Proverbs 4:10-19

Rachel Workman: Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. Isn't that the truth.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble. Is there was ever a verse to commit to memory verse 18 is one. The path of the righteous is like the morning son.

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Krista Cook:  - We must be sure we are on the right path at all times and that we are guiding our children along that right path.  Choose the narrow road!

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Mike Grimm:  ¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.

Solomon is saying to all who read this book of Proverbs, hear and understand. Pray for wisdom of God and walk in that wisdom and you shall not stumble and fall. You can run the race well and not stumble along the way as long as the wisdom of God directs you.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life. When we stop learning, we are dead.  There is always something else to learn.  We read in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 the type of instruction that is the most profitable to man. “¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers. Sin is best dealt with at its beginning by the application of necessary wisdom to suit the initial temptation.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.

Even friends can make you fall. It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances might be luring them to do wrong. It’s very important to find good, trusted Christian friends who you know will not lead you astray. I am very fortunate in that area. Find someone to bounce questions, concerns, and issues off of. Never be afraid to speak concerns or accept criticism, when it is out of Christian love and concern. I find that today young people want to be accepted, so they will never confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. While God wants us to be accepting of others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. When we feel ourselves being heavily influenced, we must proceed with caution. We can’t let our friends or acquaintances lure us into sin. This is when we need to turn to those trusted friends for prayer and/or advice. We may even want to avoid those “friends” that lead us into sinful situations. I personally want friends that I will see for eternity in heaven.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

This is in total contrast. Those who are justified because they have made a decision to walk in the path of righteousness are walking in the Light as He is in the Light. That perfect day is the day when all these struggles of this life are over, and we can be in the presence of the Light for that eternal day. The path of the believer is one of increasing light, just as a sunrise begins with the first faith glow of dawn and proceeds to the splendor of noonday.

¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble.

The wicked in darkness cannot and will not repent and come to the light. We see, as we read in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

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Tuesday’s reading for Proverbs 4:20-27

My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.