Choices Matter

Proverbs 14:1-12

In 2004 we experienced what we call the Hallam tornadoes. It was a devastating series of tornadoes that came within a mile of our house. The aftermath looked like a war zone. This past week the scare was wildfires raging out of control fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions. One minute things are fine and the next, people in our area were being told to evacuate. This is the world we live in. Things out of our control happen. That’s just the way it is.

But what if I decided to get in a bulldozer and demolish my house for no good reason? That’s a different kind of destruction. One is preventable, the other is not. One is life in a fallen world, the other is simply foolishness.

Life is hard enough without intentionally making it worse. Why would we destroy our own house? Good question. Why would we? The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands. The proverb here is not talking about a literal house but rather a life. The foolish tear down their own lives, they make themselves miserable. Why do they do that?

These are not disasters you can’t avoid like a tornado or wild fire. This is someone taking a bulldozer to their life to make themselves miserable. Simply stated, it’s about choices.  He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is devious in his ways despises Him. This has been a common theme in proverbs. The person who fears the LORD lives skillfully. The person who despises Him is devious and lives foolishly. In other words, the wise listen and the foolish don’t.

Proverbs tells us, There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. For some reason some people think taking a bulldozer to their house is going to work out well for them. Now obviously when I say it like that it sounds as foolish as it is. But to the fool, their way makes sense. It seems right.

Death here isn’t referring to physical death but the death of flourishing. In other words, misery. Stop and think about what that verse just said. Without guidance from God’s Word, we travel a way which seems right. We think it will make us happy. We become so confused that we think the wrong way is the right way. But in the end, we’re miserable, we’ve bulldozed our house down.

The Proverbs tell us that fools mock sin. In other words, fools don’t think sin is sin. This goes all the way back to the lies of the serpent in the garden of Eden.  “You can be like God and decide for yourself what is right and wrong,” the crafty serpent lied. “You won’t die,” he lied again. Fools think they can do what they want without consequence. It seems right to them. But what God says is sin is always destructive.

God has created the world with moral laws that are as binding as natural laws. Whatever you believe about gravity, the truth wins when you step off a ten-story building. In the same way, you can try all you want to convince yourself that wrong is right but, in the end, sin brings misery. Fools mock sin but fools also think their way is right. But the end is misery.

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to the one who has understanding. The warnings in Proverbs are severe. It might be easy to start to panic, like we’re skating on thin ice and could break through at any time. But it’s not like that. What you need to live a skillful life is not hidden.  It’s not some secret you need to travel around the world to discover. Just listen and seek to understand what God has said. This is the message of Proverbs over and over again. Skillful living is easy for those willing to learn and obey.

But for the scoffer, the fool who laughs at sin and resents God telling him what to do, there is no wisdom. Poor choices become a way of life. He is tearing down his house, board by board, but he can’t seem to stop himself. The truth is he’s become so confused and disoriented he thinks what he’s doing will make him happy. By the time he realizes the error of his ways the damage is done.

Let’s make this simple, do you need God’s wisdom to live skillfully? We all know what the right answer is, that’s not really what I’m asking. I’m asking do you really believe that? Do you open up God’s Word and read it regularly? Are you truly diligent to know and understand the truth? Are you committed to learn and obey the truth?

Biblical ignorance has become a serious problem in Christian churches today. Many who claim to be Christians today are more likely to be influenced by the voices of the culture than the pages of the Bible. That seems like a recipe to follow a road that seems right, but in the end leads to misery. Perhaps that’s why there seems to be so many miserable Christians today.

Here’s my challenge, make a commitment to study God’s Word at least four times a week. Remember, knowledge is easy to the one who has understanding. There is a way that is right. It’s the way of the LORD and you’ll be sure to travel that way if you diligently seek to understand and obey God’s truth. Skillful living awaits those who trust in the LORD and seek His wisdom. The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.