By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
THE CHOICE
Proverbs 4:11–27
The Path to Take (11–13)
In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon continually describes two very different roads of life — a road of folly and a road of wisdom.
A father can give no greater gift than to pass on a thirst for wisdom so his children can stay on the right path of life.
Wisdom is the righteous application of true knowledge, and it is only found in Christ (Col. 2:1–3). A personal relationship with God through faith in Christ is necessary to access wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).
The father renewed his plea for careful attentiveness. If the son will appropriate what he hears, he will enjoy many years of life.
As we have already seen in our study of Proverbs, this is not an iron-clad promise but rather a general principle for life. A son who heeds this warning will avoid the path of folly that leads to destruction.
Again, Solomon pictured life as a journey in which it is vital to choose the right way or path. He repeated this plea throughout Proverbs because we all are faced with decisions each day that require God’s wisdom.
Solomon explained how to choose the path marked out by wisdom and led his son on straight paths characterized by righteousness.
When we walk in straight paths, our steps will not be hindered by the obstacles of sin, but we will have ample room to walk and run the life God calls us to live and not stumble.
We are to hold on tightly to the instruction we have received. Since we do not live in a neutral world, we must actually guard this wisdom lest sinners entice us and lead us astray into folly. This wisdom holds the key to life itself.
The Path to Avoid (14–19)
Solomon warned his son to stay off the path of the wicked. The root of the danger was evil not ignorance. Verses 14–15 contain six urgent commands to avoid the path of folly. It is so dangerous to take even the first step down the path to sin that Solomon shouted a series of warnings. Do not start walking down it. Do not travel in that direction. Stay clear of it. Turn from it, not toward it. Keep going in your original direction rather than even pausing to consider it.
This path is so dangerous because of the evil people whom you are following. They live in a morally upside-down world where sin has become duty. They cannot sleep soundly unless they have been active in practicing evil themselves and causing others to stumble. Their wickedness is second nature to them, like bread and wine, their standard diet.
The path of wisdom is the path of light, while the path of folly is the path of darkness.
For the righteous, the path may start in darkness but grows gradually brighter until the sun has risen and they walk in broad daylight.
For the wicked, however, the path winds deeper into unending darkness where they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
The Choice to Make (20–27)
This is the father’s third appeal to his son in chapter 4. In these verses we see that the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.
The heart refers to the very core essence of who we are. Our heart is the source of our words and actions. What is down in the well comes up in the bucket.
Our outward behavior is shaped by our inward beliefs. This is why the Bible commands us to guard our hearts. We must be vigilant to study the Bible and hide the Scripture in our hearts.
No matter what our age, we all have a choice to make. We need to listen closely to God’s wisdom. We need to stay on the path of righteousness and resist the temptation to veer off this path.
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