prov. 28:26), often in spite of the clear words of God.
This way is not just foolish; it is dangerous to our spiritual well-being! The wise writer also warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). It doesn't matter how sincere one is if they are sincerely wrong in spiritual matters. If one chooses any path other than God's way, it will not end in heaven. Sadly, many have been convinced [by others, or by their own thinking] that we all get to choose our own path that leads to heaven; God's word says otherwise. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In other words, there is only one way to heaven and eternal life: Jesus.
Instead of choosing our own path, it would be far wiser and far more beneficial, in the end, to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). Trust in the one who has walked the path that leads us to heaven; He is our forerunner (cf. Heb. 6:19, 20), so we know that where He ended up is where we will end up — if we choose to follow Him and not our own ways. Choose God's way, that you may reach heaven! —— Steven Harper
