Staying on the Straight and Narrow Path

 

I once heard a man say; If you don’t want to end up in Sin City, don’t get on the road leading to Sin City.  The reverse could be said as well.  If you want to live in Righteousville, travel on the road leading there.

 

Proverbs 4:26-27 (KJV) ²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. ²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

Here in Proverbs 4 the Word of God instructs us on the importance of the roads we travel in life.  Our walk is to be:

 

1.         A Planned Walk:

 

The word ponder in verse 26 means to weigh in our minds, to examine, to view with deliberation. It means to make a road flat and straight. 

 

The word way means a way, a journey, a course of life.

 

The word established means set, firmly fixed.  To be sure and firm.

 

The teaching here is clear.  We are to plan the steps of our life.  Each step in our course of life is to be firmly, carefully, and deliberately made.  Benjamin Franklin said; By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

 
Each decision we make should be viewed with the end result in mind. It should be viewed by where it will lead us. 
 
2.         A Perfect Walk:

Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left:

Our path, our way needs to be a righteous way.  Is it possible to live perfectly?  No, but we can establish a more perfect way of life.  We do not have to be enslaved to sin.  We do not have to walk on the path of sin. 

Our decisions should be based on right and wrong defined by God’s Word.  We should seek to do what is right and make our decisions on what Jesus would do. 

3.         A Protected Walk:

…remove thy foot from evil.

There are places we simply should not go.  I do not really see the need to define these places, as we know where we should not go.  The Scripture is teaching a protected walk.  A walk that is protected because there are places we no longer go.

How is your walk today?   Is it prepared?  Are you planning your day with God in mind? Are you planning to walk the path that God would have you walk?  Is your walk perfect?  Are you making decisions based on what is right and wrong?  Are your decisions Bible based?  Are you refusing to go to the places you should not go?  Are you planning, perfecting, and protecting your way of life?