Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 16:25

by David Chadwick

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right at the moment, but the end result is really destructive. This principle speaks to the blessing of being aware of long-term consequences over short-term urges.

How do you make decisions? Do you surrender to an authority greater than yourself to lead and guide you? Or do you follow whichever whim or fancy you feel? If your answer is the latter, I would urge you to pause today and meditate on this teaching.

There is great danger in relying on feelings. An overemphasis on what seems right, what feels right, and what the world thinks is right can lead to deception. Instant gratification is a dangerous motivation. And so is a life that seeks to gain applause and immediate notoriety.

If something is not God’s will, if it’s not right, if it’s not good for you in the long run, yet you give in to the short-sighted fleshly desires, you will regret it. These are devilish traps that can ruin people’s lives later on. The broad path leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Dear friends, we must immerse ourselves in God's Word. We must live for the future more than the moment, seeking to do what is right at every moment and always trusting that over time God will work things out for our good and his glory.

As followers of Jesus, we must always live for eternity, not for this temporary world. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Today, my prayer is that each of you will seek after an eternal perspective. Allow that mindset to be your driving force as you await our soon-coming King.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 16:18

by David Chadwick

“Pride comes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:18

One of the most powerful and well-known verses in all of Proverbs says that pride comes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.

Pride is the chief of all sins. It is what caused the devil to become the devil. He became the author of destruction by claiming to know more and know better than God. He wanted Jesus’s position in heaven, and even though he was not the Creator, he hungered for personal worship. Yes, as a mere creature.

To think we always know better than God is what will send us to hell. The failure to acknowledge our sin and great need for a Savior is the greatest downfall. Pride is the impardonable sin. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, at its very core, is pride.

Humility, on the other hand, is the opposite of pride. It promotes dependency, reliance, and a heart bent on leaning on someone bigger than yourself. Someone with a childlike faith displays all of these characteristics toward the One who created us.

Do a heart check today. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Ask yourself if you see any evidence of pride in your life? Lack of prayer? Disdain toward worship? No care for spiritual and eternal things? Do you always think you’re right and remain unwilling to be corrected?

If so, humble yourself TODAY before the Lord and confess your sins. He will forgive you and purify you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And will lift you up, closer to him than you’ve ever been before.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 15:3

by David Chadwick

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Proverbs 15:3

We are continuing our study through some of the proverbs found in God’s Word. God is highly majestic, the creator of the universe, all-powerful, and all-consuming, yet he provides instructions for his followers that are very practical.

Did you know that God’s eyes are everywhere? He sees everything, keeping watch over both good and evil. Why is this so important for our lives? Two answers come to mind.

First, it should encourage right and godly behavior. If God sees everything, that means nothing gets by him. He sees our private sins and our private joys. No slanderous words go unseen. Matthew 12 says that we are all held accountable for every idle word we speak. This includes words of gossip, slander, deceit, or anger.

Additionally, no private devotion goes unnoticed. If we really believe this is true, we would aim to behave righteously. We would live with a high standard, fully aware that we are ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven.

Secondly, knowing that God’s eyes are everywhere should create deep security in our souls. God not only sees everything, but he is also in control of everything. He is over everything. All of the surrounding chaos is in God’s purview.

Is there an area of your life where you feel like something is out of your control? Don’t ever worry! Turn your fear into faith. God’s got this! Today’s proverb should give all of us the assurance that our faith in God is not in vain. He is always working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

And always remember, God sees everything, and his eyes are everywhere!