3 Critical Questions for Life's Direction-Part 3

3. Where am I headed?

Proverbs 14:2"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

Destination is all important. Not all roads are equal. Not all directions will end up where you should be. The destination question is not to be ignored. The fool is deceived by thinking the destination doesn’t matter. All of us can get wrapped up into doing what seems best for us, what looks the nicest, the safest, the easiest, the most rewarding. But you are only judging the way, the immediate journey. To focus on the way that seems right to you, will end in death. Because when it comes to ultimate things, you and I don’t have the right answers. The destination is wrong and the result is fatal. It’s a dead end.

No matter how life goes now, if you don’t have the right answer to the Where am I headed question, death is your future. You might be answering that question with, “I’m a pretty good person”. That’s a death sentence. Or you might say, “I like my life. Things will turn out okay.” That’s a dead end. Or “I’m a church-goer.” Or “I don’t worry about it. Whatever happens happens.” Or “I’m just enjoying the journey.” Death, death, death.

I need to warn those of you who are headed the wrong way. You think everything is fine. But I beg you to consider the direction of your life. This may be one more time when God is calling you. He may use this to get you thinking, so you will start considering the destination of the road you are on. Or this may be your only chance. This may be the last time you have the opportunity to hear that there is one right way, by grace through faith in Jesus. Don’t miss it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t lie to yourself. This is the day you need to change the very direction of your life. There is only one right destination, everything else ends in death.

These are the critical questions you and I need for life’s direction.

·         What am I doing? It’s too easy not to be righteous, or real. I need to stop lying to myself and reflect on my moral choices.

·         Who am I listening to? It’s too easy to hear what I want to hear, and accept without verifying. I need to consider things carefully in light of God’s truth.

·         Where am I headed? It’s too easy to ignore that, and to do whatever seems good to me. I need to turn to the one who is the way.

My 16-year-old daughter has a little saying she uses on me from time to time. She says, “You’re a good man with a bright future.” I believe she is trying to encourage me. She may sense I’m feeling down about things, and this is her way of giving me a pep talk. At first I argued with her a bit. “My future’s all behind me,” I said. She pointed out that this was impossible. To use her words, "All of your future is still in front of you...no matter how short it may be." Having affirmed the truth of the statement, she repeats, “You’re a good man with a bright future.” I must have appeared to be having a rough week last week. She said it three different times. 

Here’s the truth, the real goodness in me is because of Jesus. The only reason my future is bright is because of Jesus. What about you?

3 Critical Questions for Life's Direction-Part 2

According to Proverbs, the way we approach every day, and the way we are headed will show whether we are wise or foolish. So how do we know if we are walking in wisdom or wallowing in foolishness? Proverbs 14 gives three critical questions for life’s direction. 

2. Who Am I Listening to? 

Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."

Wise people look below the surface. They aren’t taken in by a few words, or deceived by appearances. The foolish hear what they want to hear, and believe “anything” is literally every word. Uncritical acceptance of what you hear is unwise.

“But it was in the newspaper.” I have been interviewed many times by everything from local newspapers to national media outlets. What ended up being published or broadcast ranged from slightly inaccurate to absolutely false. I’ve never been able to say, “That’s exactly what I said and meant.” It has nothing to do with media bias, as much as human error and incompetence.

“But my Pastor said it.” Do not uncritically accept what you hear from anyone. Pastors make mistakes like everyone else. Some of them are absolute knuckleheads. Whether it’s burning the Koran, or holding a “bring your gun to church” day, or having a worship service that is really just a political rally, or using obscene language, or acting like a dictator, don’t believe every word without verifying. 

Wisdom looks below the surface. If someone has told you their side of the story, do not get all excited and make judgments without something from the other side. Even if that person is a completely innocent victim, rarely will they be able to give a completely accurate and unbiased version. The old saying goes, “There are always two sides, no matter how thin the pancake.” 

If you only get your news from Fox or MSNBC, branch out. If there is a talk show that you listen to that is seen as right-wing or left wing, expand your options.

Forwarding false information through email is epidemic among Christians. If you accept everything someone says because they mention Jesus, quote the Bible, says God told them, or claim to be a Christian, you are a fool. 

Too many Christians are sloppy thinkers and lazy fact-checkers. We need to be like that group of people the Apostle Paul taught, the folks from Bera. They loved what Paul had to say. They were excited about it. But every day they searched the Bible to verify that it was true.

A critical question for the direction of your life is Who Am I Listening To?

3 Critical Questions for Life's Direction-Part 1

According to Proverbs, the way we approach every day, and the way we are headed will show whether we are wise or foolish. So how do we know if we are walking in wisdom or wallowing in foolishness? Proverbs 14 gives three critical questions for life’s direction.

1. What Am I Doing? 

Proverbs 14:8 "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception."

It matters which job you take, who you marry, when to retire, where to go to school. Most of us would take time to consider those kinds of decisions. But it also matters if you should call in sick today, if you’re going to be friendly or grumpy, if you finish your assignment on time or blow it off, if you buy this cell phone plan, or that outfit, if you go away this weekend, or attend that event, if you have that difficult conversation or avoid the conflict. The more of those kinds of things you do without consideration, the more foolishly you live. For me to give thought to my ways, I need to be concerned about a couple of things: is it righteous and is it real?

·         Is it righteous? Proverbs is all about the way of the righteousness. Doing what is straight, upright, conscious of God. What I do day in and day out must take God into account, and stay true to him. I must consider, is this righteous, is this consistent with being right with God?

·         Is it real? It is human nature to lie to yourself. That deception is the folly of fools. You may tell lies to others, but mainly you tell them to yourself. They are lies you need to believe, so you can do what you want. Your lies may sound like this: “I deserve a little reward” “Just this once won’t matter” “I’m not afraid of commitment” “I’m just blowing off steam” “What they don’t know won’t hurt them” “This will be better for the kids” “It really doesn’t bother me at all.” “There’s nothing wrong” “I don’t need anyone else” “No one cares about me” “There are some people that you just can’t love” “I deserve better than this” “It’s just sex” “I never inhale” “If I ignore this, it will go away” “I’m married, not dead.” “It’s none of your business” “I’m not addicted” “It’s no big deal” “No one will ever know.” With those kinds of lies, you fool yourself. So what you do isn’t real. It isn’t based on truth. Stop believing your own lies.

The wise give moral reflection, the foolish are mentally dishonest. The wise give consideration to what they do, making sure it lines up straight, asking, is it righteous? They wise refuse to accept their own lies, asking it is real? 

The first critical question for life's direction: Is What I'm Doing Righteous and Real?