Proverbs 4:18-19

All parents long for their children to be happy and to have a good life. Here a father gives loads of very practical advice to his children. At the heart of it is the need to make good decisions and to choose the right way. The writer describes the two possible ways of life and they are in marked contrast. One is a way of light and the other is one of darkness. God’s way is not just characterised by light, but by increasing light. Throughout the book of Proverbs, the writer describes all the blessings that flow for those who follow God’s wisdom and walk in his ways. This results in a life of peace, joy and harmony. It isn’t free of challenges and difficulties, but it is a life of security and blessing.

But there is another way. It’s a terrifying option but it is open to everyone. It is a way of darkness and is full of dangers. The lack of light means that the person who follows this path is forever falling over, and making a fool of themselves. The writer devotes a lot of his book to a description of this way of life, because he wants to warn his readers. Laziness, greed and indiscipline are characteristic of this destructive approach to life and the results are disastrous not just for the individual but for all those around them.

The point is that every day we have choices to make. Jesus spoke in exactly the same way. In his Sermon on the Mount he spoke about the highway to hell whose gateway is wide. Then he pointed to the gateway to life, which is very narrow, and to the road, which is difficult (Matthew 7:13-14). There is a choice that we all have to make and we need to choose well, and encourage the next generation to do the same.

Question

How would you share this message with younger people?

Prayer

Lord God, help me to walk in your way, even when the going is tough. And help me to encourage others to do the same. Amen