Chestnut Drive Church of Christ

The guy goes to the doc and says, “Doc, it hurts when I do this.” To which the doc responds, “Don’t do that.” Maybe that’s not always the best or most practical advice, but you know what? Sometimes it is! If it hurts when you mash your thumb with a hammer, then don’t mash your thumb with a hammer. Too simple? No one would intentionally mash their thumb with a finger? Seen any “reality shows” lately? The stupid things people will do for money or a thrill.

Okay, let’s make it more real, for we all surely know by now that reality shows aren’t really real.

• Does it hurt when you step out on your wife?
• Does it hurt when you degrade your spouse before friends and family?
• Does it hurt when you pollute your mind and heart with pornography?
• Does it hurt when you cheat in school?
• Does it hurt when you backstab your friend or coworkers?
• Does it hurt when you involve alcohol in your life?

Stop thinking just about you and think about how these things affect those around you.

Let’s branch out of personal lives into society.

• Does a society suffer when it teaches it’s children that they are descendants of animals?
• Does a society suffer when surviving children see that had their conception been inconvenient to their parents they could have been the one in the trash can out back of the doctor’s office?
• Does a society suffer when two or three generations have been reared on concepts like “you are number one” and “ grab all the gusto you can get”?

Getting back to the point about would someone intentionally smash his thumb with a hammer, I ask again, do people do stupid things on purpose and then wonder what happened when all h e double hockey sticks breaks loose? Welcome to the teaching of Proverbs 4.

In the first several chapters of the book of Proverbs, the Holy Spirit through the pen and teachings of Solomon, tells us of the value of obtaining true wisdom. Over and again wisdom is put upon a pedestal for us to admire – but yet not so high as to keep it out of our reach. The God-ordained purpose of the book of Proverbs is to give us access to the wisdom of God. These are not merely the words of a man to his son, these are the words of our heavenly Father to those who would be His children.

The fourth chapter of Proverbs begins with yet another refrain teaching the value of wisdom … the value of listening to God our Father and applying His words in our daily lives. He tells us that the words of God are good doctrine or training. He tells us that wisdom is the principal thing (basic element). He tells us that the sayings of God will bring us success in this life … “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, and do not let go; keep her, for she is your life” (Proverbs 4:12-13).

As listening to the words of God will lead us down the path of light, not listening to them will surely bring darkness and calamity into our lives. He warns us, for our own sakes, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, … do not walk in the ay of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14-16). He goes on to tell of the nature of those who have chosen the evil way. They are compelled to do evil – it’s who they are, or maybe that would be better stated as “that’s who they have become.” Paul agrees as he tells the Ephesians that “you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19). Because they have given themselves over to these things, they know nothing more. It is who the have become. The chaos that is a constant part of their lives because of their choices has become the norm.

While the way of God is like the shining sun, “the way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19). Some people are sinners who are looking for a better way. They are looking for the light. I believe, if they are truly looking for light, they will find it … God will send it to them. I thank God that he sent it to me! But there are a people of another sort. They, too, are sinners, but they do not look for light; in fact, they are repulsed by it. Some will actually violently turn against those who choose to walk in light. You can love them, you can teach them, you can show them, you can shine the light right in their eyes, but they will not see. They will wonder from time to time why bad things happen to them, but because they refuse to look into the light of God’s word, their question will go unanswered … even if you tell them. I do not yet know how to help such a person or a society. The prophets of the latter days of the Jewish kingdoms in the Old Testament, however, tell us that God does know what to do. Unfortunately, calamity (judgment, facing the music, reaping the wild oats that have been sown, paying the piper – say it how you will) is the only language some people will understand.

I do know how to help the person who wants to live in the light. You teach them that they must keep the words of God, not in the Bible on a book shelf, not in the preacher or Bible class teacher, but in the midst of their heart (Proverbs 4:21). The words of God “are life to those who find them” (Proverbs 4:22). To keep the word of God in one’s heart, he must put away the deceitful mouth and perverse lips. He must look straight ahead watch where he is going, and keep his feet firmly established in the word of God, turning neither to the right hand or the left (Proverbs 4:24-27).

In what direction are your feet headed? In which path do you walk?