Proverbs 14:14

Proverbs 14:14 "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself."

One of the best attributes of the proverbs is the usage of words or phrases that engage our imagination.  The Book of Proverbs is riddled with these imagination-activating words like apples of gold, rottenness of bones, dinner of herbs, cold of snow, legs of the lame and the wringing of the nose.  With just a word or two, Solomon can really get the imagination of the mind moving.  Imagination facilitates education.  We better learn and remember those things that run multiple laps in our minds.  Imagination keeps a thought or an idea running around the mental track in our heads.  God’s choice of words in the proverbs are meant to keep these important truths circling around in our heads long enough to understand and retain.  This proverb uses a word that is not used anywhere else in the Book of Proverbs or in any other of Solomon’s writings.  In fact, this proverb contains a unique word that isn’t used in any variation anywhere else in Scripture but in the prophets and it is the word, “backslider.”

“Backslider” is a word that is used commonly within Christianity and so we’re tempted to apply it to a person who simply isn’t right with God.  While that is very appropriate to do, let us allow that word to do what it is was intended to do and engage our imagination.  What does it look like to physically and literally backslide?  Outside of the spiritual application, what is the picture of a literal backslider within Biblical times and Biblical context?  It’s easy to assume that a backslider is someone or something that is just SLIDING BACKWARDS.  To come to that natural and understandable conclusion, you’d have to assume then that someone is on a slope and that gravity is causing them to slide backwards down that slope.  That’s easy and good to imagine however, that isn’t the meaning of a backslider within the Bible.  A backslider in Scripture is always responsible for their backsliding as an intentional act without any resistance from gravity.  Rather than imagine the poor soul who can’t get his footing on a hill in the face of gravity, let us imagine a creature intentionally choosing to slide backwards away from something or someone.  This is best imagined by reading God’s description of the nation of Israel in Hosea 4:16, “For Israel slideth back AS A BACKSLIDING HEIFER.”  God’s description of Israel was something that Israelites could all imagine and it wasn’t the imagination of some person sliding backwards down a slippery hill; it was the vivid imagination of a young female cow intentionally and aggressively sliding her feet back from her master’s efforts to put her in a yoke or move her somewhere.
 
The image Solomon intended for his audience was not some poor soul who, for any number of unfortunate reasons, just lost his footing and his spiritual way.  The image he wanted his readers to entertain was of someone or something that was very intentionally sliding their feet back from God’s efforts to direct or use them.  A determined dog with his teeth locked onto someone’s new shirt slides its feet back rebelliously and aggressively to get from the master what it wants.  The evil robber with hands clenched onto a woman’s purse slides his feet selfishly and aggressively back to get from the owner what he wants.  This is the image of the unique word, “backslider” that is meant to help us understand and retain the meaning of this proverb.

The person who aggressively slides away from God with all of his might will be “full of his own ways.”  The man who leans back with all of his might in order to resist the tug and pull of God will be full of his own ways.  The woman who attempts to resist God’s will with the same effort as a middle school student during a tug-of-war contest will be full of her own ways.  When we resist God’s efforts to take us to a better pasture or a better barn, we’re going to miss out on any of the changes that God had for us.  When we resist God’s efforts to yoke us up with the people of His choice, we’re going to miss out on any of the improvements that God had for us.  Backsliding is much more and much worse than spiritually slacking off; it’s intentionally resisting God’s work and will in our lives.  By definition and imagination, backsliding is the choice to persistently reject God’s will for us and the result is utter and complete selfishness.  By nature, we don’t like change and we want to be “full of our ways” but as the balance of the proverb teaches, it’s a miserable state to be in.

When pairing the two halves of the proverb, we must appropriately conclude that being “filled with our own ways” reflects an unwillingness to think, do or act in such a way that isn’t our way.  A good man, or a man who submits to God’s direction in his life, is a man who is very content to do it someone else’s way.  A good man who willingly submits to God’s will for his life, is a man who is very satisfied with someone else’s thoughts and ideas.  The person who lets God lead him is the person who has found satisfaction outside of himself.  The man who joyfully let’s God take him to another barn with other cows doesn’t need to be right or in charge.  The woman who peacefully let’s God yoke her with another cow doesn’t need to be noticed or appreciated.  The person who gratefully let’s God take him out to another pasture doesn’t need to understand or agree.  Submission to God brings about a liberating sense of satisfaction found outside of self.
  
Resistance to God’s work in our lives always results in more of self, whereas submission to God’s work in our lives always results in less of self.  More of ME for anyone is more misery.  When we have to be heard or have to be right in a world of billions, misery awaits.  When we have to matter or be taken seriously in a world of selfish souls, misery awaits.  When we have to feel important or in control in a big world with a long history, misery awaits.  The person who resists God with great force is the person who doesn’t want to lose his power, status, position and plans.  When resisting God with great force, they will find themselves eventually facing no resistance from God because the Master has chosen to leave him in the field or barn of his choice.  There he will remain, full of his own ways, in control of his life but obsessed with himself and miserable.  When we can’t give up our plans, desires and expectations to God, we’ll remain in control foolishly of our lives and will eventually find ourselves alone in a barren field or empty barn.  This is the picture of misery.  

The better and more fulfilling place to be is to be wherever the Wise Master places us, knowing that He knows what we don’t know.  It’s a much more enjoyable place to be where you don’t matter to yourself that much; where you can be one of any number of cows around you.  Imagine the peace of not having to be the best looking, most talented, most popular, most appreciated and most powerful person in the barn.  Imagine the lack of anger when the Master comes to use you.  Imagine the lack of frustration when the Master puts you in a yoke with another worker.  Imagine the lack of sorrow when the Master puts you in another pasture with new friends.
 
Backsliding is very intentional and it always results in a MISERABLE ME whereas a sincere submission to God always results in being satisfied with a life that isn’t all about ME.  Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to matter so much?  Just quickly surrender and keep surrendering to the tender tug of the Good Shepherd and you’ll be “satisfied FROM yourself.”