Proverb for the Day 5:21-23 — A Better Way!

21 For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. 22 the evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. 23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

This entire chapter is instruction from a father to his son about the value of marriage and the folly of infidelity. These are the last three verses of the chapter and offer a bottom line perspective.

In the end, “a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.” God sees all we do (:21).

Since “the evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his son hold him fast” (:22), we will suffer the consequences of our own stupid decisions. We’ll have no one else to blame.

The sad fact is that “he will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” Our demise will not be due to our lack of knowledge or understanding, but our lack of discipline (:23).

Yet, we don’t have to live that way!

While no one’s perfect and we all make bad decisions, we don’t have to spend a lifetime doing evil deeds and living wickedly. The LORD calls us to face our shortcomings, address them and let them go.

If we’re willing, He’ll give us the empowerment to do so and begin experiencing a whole different -much more meaningful – way of life.