Proverbs 14:8, Don’t Be Deceived!

August 5, Proverbs 14:8

Col. 1:1-14; 1 Pet. 4:14-19 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me” (2 Tim. 1:13).

Don’t Be Deceived!

It makes sense that “if you want easier travelling, mind or mend your ways.” A right life is the easiest after all. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way. Few have ever been hanged for being too wise.

1. The Cautious Planner: We are travelling to another world. It is only sensible that there be careful travel-plans for that journey, and a prudent man will do just that. This prudence is less an intellectual or speculative turn of mind than a sound and sensible approach to all that makes up this journey of life. This is what motivates him to seek to understand his way. It is not concern about a career, but about his conduct and character. He has a shrewdness about him that is based on sound judgment. When we think of shrewdness we most likely apply it to the crafty businessman. Here Proverbs teaches that the essence of shrewdness is moral and reflective. The prudent man doesn’t poke his nose into other people’s matters as a busybody. He has enough to do to try to understand himself and where he is going. He knows that he has many decisions and choices to face. He needs that wisdom that comes from God to direct and guide his actions and decisions along this path. He looks well to his own way. He carefully ponders the path of his feet. He is desirous that his relations with God, his neighbour, and himself should be right. “If Moses prayed on the Mount, and Joshua fought in the valley, it was not because the one was deficient in courage, or the other in prayer; but because each had his appointed work, and understood his own way” (Bridges). David knew that there is help in God for the planner. It is readily available. Thou wilt show me the path of life. It was abundant, fullness of joy; it was abiding, pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

2. The Callous Plotter: The folly of fools is deceit. Deceit is the opposite of prudence. This may mean self-deceit. This fool is a know-it-all, and this is the very root of his disaster. The essence of this folly is mental deception. He doesn’t understand his own way, as the prudent seeks to do. He just thinks he does, but it is all delusion, a fiction of his own conceited and deceitful heart. This is not falling short of truth, which we all can do at times. It is rather the deliberate attempt to side-step the truth. Deceit may have reference to others but are not these two sides of the same counterfeit coin? Misguided, he thinks he can cheat and deceive his God, his neighbour, and all to his own advantage. He not only entangles himself by his deception but others as well, and therein lies his ultimate depravity. Paul speaks of the godly in Christ Jesus who suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Tm. 3:12-13). “The arts of deceit engross the polluted minds of the wicked” (Bridges). To deceive others in a business transaction is certainly wrong, but to deceive others where their eternal destiny is concerned is surely to sink to the lowest depths of devilry.

Thought: The wisdom of deceit is really folly.

Prayer: Lord, keep me on the path of life.