Proverbs 10:17

Proverbs 10:17 "He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth."
Proverbs 10:17 Baptist Church Buffalo NY
In today’s culture, when we want to express our view that someone is trending towards success, we say, “he’s on the right track” or “she’s heading in the right direction.”  When Solomon refers to a man being “in the way of life,” that’s essentially what he’s saying.  While there is often a substantial difference between the world’s view of success and the Bible’s view of success, the Bible’s “the way of life” refers to a lifestyle that is spiritually healthy.  A spiritually healthy lifestyle tends to trend towards a physically healthy lifestyle.  A spiritually-disciplined person will avoid excess which almost always results in a healthier and longer life.  A spiritually-healthy person will avoid alcohol, drugs and crime which almost always results in a healthier and longer life.  This is why the Bible connects the “way of life” to a spiritually-healthy life.  In general, one’s spiritual health directly impacts their mental and physical health.  Just as death is the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), life is the fruit of righteousness.  While there are plenty of physical and medical exceptions to this relationship, life is clearly connected to righteousness.

To be “in the way of life,” virtue is a must!  To stay “in the way of life,” the traveler must pay a toll and the price is always HUMILITY.  Because the path of life is full of twists and turns, snow and ice, darting deer and flying fowl as well as large trucks and little bikes, signs are posted throughout this way for the traveler’s safety.  To survive all of the obstacles and keep “living,” a traveler must be open to advice and instruction.  Speed limits are posted for the safety of the traveler but if that INSTRUCTION isn’t KEPT, a speeding traveler could find himself going too fast for the conditions of the road.  Warning signs about large animals crossing the road are posted for the safety of the traveler but if that INSTRUCTION isn’t received, an oblivious traveler could find himself unprepared to stop.  Road signs are instructional and need to be kept in order to keep your vehicle on the road.  It requires humility to submit to the instruction found on road signs.  Heeding the instruction on road signs requires a traveler to acknowledge that the engineers know something about that road that they don’t.  It requires an appreciation for instruction.  Young drivers often lack that humility and appreciation for instruction and as a result, easily find their vehicles off the road and their lives in jeopardy.  

On any route, instruction is critical to stay on the road.  Sometimes, that instruction comes in the form of correction.  Sometimes, signs tell you to reroute because of construction or because of flooding.  Other times, emergency workers tell you to reroute because of an accident or a fire.  Oftentimes, your copilot or your GPS tells you to reroute because of a missed turn or congested traffic.  It is in these moments that virtue determines the course of your travel.  If you REFUSE to heed the signage, you’re going to jeopardize your vehicle and its occupants as you travel towards a flooded road or a missing bridge.  If you REFUSE to submit to the emergency worker or police officer, you’re going to jeopardize your license and your freedom.  If you REFUSE to humble yourself and listen to the voice of your copilot or to your GPS, you will spend unnecessary time and money (and probably jeopardize your marriage).  In this proverb, humility is toll for the highway of life.  The person who REFUSES to pay that toll “erreth,” or STRAYS from the highway of life.

The way of life is full of reproof.  No one knows everything about life and no one knows what awaits them in life.  Our ignorance leads us to detour signs.  Our inexperience introduces us to police officers.  Our lack of focus initiates a voice from the GPS declaring, “re-routing.”  These reproofs are both interrupting and frustrating.  It’s hard to hear reproof and it’s hard to take correction.  No one likes to be corrected – not children, not teenagers, not adults.  No one wants to be reproved – not underachievers, not overachievers.  In light of the difficulty of being reproved, this proverb teaches us the “error” of REFUSING that reproof.  The person who REFUSES reproof finds themselves in contrast to being “IN the way of life” – they find themselves “OUT of the way of life.”  Refusing reproof leads to an unhealthy lifestyle because refusing reproof is a spiritually unhealthy way of life.  Refusing reproof is the absence of humility.  This lack of virtue leads a person astray and into many moral ditches.

Pharaoh stands as the Bible’s example of someone who refused reproof.  By worldly standards, he was as successful as it gets.  By Biblical standards however, he was not “in the way of life” because he never paid the toll of humility.  God set up a sign on the road that read, “let my people go.”  He REFUSED to heed that sign.  God then sent a construction worker by the name of Moses that told him to “turn around” because of the danger ahead in the form of plagues.  He REFUSED to submit to that construction worker.  God referred to Pharaoh’s “refusal” of reproof on six occasions in the Book of Exodus with Exodus 10:3 being the most pointed reference where God said, “How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?”  That was the G.P.S. (God’s Pointed Statement) reproving Pharaoh for missing his turn.  Sadly, he REFUSED to humble himself before God and as a result, he strayed off the way of life and into a deadly ditch that the Bible calls the Red Sea, where his life was cut short.  Pharoah’s demise was the lack of one simple virtue – HUMILITY.

There are a lot of important virtues in life but nothing is more critical to keeping a person “in the way of life” than humility.  It is the toll necessary to stay on the right path because it helps us receive the reproofs that come to all of us throughout our lives.

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

Rehoboam Solomon fear of God health pride self-sufficiency wisdom 1 Corinthians 1 John 2020 5th Commandment Aaron Abel Abigail Abortion Abraham Absalom Accident Accomplishment Achan Acts 17 Acts Adam & Eve Adam Adolescence Adolf Hitler Adulterer Adulteress Aesop's Fable Aesop\'s Fable Aesop\\\'s Fable Affair Age Agreement Ahijah Ahithophel Albany Alcoholism Alive Ally Alone Amazon Ambition American America Amnon Andrew Finch Animal Abuse Animals Answered Prayer Antichrist Applause Apple of Eye Approval Arrogance Arthritis Asaph Ashamed Athletes Athletics Attorney Backbone Back Balaam Balance Bank Accounts Bathsheba Beauty Bedroom Beecher Behavior Benefit Benjamin BestBuy Bethlehem Betting Bezaleel Bible reading Bible teacher Bible-reading Bible Biblical instruction Big Mouths Big Picture Bin Laden Birth Blog Boasting Bonar Bondage Books Boomerang Boyfriend Brutal Brutish Budget Buffalo Bills Builder Building Business CA Rt 1 Cable News Calamity Call of Duty Calming Calvin Canaan Cancer Candidates Careers Cares of Life Casey Viner Change Character Cheesecake Factory Christian upbringing Christ Churches Circumspect Clamor Clinton Clothes Clothing Coaches Coach College Commands Commend Communication Companionship Companions Company Compliance Conceit Conception Condemnation of God Confession Confidentiality Conflict Conservation Contentions Contrast Conversation Conviction Cooperation Corinthians Corrupt Cosigner Cosigning Cosign Counseling Countenance Courting Coworkers Creation Creator Creatures Crime Criminals Crooked Cruel Curiosity Currency Danger Daniel Data Dating Daughters David Days Death Deceit Deceptive Delilah Delivery Democracy Democratic Desires Desire Deuteronomy Devil Diet Diligent Diploma Discovery Diseases Disease Dishonesty Dishonor Dislikes Divorce Domestic Violence Doorhanger Dreams Dress Drink Drug lords Drunk Driver Drunk Early Adulthood Ears Eastern Culture Ecclesiastes Economic Stability Eden Elderly Elihu Elijah Eliphaz Emai Emerson Emmies Employers Encouragement Engagement Enoch Ephesians Ephraimites Esau Estate Planning Esther Eternity Evening Eve Evolution Excellence Excel Exodus Expectations Expectation Experience FaceBook Face Faithful Fall of Man False Fame Families Famine Farmer Farming Farm Fashion Favor of God Fear of the Lord Fearing God Feast of Purim Financial Advisor Financial Planning Financial Security Fingers Food Foolish Football Free-will Freedom Friendships Friendship Friend Froward Fruit Fumble GPS Gadarenes Galatians 6:7 Galatians Gamble Gang Garden of Eden Garden of Gethsemane Garden Gender Differences Genesis Gideon Gileadites Girlfriend Girls Giving Glad Gluttony Goals God's Kingdom God\'s Kingdom Godhead Goliath Goodness Gossip Graciousness Grammies Grandchildren Gratitude Grave Grief Guess Guide Guilt Culture Gun Control Gun Violence Guns Gutters Hagar Haman Hamlet Hands Hannah Hard Work Hard-Working Harlot Hate Evil Hatred Head Healthcare Healthy Hearing Heaven Heaviness Heavy Heart Hebrews Helicopters Hell Herod Highway History Hollywood Holy Spirit Home Depot Homeowner Homes Homicide Homosexuality Honesty House Human Nature Humble Humility Hunting Hypocrisy Hypocrites IRS Ian Brady Illness Immorality Inconsiderate Independence Industrious Inheritance Inherit Insecurity Insight Instagram Instructing Integrity Internet Interview Intoxication Inventions Isaac Israel Jacob Jairus James Jealousy Jeffrey Dahmer Jeremiah Jeroboam Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jesus Jewish Law Jewish Jimmy Soul Jobs Job John the Apostle John Jonah Joseph Joshua Josiah Joy Judah Judaism Judas Iscariot Judges Judging Judgmental Jury Justice System Kindness King David King Hezekiah King of kings Kings King Know-it-all Language Last Testament Law Enforcement Laws Law Leaders Learn Legislation Liars Liar Liberty Library Lies Life Lesson Life-Insurance Likes Lion Loan Longevity Look Looting Lori Loughlin Loss of Health Loss of LIfe Loss Lottery Love Triangle Lowliness Luke 7 Luke Luther Luxury Lying MLB Magazines Majority Maker Makeup Maniac Manna Mansion Maple Trees Mark Martyrs Martyr Marvel Mary Matthew Media Memories Mentors Men Merciful Merriness Messages Mike Tyson Mindset Ministers Mob Mocker Mocking Monarchy Monarch Monopoly Month Moody Morality Mordecai Morning Moses Mouths Murder Musician NBA NFL NHL Natural Disaster Naughtiness Nebuchadnezzar Negative Nehemiah New Tricks News Anchors Noah Nobles Nose Numbers Nutrition O.J. Simpson Obama Observation Obtain Old Dogs Olive Garden Order Others Paint Parenting Passion Pastors Pastor Paul the Apostle Paul Perspective Perverse Perversion Peter Pharisees Pharoah Philippians Phone Call Physical Appearance Plant Player Pleasure Policies Political Parties Politicians Politics Polygamy Poor Popularity Portrait Positive Possessions Potiphar's Wife Potiphar\'s Wife Potiphar\\\'s Wife Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife Praise Prate Prating Preacher Pregnancy Pregnant Preparation Princes Prince Principal Thing Principal Procrastinate Procrastinator Profit Proof Prophecy Prophet Prosperity Gospel Prostitute Protests Proud Proverbs Proverb Psalm 21 Psalm 23 Psalm 35 Psalm 37 Psalms 37 Psalms Psalm Punishment Pure Purity Purpose QVC Questions Rachel Rage Ransom Rebate Rebekkah Rebel Red Lobster Reels Regulations Regulation Rehoboam Rehoboma Relationship Difficulties Relationship Religion Remember Repentance Reporter Reprove Republican Reputation Research Resistance Responsibilities Resume Resurrection Retirement Revealing Revelation Reward Rich & Famous Rich Man Rich Ridicule Righteouness Right Riot Road Romania Romans 8:28 Romans Rulers Ruler Rules Rule Sabbath Sadness Samson Samuel Sarah Satan Satisfaction Satisfy Saul Saving Scale Scam School Science Scientist Scoffer Scripture Sea of Galilee Seasons Seatbelts Secrets Seduce Seed Seek Self-Confidence Selfies Selfishness Senses Sermons Servitude Sexual Chaos Sexual Confusion Shakespeare Shame Culture Shame Shane Gaskill Shenandoah Valley Shepherd Shoe Laces Siblings Sickness Sight Silence Simon Peter Simon Sinning Slothful Smelling Social Media Social Society Solomon Song of Solomon Sons Sorrow Source Speaking Speak Speculation Speech Speeding Spies Spiritual Security Sporting Sports Sport Spouses Stanley Cup Steal Stephen Stimulus Stock Market Strange Woman Strangers Stratego Strength Stress Struggles Student Super Bowl Rings Surely Surety Swatting Sweat Talebearer Talkative Talking Tamar Tasting Taylor Teachers Teaching Teenagers Teenager Teens Tendency Tension Texas Roadhouse Text Theft Theocracy Tik Tok Till Timothy Tithes To be or not to be Toddlers Toddler Tolerance Tomb Tongue Touching Tour Guide Traffic Light Traffic Signal Trainer Transgressor Travel Treasure Treatment Tribute Trickery Trinity Trips Trouble True Love True Wisdom True Turner Tyler Barriss Uber Eats Understanding Unemployment Unforgiveness Unhealthy Universities Unjust Unrighteous Uprightness Upright Vain Value Vanity Vehicle Vengeance Videos Virtuous Vision Votes Voting Walk Walmart Washington Watsom Way of Life Way Wealthy Weight Western Culture Winking Wink Wise Men Witnessing Womb Women Work Ethic Worth Wrong X Yankees YouTube Zechariah addiction adultery advertisements advertiser advertising advice advisor affection affirmation aggression alcohol amos angels anointing ant anxiety appetite argument assumption as attractions authority background backyard bankrupt battle beginning birds bitterness blessed brain bright broken nose buckler campfire cardinal sins career carelessness car cause certainty charity chastening childhood childrearing children child choices church attendance church command confidence confident consequences considerate contention contentment conversaion correction counselor counsel courage covetousness criticism cruelty cynicism dads dad darkness dark daughter debt deception decisions defend defense demands destruction determination diamonds diligence direction disappointment discernment discipleship disciples disciple discipline discontentment discord discretion distractions distress doctrine dogs drinking drugs dying ear education effort emotions employee employer employment enemies enticement enticing envy equity evil communications evil men evil women evil example eyelids eyes ezekiel facts failure fairness faith family fathers father favor fear of God fear of man fear feelings feminine fighting fight filthy finances fire flattery focus following foolishness foolishnes fools fool forgiveness fornication friends future gambling gangs gender gold good men good government grace greed guard guilt happiness happy harm hate headlights health heart hear hold your peace holiness home honor hope hunger husbands husband ignorance illustration income inequality infidelity influence iniquity insomnia instincts instruction intimacy investigation investing isaiah issued issue jabs jewelry judgment justice just kidnapper kidney kids knowledge labor law of sowing and reaping laziness lazy leadership learning legacy length of days lessons let life light lips listening listen little liver living loans loneliness long life longterm love lucifer lust man marketing marriage math memorization memory mercy messenger millions mind ministry mischief misery loves company misery mistakes mom money mothers mother motive mouth movies nature necklace neck neighbor obscenity observant oil oppression oppressor organs ornaments parable paranoia parenthood parents parent pastoring path peace peculiarity peer pressure peers peer permission personification pleasant politician ponder pornography pottymouth poverty power prayer preservation pride priests private procrastination prodigal profanity prosperity prostitution protection protect prudence public restroom purchases reading reaping reason rebellion rebuke regret rejection relate relationships relevant remedy remembrance remorse repetition replacement reproof respect responsibility responsible retain retention riches righteousness righteous risk robber romance rubies safety sailor salvation schools scorner secret security seduction seeing see self-sufficiency self-sufficient serpent seven deadly sins seven sexist sexual sin sex short-term silver simple simplicity sinners sin skepticism slander sleeplessness sleep slothfulness sluggard smoke to the eyes smoke son soul sowing spleen spouse stability stranger strange strife striving successful success suicide surgeon sword talents talk taxes teacher television temptation tendencies thief thieves thinking think thoughtfulness thoughts thought threats time tithe trains tree of life trust truth tv vehicles vice video games vinegar to the teeth vinegar violence violent virtue virtuous woman visual voice of God voice vulgar walking war wealth well wickedness wicked wife will wine wisdom wise sayings wise wives woman word of God words workplace work worry young man young people young youth