The Way That Seems Right

Have you ever thought that you really knew how a verse of Scripture should be applied only to discover a new way to apply it? I had with Proverbs 14:12. It says, "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death."

I had always applied this Scripture to salvation. People try to make their own way to salvation. They use human reason but human reason will not bring people to salvation. It will keep them away from salvation for salvation makes no sense to those using human reason.

God's salvation says that God sent His only Son to pay the price of sin so that those who were working against Him could go to heaven if they would trust in His Son. There are several parts of that which make no sense. God loves people who don't love Him. That doesn't make human sense. God sent His only Son to die for these people. Now, that really makes no human sense. Those who don't love Him will give their trust to Him. You get the idea by now.

But that Scripture is more broad than salvation. It applies to everything that we do.

For example, a young Christian woman will know she shouldn't marry a non-Christian guy. A cute guy will ask her out. She will not know whether or not he is a Christian. She will lower her standard of marrying a Christian guy for a number of reasons. Mainly, she is afraid she won't ever get married if she has to wait for a Christian guy who is a total dweeb. So, she reasons that she will make him a Christian after they get married.

First, none of us can make a decision for anyone else. Second, why should he become a Christian after they marry? She will not have the spiritual leader in the home that she would have had if she had married a Christian. She will spend her days trying to get him into church. She will even give up other Christian principles to win his affection. Her dreams of a Christian marriage die. It is really a miserable life.

Another example is found in the tithe. Human reasoning says that you will have more money if you don't give that much to God. But God says that isn't true in Malachi. He says to test Him in giving a tithe.

The lack of faith to give God the tithe results in the destruction of your faith to believe God will provide for you. You doubt His goodness, His ability and His Word. You may even doubt your own salvation. Why would you believe He will take care of you eternally if you don't believe He will take care of you tomorrow?

Human reasoning says keep everything you make and give none of it away. This leads to emptiness. Human reasoning says look out for yourself first. This leads to emptiness. Human reasoning says love only those who love you. This leads to emptiness.

God's Word is not intended to be a burden. It is a blessing. It is a gift. Our lives are full when we reject human reasoning and obey His Word. It makes our lives worth living.

Adam and Eve reasoned that the fruit God said would cause death would give them life. You can see where that has gotten us. Why do we depend on human reasoning as opposed to God's Word? It has something to do with our fallen nature.

Another Scripture comes to mind: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)