There is a way before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 16:25 NLT
My teacher and friend, Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, used to say, “I don’t know how old I was before I ever saw [something] in the Bible.” I used to smile and roll my eyes because he knew the Bible as well as anyone I ever knew. But I no longer roll my eyes, because I now find it true in my own life. For instance, I long wondered about the above passage, “What is that way? The text does not spell it out. Is it just some random thing that I want to do?”
But then a few days ago, as I was reading this proverb again, it suddenly struck me: this way that seems so right, but leads to death, is the sinful disposition with which every human is born. This way seems so right to us. Of course, getting what I want is right, whether it is pleasure, or possessions, or position, or power. Why in the world would I give up any of that? Or why would I let anybody get more of those than me if I can prevent it?
But that way of living leads to death. It does so because it effectively eliminates God, who is the source of life, from our lives. Right at the outset, refusing to accept God’s guidance (because we distrust him) we confuse needs and wants, thinking (incorrectly) that what we want is what we need. Then we determine how to satisfy those needs (wants) using our own resources; and since resources are limited, we have to determine how to prevent others from getting what we want. That sounds a lot like Genesis chapters 3 and 4, doesn’t it?
What do you and I need? A love relationship with God in which we want to do what pleases him. Everything else is secondary. In that way we are connected to life, and life will pour through us to the world. So what way are you and I walking on? Is it possible that we are actually walking on that other road because all we are doing is trying to use God to satisfy our wants? Let’s not do it. Let’s lay our wants at his feet and allow him to satisfy our needs.
Called To Be Transformed 