Wisdom Way

On Frank Sinatra’s 1969 album is the song, My Way

‘And did it my way!

Yes, it was my way!’

‘I did it my way’ is the way of the world. It is not the way of Jesus. Jesus said, ‘Yet not as I will, but as you will’ (Matthew 26:39). He prays, ‘May your will be done’ (v.42). He made no excuses. Jesus did it God’s way.

Moses, on the other hand, as we will see today, made five excuses before eventually agreeing to follow God’s way.

Proverbs 4:10-19

‘Wisdom Way’

Spiritual growth is like a journey. You progress one step at a time. What matters is not so much how far you have got – but that you are heading in the right direction and that you keep going.

The book of Proverbs tells us that there are two ways: ‘The path of the wicked…the way of evildoers’ (v.14) and ‘The way of wisdom…’ (v.11); ‘The path of the righteous’ (v.18).

We are not told to avoid wicked people (that would mean withdrawal from the world). Rather, we are told to avoid their ways – to avoid doing what they do. If you follow God’s guidance he promises to lead you on the ‘Wisdom Way’ (v.11, MSG).

God’s way may not be easy, but there is great joy and excitement in following his way: ‘The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day’ (v.18). ‘The longer they live, the brighter they shine’ (v.18, MSG).