Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. –Proverbs 1:5 (NLT)
I was curious. A neighbor had given me the book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. So, I read a chapter in the book on getting guidance for life. I read the following: “If I embrace the present and become one with it, I can experience a fire, a sparkle of ecstasy throbbing in every living cell of my being. I’m on a cosmic journey, star dust twirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity.” Please. “Whirlpools of infinity?” That sounds like what happens when my toilet won’t stop running. What a bunch of junk! By the way, the book was a best seller. People actually made decisions based on that garbage.
When it comes to seeking guidance, I’ve got a better plan, and it comes from a book we can trust. Here’s a Scripture verse for you. It’s 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (NLT). According to this passage, everything you need for guidance in life is right there in the Scriptures, either in specific form or in general principle. What’s missing? Nothing. It’s right there. It’s laid out for us.
Do you have a decision to make? Do you want to learn to make better decisions? Examine God’s word. Does the decision you are considering fall in line with the clear teaching of Scripture? If not, don’t do it. It doesn’t matter how good the decision looks or how great a promise it is supposed to be, how much it will enrich you, or how happy it will make you. If it doesn’t line up with God’s word, the answer should be no. Why? Because doing anything that falls outside the teaching of the Scriptures is only going to end in pain. There’s going to be some consequence that you’re only going to regret later. You’ll end up saying, “If only…” once again.
So, read a little bit of the Bible everyday. Don’t feel guilty for not reading the entire New Testament on Monday and the entire Old Testament on Tuesday. Just read a little bit everyday. What you’ll find is the more you read from the Bible, the more you’ll become familiar with God’s guidance for your life. As you read, let it grow into your heart. Then, it will begin to bear fruit in your life. When you’re faced with a decision, God’s word will come to your mind and you’ll know the kind of direction God wants you to take.
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways has the Bible provided guidance for your life?
2. What do you feel are some practical benefits of investing more time in reading God’s word?
FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 15:14; Psalm 119: 97-105; Psalm 25:5