Proverbs 14: 18-19

“18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” – Proverbs 14:18

Isn’t it easy to take the easy way out? The less work, the better. Am I right? Or am I right? No. This way of thinking is actually quite wrong. Today’s society and generation is all about shortcuts and the fastest way to get things done. However, in a constant lifestyle of shortcuts, you are not able to learn the life lessons that come with doing things the long way- the right way. Not to say that shortcuts are never good, sometimes they can be a blessing! Mostly, however, taking the “long way” to do things results in perfection and the mastering of a skill. Though you may try and fall flat on your face in an attempt to do something new the right way, you get right back up and “try, try again.” As you continue to learn a new skill, you fail and succeed back and forth until the skill is perfected.

This idea of truly working at something instead of taking shortcuts can be used in the example of evangelizing and engaging in a discipleship relationship with people. The shortcut way of doing this would be to take the outline of the Gospel message and throw it at anyone who has ears, then packing up your bags because you’ve done your good deed for the day. The “long way” would be to get to know the person through intentional conversation, and prayerfully approach that person with the Gospel when the Holy Spirit leads, involving- no, depending on the Lord in every step of the way. Then from there, walking with the new believer in a discipleship relationship so that you are not just telling and winning them to the Lord to rack up “Salvation Points” (there is no such thing), rather, you are telling them the Gospel, winning them to the Lord, building them up in this new relationship with God, and then sending them out to do the same for others. The shortcut type of way leaves people out in the cold to fend and figure this faith thing out for themselves. I would rather not abandon a newborn (Christian), leaving them out in the cold. Conforming to the pattern of the world is not the only thing that leads to a lifestyle of shortcuts, the next verse in Proverbs 14 shows us another example.

“19 Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.”

Do you ever feel like you just aren’t being recognized for the good things that you are doing? You’re overwhelmed by to do lists and exhausted from work, on top of being at every church service and being a Good Samaritan everywhere you go. This exhausting cycle wears you down to the point that inside you are screaming, “CAN SOMEONE PLEASE JUST SAY THANK YOU? Or Good Job? Or I appreciate you?!?” The tough combination of being overwhelmed and underappreciated have just about worn you down to the core, and you are so close to just giving up the servant hearted Christian lifestyle because it’s just not worth it anymore. You begin to consider taking shortcuts- because no one is noticing or appreciating your hard work anyways, so it’s pointless. Sound familiar? Allow me to give you some refreshing news.

What you are doing does not go unseen. You have a Good Father in Heaven who sees everything you do, and treasures those little hidden things that you think no one appreciates you for. Think of it this way: when a young child competes in a competition and does their very best, but does not win the trophy, their parents are not going to cast the child our of their family because they did not earn a piece of metal (or plastic). A good parent will be thrilled with their kid for trying their best and leaving it all on the floor, or field, or court- wherever. The Lord is the same way. He sees everything you do and smiles at you because of them. Just because you may not always be recognized for the things that you do on earth does not mean that you aren’t appreciated at all. No, at the end of time, the final triumph of good over evil will come and Proverbs 14:19 will come to fruition. For now, avoid the “shortcut lifestyle” and continue to work humbly for the Lord, expecting nothing in return except for a smile from the Father.

Proverbs 13: 13-14

“Don’t touch that, it’s hot!” This is a phrase that nearly every parent has told his or her child at some point. The parent knows that touching the stove will result in pain for their sweet child, and looking out for their best interest, they admonish the child against the tempting action. However, often times the child reaches forward touches the stovetop as soon as the eyes are off of them. OUCH!! Pain spreads through their hand and they begin to cry remorsefully, all because the stubborn child wanted their own way.

Just as the child often ignores the insightful advice from their parents, so also we often decide that our way and plan is the best and only way. When we despise the advice of others because of the pride we have in our own plans, the end result is hurt and trouble. However, there is always someone who is wiser and has a more insightful point of view. The person offering advice is like a life-giving fountain, and when we respect their insight we will succeed! So often, we are so engulfed in our own situations that we do not see the red flags that are popping up around us, pushing us to ignore advice. However, when we humble ourselves and listen to the wise counsel of others, we are able to avoid a world of hurt, referred to in Proverbs 13:14 as “the snares of death.”

In the end, the choice is ours. We must choose to either humble ourselves and surrender our own plans, or continue down the destructive path of pride and selfishness. The wisest counsel comes from seeking the Lord, but in doing that our Sovereign God also places wise people in our lives who can be vessels of His will for us.

Be wise to listen to advice from others, and always avoid the stovetops.

Proverbs 12:5-6

Are you godly? Or wicked? These words are vastly different, but what do they mean? Before claiming to be “godly”, simply because that is what we may desire to be, I think it is important to understand the two.

So what is godliness? Paul mentions the term a couple of times in the New Testament. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul instructs Timothy, “..train yourself to be godly” (4:7). Training does not happen by accident, it is an active, consistent, conscious choice. As a runner, I think of training for a half-marathon. You pick the race you want to run, and register for it. However, registering is not what prepares you for race day. It is only the first step; from there, you must train. Training for a half is typically a 16 week process. Though the training process is not easy, as long as you are consistent in the plan, it is doable. But oh, how noticeable it is when you miss just one week of training! In the same way, becoming a believer is not what makes you godly- though it does save us- real godliness is the process of daily pursuing the Lord and training to be like Him.

Now that we’ve looked into the definition of godliness, what does it mean to be wicked? The word wicked is defined as evil or morally bad, another word to describe it is sinful. Hm… Isn’t that all of us? We don’t have to train or try to be sinful, It comes naturally because of our sinful nature- which is instilled in each one of us because of the Fall. To be wicked, all that is required is to make no strides toward godliness.

Are you godly? Or are you wicked? I think the real question is, are you persevering through adversity and making a conscious effort to be more like Jesus? Are you daily training to be godly? Or are you sitting on the comfortable couch of complacency, wallowing in your wicked, sinful nature?

The true answer to this question affects everything we do. If we are building ourselves up in godliness, we will also build others up when they come to us for advice or encouragement. However, if we are simmering in the sinfulness of envy, pride, and hatred, we will tear down anyone and anything that stands in our self-centered way. Would you rather build up? Or tear down?

It all starts with the question ,

Are you godly? Or are you wicked?

The resources to be godly are right at our fingertips through God’s word. Choose to train yourself in godliness.