Right Way - Wrong Way

“Have you ever made the same mistake twice?” he asked.

“What is this,” I asked in a taunting voice, “a trick question?”

“No, I’m serious. You’re a doctor; you’re supposed to be smart. I was just wondering,” was his response as he shook his head.

“Of course I have,” I replied. “In fact, I’ve made the same mistake several times.”

“You have?” he responded in surprise. “I really thought you were smarter than that. I’m shocked.”

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has repeated a mistake more than once. And it doesn’t make me feel comfortable to think about it, either. But it’s true.

Perhaps that’s why Solomon wrote the same Proverb twice: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” We need to be reminded of this fact.

There is an inherent danger in being successful: we tend to “think of ourselves more highly than we should.” It’s easy to do. We have a new opportunity, or there are some new challenges, and we “rise” to the occasion. We get a new burst of energy, we are excited about a second chance, and we are off and running, believing that we will succeed! No limits for me!

And, that’s the time we need to pause and remind ourselves that “There is a way that may seem right…” It’s very important to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and to admit our own limitations. When things go well, we must thank God for blessing us and give Him the credit. When they don’t, we need to be aware that God is trying to get our attention.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for this reminder. All too often we give ourselves credit when the glory is all Yours! May we do what we do through Your guidance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.