"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness."

Proverbs 16:12

It seemed like a fairly simple burglary when a group of five men were arrested on the night of June 17, 1972, while breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The arrest and subsequent trial were largely ignored during the election that year, and President Nixon was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term in a landslide. But the story was more involved than first appeared, and the Nixon presidency began to unravel.

The revelation that the burglary was connected to the Committee to Reelect the President and that Nixon and his staff had impeded the investigation eventually led to the door of the Oval Office. Tape recordings secretly made in the White House gave investigators evidence of high level involvement. By the time the dust had settled, more than three dozen people, including many top administration officials had been convicted and sent to prison for their role in the break in and the subsequent cover up. President Nixon resigned in disgrace rather than waiting for an almost certain impeachment, and only a pardon from President Ford kept him from facing trial as well.

Often those in leadership (and all of us are leaders and influencers in at least one area or another) are tempted to think that they can afford to cut corners or do things that they would condemn if others did them. They may think that their position entitles them leeway from honesty and integrity—but it does not. Every time a leader approves of or tolerates sin, he is weakening the very framework that supports his position. Because all authority comes from God—“there is no power but of God” (Romans 13:1)—any sinful act is an attack not just on His authority but on the leader’s authority as well.

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

Proverbs 18:13

“Mice in Council” is one of Aesop’s better known fables. A group of mice, tired of constantly living in fear of being attacked and eaten by a cat hold a meeting to decide on a course of action. A number of possibilities were debated and rejected before one mouse stood with a proposal that proved to be very popular. “I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.”

The mice were prepared to vote to approve the plan when an elderly mouse stood and said, “I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one. But may I ask who is going to bell the cat?” Often people say things that sound good in the moment, but when they are fully considered, the flaws begin to appear. Other times, only one side of a situation is presented for consideration. The problem comes in when we take action based on the early information without taking all sides into account. That approach leads to foolish decisions and can result in calamity.

We should take time to carefully weigh all aspects of a matter, making sure that we have the full story before proceeding to make a decision. Choices based on partial and incomplete information rarely turn out well. Do not allow impatience or haste to push you toward moving forward unless you are sure you have understood both the current situation and the possible outcomes of any decision you make. Only then are you ready to make a wise and safe decision.

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

Proverbs 20:6

Late in 1944 with the war going very badly for the Japanese, a young lieutenant name Hiroo Onoda was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines. His orders were simple. He was to do everything possible to slow the American advance by conducting guerilla attacks. Under no circumstances was he to surrender or to kill himself. Onoda took his orders seriously. Even when the American forces captured the island early in 1945 and most of the other men in his unit surrendered, Onoda continued to fight.

He and three others took to the hills where they continued the struggle. Their continuing attacks alerted authorities to their presence and leaflets were dropped telling them the war was over. Onoda believed it was a trick and continued the fight. Eventually the other members of his party surrendered or were killed, but he continued to launch guerilla attacks on the residents of the island. Finally in 1974, his former commanding officer was flown to Lubang Island to meet with Lt. Onoda. He formally relieved the tenacious solider of his duty so that Onoda could leave the war behind without disobeying his orders and being dishonored.

The war had been over for nearly thirty years, but Lt. Onoda was still faithful to obey the command he had been given decades before. In a day when we see many fall away from following God, we are sometimes tempted as Elijah was to wonder if there are any faithful people left. There are! And we have the opportunity to add to that number by being faithful ourselves. Jesus asked this question, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Each of us should resolve to live in such a way that we will be found faithful when we see Jesus.

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Proverbs 22:3

Anthropologist Gregory Bateson told an amazing story about the New College at Oxford in England. The college is “new” only by Oxford standards, having been founded in 1379. During the 1400s a great dining hall was built for the students to use. One of the stunning architectural features of the hall is the presence of a number of massive exposed oak beams which are some two feet thick and forty-five feet long.

According to Bateman’s story in the late 1900s the beams were found to be infested with beetles which were destroying their structural integrity. Knowing they needed to be replaced, but unsure where to find such massive trees, the college leaders were stymied. Then the College Forester came forward with the solution. Hundreds of years before, oak trees had been planted on college lands for the specific purpose of providing replacements in the future. While generations of foresters had harvested other trees, they had left the oaks to grow strong and tall. Because the need had been foreseen, a provision had been made to meet it.

God’s children should be characterized by wisdom regarding the future. Someone once said, “If you have failed to plan you have planned to fail.” While none of us knows exactly what will happen tomorrow, and we should never be presumptuous about the future, we should plan for things that can be foreseen. Trusting God does not imply that we fail to make provision for the future for ourselves and our families. In addition to making plans for the material world, we should plan for the spiritual world as well to avoid temptation and sin. It is far easier to keep from sinning if you avoid being tempted. Jesus taught His followers to pray “Lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13).

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."

Proverbs 24:33-34

Some people refer to Paul Railton of Consett, England, as the laziest man in the world. That would be difficult to prove, but his legal troubles certainly provide evidence that he is in the running for the title. In December of 2009, Railton was reported to the authorities by a cyclist who saw him “walking” his dog by driving his car slowly and holding the leash out the car window! Railton pled guilty to a charge of “not being in proper control of a vehicle” and was fined sixty-six pounds and ordered not to drive for six months.

As our society moves further and further away from valuing hard work, we are seeing a rise in laziness. This disease is undermining not just the foundations of our nation, but it is striking at the church as well. It is always easy to justify taking it easy. While there is a place for rest—following the pattern God established in the beginning of Creation by resting on the seventh day—few in our age are suffering from overwork. Instead too many continually “hit the snooze button” and waste their lives through laziness.

However much we would like to think otherwise, there always comes a day of reckoning for laziness. No good intention can overcome the law of work which God has placed in the universe. When we do not labor, eventually the consequences arrive. Taking the easy way out in the present always damages the future—and it will never produce the desired result. Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work.” Take the tasks which you find before you and give them your full effort.

"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."

Proverbs 26:11

A number of years ago, retired NASA engineer Edgar C. Whisenant wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. The book, which he self-published, placed the expected date of the Rapture between September 11 and September 13 of 1988, and became a massive bestseller. By the time the end of the year was reached, more than 4.5 million copies had been sold. Whisenant was certain he had the date right. He said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town. I would stake my life on Rosh Hashanah 1988.”

Whisenant’s later books predicting the Rapture in 1989, 1993, and 1994 did not sell nearly as well as the first one—but he kept right on making those predictions despite the clear teaching of Scripture that we are not meant to know the date and time of Christ’s return.

Because we are only human, all of us are going to make mistakes. One of the things that sets fools apart, however, is that they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. They never learn from their errors, no matter how painful their experiences may be. That is because they are committed to their folly.

Instead we should be teachable and learn from our mistakes. As Psalm 32:9 puts it, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” The path of wisdom is to consider the lessons we are being taught when things go wrong. Rather than blaming others or talking about “bad luck,” we should be looking to see if we have violated a principle of Scripture and bring our lives into compliance with God’s Word.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Proverbs 28:13

In May of 1948 three men robbed a bank in Hoyt, Kansas, getting away with $1,000. Shortly thereafter two men were killed in a car wreck, and police thought they were the robbers and the case was closed. Four years later, however, something unusual happened. On a Sunday morning at the Seward Avenue Baptist Church a young man named Al Johnson stepped to the pulpit and revealed to the congregation that the day before he had gone to the district attorney and confessed his role in the crime.

“I thought about the bank robbery many times,” Johnson, who was a teenager when the crime occurred, said. “I prayed about it and asked the Lord to give me an answer. It seemed that He would give me only one answer and that was to give myself up.” Johnson also revealed that he had borrowed the money to repay the bank his share of the stolen funds. The statute of limitations had expired, but Johnson said that even if it meant going to prison, he could not keep the secret any longer. Johnson agreed to help the authorities locate the other two men, who had not been, as was previously believed, the men involved in the car accident.

Sometimes we think the best approach is to hide our sin, either to avoid embarrassment and exposure, or to avoid the potential consequences. That approach never works in the long run. There is a God who sees everything—nothing is ever hidden from His view. His hatred of sin is so intense that He will never allow us to prosper by covering our sin. The toll of hidden sin on the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the sinner is vast. It is far better for us to confess and seek the mercy and forgiveness of God.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"

Proverbs 30:25

In the London Olympic Games, skeet shooter Kim Rhode did something no one else had ever done before—won her fifth gold medal in five consecutive Olympics. She was just a teenager when she won her first gold medal in the Atlanta Games in 1996, making her the youngest shooting gold medalist in history. She successfully defended her title again and again. In fact, in London she set a new Olympic record by hitting 99 out of 100 targets.

Her secret? According to an interview in The New York Times, Rhode fires between 500 and 1000 shells every single day all year long. Her estimate is that she has fired at more than 3,000,000 targets. The truth is that Kim Rhode did not really win the gold medal in London—she won it by going to the range every day and preparing herself so thoroughly that she was able to perform at the highest level when the decisive moment came.

All of us who wish to serve God must be willing to pay the price to prepare for that service. Paul wrote to Timothy, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Sometimes we put the cart before the horse, trying to be of service without first making sure that our lives are ready for use.

This of course does not mean that we cannot do anything for God until some far off day in the future when everything is perfected. If we take that approach we will never do anything. Instead it means that we are to be daily preparing in such a way that when the moments of challenge and opportunity arise, we are ready to glorify Him.

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Proverbs 1:29

A reporter saw Jim Taylor, star running back on the Green Bay Packers football team standing in the team’s hotel lobby more than 45 minutes before the bus was scheduled to take the team to the stadium for a playoff game. “Why are you here so early, Jim?” he asked. “I don’t want to get left at the hotel,” the Hall of Fame running back answered. The Packers were coached by Vince Lombardi, and soon after his arrival in Green Bay, he instituted a schedule that came to be known as “Lombardi Time.” He would announce the start of a practice or the departure time for an event, only to begin early—leaving those who showed up “on time” behind or critiquing them for being late.

The essence of Lombardi Time is that if you were not fifteen minutes “early” you were late. In honor of the famed coach, the clock at Lambeau Field that faces Lombardi Avenue is still set fifteen minutes ahead! Lombardi was known as a fierce disciplinarian, and his players were expected to comply with his rules without question or argument. Despite his great talent, Jim Taylor was more afraid of disappointing his coach than of almost anything else.

Many people in our society today view God casually. This is not just true in the world, but sadly this attitude has infected the church as well. Despite this tide of neglect of the character and nature of God, we must make another choice—to swim against the current and maintain our fear of the Lord in recognition of His holiness. When Isaiah saw a glimpse of God’s throne in Heaven he said, “Woe is me! for I am undone…for mine eyes have seen the King” (Isaiah 6:5). Make it your choice to maintain a holy fear of God.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Proverbs 3:13-15

Though his grandfather and uncle were well-known preachers, Robert Rundle initially planned a career in the business world. But God burdened his heart for missions while he was in school, and Rundle determined to go to western Canada and work among the Cree Indians. He arrived in Fort Edmonton, Saskatchewan in 1840. For the next eight years he traveled and ministered in the wild country, bringing the gospel to remote areas. Badly injured in a horseback accident, he was forced to return to England. His health never allowed him to return to the mission field, and he instead pastored for much of the rest of his life.

Near the resort town of Banff, Alberta, Mt. Rundle, which is named in Robert Rundle’s honor, towers in the Canadian Rockies. Though Runle did not see massive numerical results, his sacrifice and ministry left a lasting impact. The Cree Indians said of Rundle, “He came among us poor and poor he went away, leaving us rich.” The world would hardly judge Rundle a success, but God measures with a different standard.

The way we spend our time, our talents, and our resources reveals a great deal about what matters the most to us. There are some who gain great worldly wealth and yet have very little in the eyes of God. A man with much gold is highly esteemed here on Earth, yet in Heaven God uses gold to pave the street. Instead of focusing on the temporal, we should devote our lives to that which is eternal—that which worth far more than any form of wealth.

"Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them."

Proverbs 5:5-6

One of the largest freshwater turtles is the alligator snapping turtle. Found primarily in the southeastern United States, these massive turtles have been known to weigh as much as 250 pounds. They are carnivorous, and while their diet is primarily fish, they have been known to eat almost anything else they can find in the water—even in a few cases small alligators! Though they are very large, the force of their jaws is not greater than that of other turtles. Instead of force, the alligator snapping turtle relies on a uniquely deceitful method of foraging for fish.

The turtle will lie completely still on the floor of a lake or river with its mouth wide open. At the end of the turtle’s tongue is a small, pink, worm-shaped appendage. The turtle wiggles the end of its tongue so that it looks like a worm moving through the water. When a fish comes to eat the worm, the turtle’s jaws rapidly close, trapping the fish so that it cannot escape.

Similarly to the snapping turtle’s lure, temptation comes in the guise of something desirable, but it always carries destruction with it in the end. If we could see the end result rather than the tempting part, it would be far easier to resist. But Satan knows this, so he cleverly disguises what is deadly in the guise of something pleasurable. If the devil came to us in a red suit with a pitchfork and forked tail we would not be tempted. Instead as Paul wrote, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Recognizing that our enemy is a master of disguise, both for himself and in his temptations, we need to always be on guard to protect our purity.

"Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves."

Proverbs 7:18

Just five days after accepting the position as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in December of 2001, George O’Leary resigned in disgrace. An investigation had revealed that more than twenty years before he had included false claims on his resume, including saying that he had lettered in football when he was not even on the team and that he had a master’s degree which he had not earned. The lies had not been discovered at any of his previous coaching jobs, but the high profile accorded the position of coach at Notre Dame led to his exposure.

In a statement O’Leary said: “Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni, and fans. With that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach.” Though a considerable amount of time passed between O’Leary’s deception and its discovery, it did come to light with devastating results. He had seemingly reached the heights of his profession, only to wake up and find it all taken away.

When we are tempted with the allure of sin, we must remember that no matter how enjoyable the sin may be in the moment, there will certainly come a day of reckoning. This is the decision that Moses faced, and the Bible says he responded: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

No one has ever successfully sinned without consequence. Though sin may be hidden for days, weeks, or even years, “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Contemplating the coming of morning and the day when we must account for what we have done will help us resist temptation.

"She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."

Proverbs 9:3-5

In his short story The Masque of the Red Death first published in 1842, Edgar Allen Poe describes a terrible plague sweeping across the land. Prince Prospero invites numbers of noblemen to come to his palace to escape the plague. They lay in great stores of provisions, then weld the doors shut behind them to keep out the danger. Though the invitation appears to offer safety, in the end it only brings death as the plague is revealed at a great masked ball to already be within the palace.

In contrast, the invitation that God offers to us to come and claim wisdom offers safety, security, and protection from danger. His invitation is genuine, and we should eagerly respond to it.

When we answer the invitation of wisdom—God promises to give it to us freely. James said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Because our need of wisdom is so great, God graciously provides it when we ask.

So why then do God’s people not always have the wisdom they need? Part of the answer is found in the invitation of wisdom: it is extended to those who are willing to acknowledge their need. The invitation is extended to the “simple”—those who need instruction. When God appeared to Solomon and offered him whatever he desired, the young king responded, “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7) and asked for wisdom. Solomon received wisdom because he was humble enough to ask for it.

"A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches."

Proverbs 11:16

Things bought at garage sales don’t usually end up on the evening news, but a Chinese bowl bought by a New York family in 2007, became famous in April of 2013. The new owners paid just three dollars for what turned out to be a bowl from the Northern Song Dynasty that was more than one thousand years old. Until someone told them what they really had, the family had the bowl stuck on the mantle over their fireplace. When they placed the bowl with Sotheby’s Auction House for sale, it was estimated to go for approximately $200,000. Instead a dealer from London purchased it for more than $2,000,000!

Why would the first owners sell something so valuable for just $3? The answer is that they didn’t appreciate what it was worth. We may shake our heads at that, but the truth is that every day men and women give up things far more valuable than money could buy for something that is ultimately worthless.

When a woman sacrifices her integrity to steal from her employer to be able to buy something she wants or a man sacrifices his purity to commit immorality to satisfy his lust, something of great worth is being given up for something very cheap. This is a clear indication of misplaced values. When parents ignore their children’s need to further a career (or even a ministry), they are giving up something that cannot be regained for the sake of something that will not last.

We need to live by God’s values—caring most about those things that matter most to Him. And this commitment must be demonstrated not just in our words but in the way we invest our time and our resources. When we value things that matter, we will not give them away cheaply.

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Proverbs 13:20

The courtroom was hushed as Saleem Williams testified that his friend, nineteen-year-old Monique Robinson, had handed him the gun and told him to pull the trigger. Williams had already pled guilty to his role in the September 2011 murder of a twenty-two year old man in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, named Selvin Lopez-Mauricio. Now he was testifying against Robinson, his girlfriend as part of his agreement with prosecutors. Williams claimed that he would not have been involved in the murder at all except for her influence.

The people we choose to be our close friends and companions truly have a dramatic and powerful influence on our lives. Someone said, “You will be the same in five years as you are now except for the books you read and the people you meet.” Those with whom we choose to spend our time have a powerful influence on us, either for good or evil.

There are no neutral parties when it comes to influence. We either spend our time with those who are wise and are better for it, or we spend our time with those who are foolish and suffer the consequences.

There is an old saying that says, “A man is known by the company he keeps.” While that statement is true, it is only part of the picture. Not only does the character and nature of those with whom we fellowship say something about us, but it shapes and molds who we are as well. While we should strive to be a positive influence and role model for others, it is foolish to expect to spend all of your time with bad influences and not have it impact your life and character. Healthy people don’t make contagious people well by being around them—they just get sick themselves.

"Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

Proverbs 15:16-17

In his narrative poem “The Faultless Painter” about the Italian artist Andrea del Sarto, Robert Browning used the expression “less is more.” Because of his careful attention to detail, del Sarto was known as a painter senza errori—without errors. However, his perfectionism also seems to have reduced his output. It was this tendency that Browning highlighted with a phrase that has entered into our language. But though the expression “less is more” is often true, it seems many struggle with understanding the spiritual truth behind the words.

There is a driving spirit of discontent in our day that makes it hard for people to be satisfied with what they have. In truth, if our focus is on our “stuff” we will never be content because there is always one more thing we don’t have or one more person who has more. Solomon put this principle this way: “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). No matter how much we get, it will never be enough.

But there are some things far more important than possessions. If we have those we will be content even if there are not great material blessings. And in that contentment we will find something that cannot be purchased for any amount of money.

It is said that on her deathbed Queen Elizabeth I said, “All my possessions for one moment of time.” Though she was fabulously wealthy, in the end even her resources could not purchase what she most wanted. Let our hearts be set on that which is eternal, and we can be truly happy.

"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with."

Proverbs 17:14

In June of 2012 a large wildfire threatened the town of Elbert, Colorado. Many people were forced to evacuate their homes, and it took more than one hundred firefighters to finally control the blaze which consumed more than six hundred acres. Alex Averette, a member of the volunteer fire department, was the first to spot and report the blaze. Months later he admitted to investigators that he had started a small fire with a cigarette lighter “for the experience.” But the fire quickly grew out of control and threatened thousands of lives. Averette was arrested and charged with arson.

Many times we think we will be able to control the consequences of a word or action, only to find that things rapidly spin out of control. It’s impossible to gather water back up after it is poured on the ground, and it is very difficult indeed to restore broken relationships once careless words and deeds have damaged them. Before the fight has started, there is no problem keeping things in check. Once it has begun, however, things often spiral far beyond what was intended in the beginning and the problems become much more difficult to resolve.

Just as the difficulty of overcoming a habit like smoking can be avoided by never starting it, the problem of restoring a battered relationship can be avoided by not allowing the conflict to begin. While there are some things that are worth fighting for—such as the truth of the gospel itself—in many cases it is simply a matter of pride that causes a battle to begin. Like the water poured out, the words once spoken cannot be recalled. God expects us to control our tongues through the power of His Spirit, and when we do, we will avoid damaging our relationships.

"Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge."

Proverbs 19:25

As the 1963 college football season drew to a close, Alabama coach Bear Bryant faced a dilemma. He was known as a strict disciplinarian, but his star player, quarterback Joe Namath, had broken a team rule. Normally he would be suspended, but with the Sugar Bowl against highly ranked Mississippi coming up, that meant the team would be forced to use a lesser player and might not win the game. Most of Bryant’s staff opposed a suspension, but in the end, Bryant enforced the rule. Namath sat and watched as his teammates pulled out a 12-7 win without his help.

The message was received loud and clear, not just by Namath but also by every other member of the team—no one is above the rules. The following season, Namath returned to the team and led a highly focused group to an undefeated regular season and the national championship. His public correction benefitted him, but its biggest impact was probably on his teammates. They received the benefit of the principle Paul relayed to Timothy: “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20).

When we correct those who do wrong, we provide a vital example to all who see it. If they see people sinning and getting by, they are tempted to follow their example. Solomon wrote, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:10).

For those whose hearts are devoted to wisdom, correction is not a grievous insult, but rather an opportunity to increase their understanding and avoid mistakes in the future. If we respond in pride and anger when we are reproved rather than with gratitude and humility, we are missing one of God’s great tools to impart wisdom to us.

"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

Proverbs 21:17

We live in a society that is obsessed with the pursuit of pleasure. While this is not a new thing, the lengths to which it is being taken today are beyond what has been known throughout most of history. The airwaves are filled with ads which promise happiness and success for those who have more stuff than they know what to do with. These ads are used for everything from cars to toothpaste. But they—and the mindset they promote—are based on a lie.

A study published in US News and Report some years ago did some digging into what people’s expectation of life really was. Rather than just asking general questions, those who conducted the study were specific about what people thought they would need to have in order to feel like they had achieved the “American Dream.” Interestingly enough, the responses were quite similar regardless of the current income the respondents had. For the average person in the study to feel like they had made it, based on their specific answers for what kinds of things they wanted, their income would need to basically double. This was true for those making $25,000 and those making $100,000. When you added up all the possessions and purchases that they felt would make them content, it was roughly twice as much money as they currently had—and that clearly isn’t attainable for most people.

As those around us focus on increasing their income, to increase their ability to spend, to increase their appetite for more, they do not realize that they are chasing a circular dream that can never make them happy. No amount of money and no group of belongings can bring contentment to a heart that does not already hold it.

"Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off."

Proverbs 23:17-18

Many people lose their faith in God when they do not immediately see good rewarded and evil punished. Instead of continuing to believe and fear Him, their hearts turn away from following God and seek satisfaction elsewhere. But even if we do not quickly see what God has promised come to pass, it is still certain. Think of Abraham who waited some twenty-five years for the birth of his promised son, Isaac. Though there was a moment when his faith wavered with Hagar, he continued to believe until the promise was fulfilled.

Then after Isaac was born, God instructed Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice. Rather than struggling against God’s direction, Abraham obeyed. The level of his belief and fear of God commanded his obedience. Though no one had ever been raised from the dead at that point, Abraham believed that if he did what God said, Isaac would not remain dead. The Bible tells us that Abraham acted in faith, “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Hebrews 11:19). We should demonstrate that same level of hope and fear in our obedience and consistency as believers.

Though hope and fear may seem like opposite traits, our belief that God will do what He promises is reinforced by our fear of His holiness and righteousness. We can depend on His unchanging nature and unfailing love no matter what the circumstances may seem to be. We should never allow those who are doing evil and seem to be doing well to make us doubt the goodness of God—or His judgment of sin.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

Proverbs 25:11

Before he became a preacher imprisoned for refusing to take a license from the Church of England to preach, before he wrote the powerful allegory Pilgrim’s Progress that has influenced so many people, John Bunyan was a wicked ticker in Bedford, England. He had no care or thought for the things of God and lived solely for himself. In his book Grace Abounding, Bunyan recounts the crucial events that placed him on the path to salvation. Bunyan wrote that he was sitting outside a neighbor’s shop “cursing, swearing, and playing the madman, after my wonted manner.”

A woman inside, though she was not a Christian herself, was shocked by the depth of Bunyan’s profane declarations and told him that his words made her tremble. The unexpected reproof sobered and took root in Bunyan’s heart, and he stopped swearing from that point forward. It seemed to have an effect on him that led him to consider the path on which he was headed, and it was not long after that experience that he was saved. Simple words of correction from an unsaved woman radically altered Bunyan’s life.

Our words have great power. They can build up and encourage someone who is struggling or they can tear down and discourage someone who is seeking help. When we choose our words, we should always be aware of the impact that they can have on others. David wrote, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psalm 39:1).

There is a time for strong words in confrontation of sin. There is a time for comforting words when someone has a broken heart. There is a time for instructing words when someone needs guidance. Wisdom rightly assesses the situation and the need and then uses words which are appropriate to meet the need of the moment.

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

Proverbs 27:6

Charles Spurgeon said, “Give me for a friend a man who will speak honestly of me before my face; who will not tell first one neighbor, and then another, but who will come straight to my house and say: ‘I feel there is wrong in you, my brother, that I must tell you of.’ That man is a true friend. He has proved himself to be so, for we never get any praise for telling people of their faults; we rather hazard their dislike.”

Many people suffer because they lack a friend who is deep and committed enough to offer correction when it is needed. Often the reason no one speaks to point out a flaw in time for us to correct it without serious damage is found in our response to those who attempt to offer advice or correction. A man or woman who responds with anger or frustration to such an attempt will soon stop receiving them—but that is a very dangerous position to be in.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 says, “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.” None of us are wise and godly enough not to need friends to help us improve. None of us are able to identify all of our blind spots and see where we may be vulnerable without even realizing it. Corporations pay huge sums of money to people who attempt to break through their security systems and identify weaknesses before they can be exploited. Our friends—true friends—provide such a warning system for us if we have the humility and wisdom to listen to them. The fact that correction comes from a friend does not make it painless. But we should view it as a needed wound—and appreciate it.

"In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice."

Proverbs 29:6

Germany in the early part of the 1600s suffered two huge tragedies. The Thirty Years’ War, one of the longest periods of continual war in modern history, swept across Europe as nations struggled for supremacy. In addition, the Bubonic Plague rampaged through the population. Millions perished from war and disease. The German town of Eilenburg had four pastors at the beginning of 1637, but by the end of the year, only one—Martin Rinkart—was left alive.

During that awful year, more than 4,400 people died. Rinkart conducted all of the funerals, sometimes as many as forty or fifty in a single day. In May, his beloved wife died. Yet through all of that suffering and heartbreak, Rinkart retained his faith. He later penned a wonderful hymn of rejoicing that is still sung today.

Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices.
Who, from our mother's arms,
Hath led us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

There are times in all of our lives when things do not go the way we wish that they would. Sickness comes, financial reversal strikes, trouble comes into our homes—we live in a fallen and sinful world, and each of us suffers the consequences of that at times. If you observe people very long you will see that while some go through difficult times and fall apart, others go through the same kinds of difficulties and maintain a strong and vibrant faith. The difference is not in the hardship, but in the faith that chooses how to respond. When we are resting in the love and goodness of God, we can sing and rejoice even in the midst of our trials.

"My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."

Proverbs 1:15-16

In August of 2012, vacationers at the beach in Terracina, Italy were shocked when a car pulled up next to a man who had just left the water and shot him seven times. The man was Gaetano Marino, leader of the Camorra crime family. He was known as “Stumpy” because his hands had been blown off nearly twenty years previous when a bomb he was attempting to set for someone else went off prematurely. Police said they believed the killing was part of a struggle for control of the cocaine business between rival mob factions. Marino was part of a “family business” that placed him on the path that resulted in his death.

The law of sowing and reaping has not been repealed. When we set out on a course of action, there are consequences that we can and should anticipate (both good and bad) that ought to play a large role in our choices. Many people get in trouble when they decide to associate with people who put them on the wrong path. Though they never intend to end up in great danger, they begin walking an evil road, which always results in destruction in the end.

The only safety we have is to avoid such paths. Continuing down the wrong road and hoping to get off at the last moment is a recipe for disaster. The assumption that we know enough to evaluate where the danger will strike and we can afford to continue on a sinful path up until that moment is both arrogant and false. Instead we should quickly turn away from an evil path and from evil companions. Only in repentance can we be safe from the consequences of sin.