WISE LIVING –The Path of Wisdom and Life (Proverbs part 3)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a profound joy to share with you today from the wellspring of God's Word, as pastor Sam Merigala so powerfully illuminated in his sermon on January 22, 2023, titled "The Path of Wisdom and Life." This message, part three of his "Wise Living" series, calls us to consider the crucial journey of life we are all on and the choices we make along the way.

The Foundational Choice: Two Paths to Two Destinies

Pastor Sam began by reminding us of a universal truth, beautifully illustrated by a cartoon of a car precariously balanced on a cliff edge: the only way to reach the right destination is to choose the right road. This profound lesson resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of life as a journey, a metaphor found throughout Scripture and even in classical literature like Homer's Odyssey and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

However, in our contemporary world, many voices suggest there are "many ways to God," and that any sincerely followed path will eventually lead us to Him. But our Lord Jesus Christ, in His divine wisdom, made it unequivocally clear that in this life, we can only choose one of two ways, and each leads to a vastly different destination. He speaks of the "crowded road that leads to destruction" and the "narrow road that leads to life" (Matthew 7:13-14). Brothers and sisters, there is no middle way. This divine truth calls us to sober reflection and earnest decision.

Wisdom as Our Divinely Appointed Path

The wisdom of God, particularly as revealed in the book of Proverbs, repeatedly emphasizes this concept of a "path" or "way," using these words nearly one hundred times. Wisdom is not merely an abstract concept or a person to love; it is a very real path upon which we are called to walk. Proverbs chapters 2, 3, and 4 especially highlight the immeasurable blessings God's people receive when they commit to walking on Wisdom's path.

The message from pastor Sam's sermon assures us that the path of Wisdom leads to life, while the way of Folly - or foolishness - leads inevitably to death. When we choose the path of Wisdom, we are granted three wonderful assurances: first, Wisdom protects our path (as seen in chapter 2); second, Wisdom directs our path (chapter 3); and third, Wisdom perfects our path (chapter 4). What marvelous comfort and guidance!

Proverbs 2: A Door to Renewal and Change

Proverbs chapter 2, as pastor Sam explained, opens a door of opportunity for every one of us to grow deeper in Christ and move forward in our spiritual journey. God Himself, not some human program, tells us in this passage how to take our next steps into the newness of life He offers. We all yearn for change, to draw closer to Him than ever before, and God is showing us the way.

It's true that we often feel disqualified, and in our own strength, we are. But that is never a "deal-breaker" for God. There is only one true "deal-breaker" in His eyes: "The complacency of fools destroys them" (Proverbs 1:32). We don't need to actively hate Jesus to waste our lives; simply being "okay with how we are" is enough to lead to spiritual stagnation. But if your heart is lonely for God, if you long for a better, more meaningful life, then Proverbs 2:1-4 reveals that anyone with a heart yearning for God can go deep with Him. This passage, pastor Sam noted, is incredibly helpful because it explains the very "psychology of change"—what growth, sanctification, and renewal truly feel like. It is the absolute opposite of complacency.

The flow of thought in Proverbs 2 is clear and structured in a twofold way:

1. You can be renewed in God (vv. 1–11): This section details how we "get real with God" (vv. 1–4), how "God will get real with you" (vv. 5–8), and consequently, "you will change" (vv. 9–11).
2. You can be protected in this world (vv. 12–22): This part assures us of safety from "devious men" (vv. 12–15), safety from "deadly women" (vv. 16–19), and ultimately, safety forever in "God’s place of blessing" (vv. 20–22).

We are called not to run from life, but to run toward God, for He will prepare us for real life.

How to Get Real with God (Proverbs 2:1-4): The "If...Then" of Grace

Verses 1-4 of Proverbs 2 reveal the heart attitude that God stirs within us - an attitude of non-complacency and earnest desire. The repeated "if" in verses 1, 3, and 4, followed by "then" in verses 5 and 9, clearly maps out the divine process of change. Some might mistakenly view this as legalism, asking, "How can the grace of God be conditional?". But pastor Sam clarified that grace, while unearned and undeserved, still requires our decisive reach. Legalism is the erroneous belief that we can do something to earn God's attention or grace, that our merit can move Him. However, this passage simply asks, "Are you paying attention?".

And how does God desire us to pay attention? As His beloved children, already accepted in Christ. Verse 1 begins, "My son..." reminding us that our place in His heart is a gift, freely given through Christ. It is His fatherly love that calls us to take new steps of growth.

The verbs in verses 1-4 are a powerful cascade of increasing intensity: "If you receive... treasure up... making your ear attentive... inclining your heart... call out... raise your voice... seek... search...". Do you see the truth here, beloved? Wisdom is not automatic; it is not our default setting. We will never drift into godliness. Complacency - being neutral, cute, and safely unchanged - prevents us from becoming significant. God is offering us a treasure infinitely worth seeking: more of Himself entering, renewing, and safeguarding us. He asks, "My child, I am so available - if you want me more than you want your own status quo". Are we willing to give ourselves completely to Him today, to declare, "I want to change more than I want to stay the way I am. I am now hurling myself into your arms"?. This is the wholeheartedness God requires, for as C. S. Lewis wisely observed, "God cannot bless us, unless he has us. When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, God claims all". There is no bargaining with Him.

Our response to His profound love, demonstrated by His Son on the cross, is to turn from our complacent comfort and return to God through urgent prayer, confession, repentance, and earnest seeking. These verses offer no rigid rules, but rather a profound call to desire God above all.

God Gets Real with You (Proverbs 2:5-8): The Promise of Discovery

What does God promise to those who seek Him with an openness to change? Every true seeker can count on this: "Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God". For it is the Lord who gives wisdom; from His very mouth come knowledge and understanding. And where is the mouth of God today? It is in the Holy Bible, lying open before our eyes.

Our Heavenly Father promises this to all of us. We need not be geniuses; we simply need to be honest with Him. "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright" (v. 7). If we seek God honestly, He will deal with us directly. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of His saints.

You Will Change (Proverbs 2:9-11): A New Heart, A New Desire

And then, another glorious "Then" appears at the beginning of verse 9, followed by further assurances: "Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path". When wisdom truly enters your heart, and knowledge becomes pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you, and understanding will keep you.

God is able to give your heart a new taste, a fresh relish, a new instinct for wisdom. We don't need guilt trips or "five easy steps"; we need a new heart, a new character, a deep inner awakening. And God promises that if we seek Him, "wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul". Wise people don't grumble, "Do I have to?"; their hearts are set free to exclaim, "You mean I get to?". They love the things of God because they satisfy the appetites of their renewed souls, experiencing the truth of Jesus' words: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6).

Pastor Sam's sermon beautifully summarized this divine process: "If you will seek newness of life in Christ (vv. 1–4), you will go deep with him (vv. 5–8), and you will change within yourself (vv. 9–11). Then you’ll be prepared for life in the real world (vv. 12–22)". This, my friends, is how grace truly works. Wisdom, then, is gained through a constant process of growth, which involves trusting and honoring God, recognizing the Bible as His revealed wisdom, making a lifelong series of right choices, and learning from our errors when we stumble.

Wisdom Protects Our Path (Proverbs 2): Three Essential Walks

The key verse in Proverbs chapter 2, we learned, is verse 8: "He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints". The book of Proverbs itself is a loving father's wise counsel to his family, continually calling us, "my son" or "my children". It's a reminder that life is fraught with danger, and it is wise to heed the counsel of godly individuals who have walked this path before us.

Pastor Sam's sermon eloquently outlined three distinct "walks" described in this chapter, each crucial for our spiritual well-being:

(1) Walking with God (Proverbs 2:1-9) This is our fundamental responsibility. These verses begin with an admonition to listen to God’s words and take them deeply to heart, for this is the only way to walk with Him and live skillfully. The sermon highlighted eight imperatives that reveal our responsibility toward God’s truth: receive God’s words and hide them in your heart; incline the ear and apply it; cry out for knowledge and lift up the voice for understanding; seek for wisdom and search after it.

Obtaining spiritual wisdom is not a casual, once-a-week hobby, but a daily, lifelong discipline. In our fast-paced world, where attention spans are often brief and spiritual appetites sometimes feeble, we are challenged to diligently invest time and energy into digging deep into Scripture, allowing spiritual knowledge to become "pleasant to [our] soul" (Proverbs 2:10 NKJV). Pastor Sam reminded us that while we are willing to work diligently for a paycheck, we must also apply ourselves to God's Word to gain spiritual riches that are more valuable than gold or silver, riches that last forever. There is indeed a price to pay for spiritual wisdom, but an even greater price for neglecting it. We must walk with God through the dedicated study of His Word. If we do our part, God promises to keep His promise and protect us from the enemy (vv. 7-8).

(2) Walking with the Wicked (Proverbs 2:10-19) Here, wisdom, discretion, and understanding become our indispensable protectors. These verses warn us of two profoundly dangerous temptations in this world: the "evil man" and the "strange woman".

• Protection from Devious Men (vv. 12-15): The key here is "men of perverted speech" (v. 12). These individuals can be impressive and successful, subtly drawing us into their "inner ring". They might suggest "a little bending of the rules," making it seem inconsequential. But, as pastor Sam warned, taking that first step leads to further deviation from Christ, potentially ending in scandal or a heart that loves darkness. "Perverted speech" is not just bad words; it's using good words to twist reality, to smuggle in bad realities. However, if wisdom has entered your heart, such tricky words "just won’t pass the whiff test"; God's wisdom within you will protect you. The evil man is known for his "perverse" or "crooked" words and delights in evil (vv. 12, 14). The person walking in wisdom would immediately detect this deceit and avoid him.

• Protection from Deadly Women (vv. 16-19): This refers to the adulterous or wayward woman, characterized by "seductive words" or "smooth words" (v. 16). Pastor Sam insightfully shared that flattery is not true communication but manipulation, telling us things we enjoy hearing but wish were true. This woman disregards God's law (Exodus 20:14) and violates her covenant with her husband. Her path is one of sin, and anyone who follows her words is heading for destruction. Verses 18 and 19 clearly warn: "Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life". There is no such thing as a "one-night stand" in God's economy; sexual sin quickly becomes complicated and leads to bondage, from which only an almighty Savior can extricate us.

The sermon highlighted that pride and sexual immorality are two of the most difficult sins to resist, both being highly seductive. Pride whispers, "I deserve it," while sexual desire cries, "I need it". Their combination is deadly. Solomon teaches us that only by relying on God’s strength can we overcome them. Pride appeals to an "empty head," while sexual enticement targets an "empty heart". But by looking to God, we can fill our heads with His wisdom and our hearts with His love. At the moment of temptation, if wisdom has entered your heart, you will know what to do: run!. If married, reaffirm your love and commitment to your spouse; if single, recommit yourself, body and soul, to your Savior and Lord. This is wisdom going deep, protecting you.

(3) Walking with the Righteous (Proverbs 2:20-22) Wisdom is not merely about avoiding sin; it is also about being escorted into paths of everything desirable. "Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous" (v. 20). This "thus" is the beautiful consequence of receiving and obeying God's words. When we obey God, we gain the privilege to "walk in the ways of good men". Following His Word ensures we will never lack the right kind of friends. While the wicked may appear to succeed, their end is destruction; the godly will be rooted in God's place of blessing. The path of wisdom is the safest, most satisfying path - the path of life.

We are called to examine and test ourselves, as Paul admonishes in 2 Corinthians 13:5, for God Himself weighs our ways, hearts, and actions. Life is too short and precious to be wasted on the temporary and trivial.

The conclusion of Proverbs 2, pastor Sam elaborated, points to "the land" - the place of God's blessing, where the upright and those with integrity will inhabit and remain. In New Testament terms, "inhabiting the land" is code language for "abiding in Christ". Jesus Himself said, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).

Our most meaningful prayer, then, is to "call out for insight" and "raise your voice for understanding" (v. 3). This passage is meant to position us in that very place of blessing and protection, which we desperately need in a world slammed by a tsunami of sin. Whether our suffering is our own fault due to complacency or a result of staying true to the Lord, our real business is always with Christ. He calls us to come to Him, to deal with Him, promising to restore us from past failings and defend us for the future. He invites us to "hurl yourself at me in all your need. I will give myself to you in all my grace. My wisdom will enter your heart in ways you’ve never known before".

The vital question for each of us today, my dear friends, is: Will you come to Christ?. If we walk in the way of wisdom, God promises to protect, direct, and perfect our path. Folly, on the other hand, offers only danger, detours, and disappointments, leading ultimately to death. Surely, then, making the right choice should not be difficult!. May we all choose the path of Wisdom, the path of life, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!