If you have heard it 1000 times, what does that mean?

Probing Proverbs 12:5-7 The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous. The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives. The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.

Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup.  When detectives asked each  man in the lineup to repeat the words, "Give me all your money or I'll  shoot," the  man shouted, "That's not what I said!"

This guy should not have cared if what was said was correct, but most times if we keep hearing something repeated...we should pay attention! 

If I was in a relationship with someone and they kept repeating certain things to me, it would be wise for me to evaluate how important this issue must be to that individual. So it is with the book of Proverbs, which is replete with comparisons of how the ungodly think and how the godly think. I have heard quite a few people state that many of the Proverbs sound the same…exactly! That is the point, God is not being redundant, He is being emphatic! Even the Apostle Paul and Peter pointed out the importance of emphasizing various truths:

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Romans 15:14–15 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,

2 Timothy 1:5–6 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

So what we see in this Proverb is the constant warning of God for us to evaluate ourselves, and be carful about the source of where we turn to receive counsel concerning direction. Notice, the godly plan to move in a direction that is just, and the ungodly will direct individuals to travel a treacherous path!

In other words, the godly will use the Word of God to direct you because it alone has the truth of how to remain close to God! The ungodly will tell you to “just be happy”, “do what you feel is best”, “as long as you are hurting no one else”, “go with the flow”, and many more statements like that. All will be founded in subjective truth, not objective truth. The idea of a “standard” is offensive to the ungodly because it prevents them from justifying themselves. They want a subjective “standard”, one that bends and flexes with emotions, political correctness, popular fads and current circumstances, which sadly makes their standard - no standard at all!

I remember sometime ago, I was visiting a friend that I used to go biking (off road motorcycle) with. We use to do a thing called “hare and hound.”  One biker would take off into the woods and leave makers, the others would wait a while and then when he was out of sight and out of hearing range, we would all chase after him and try and catch him. Well, I had not been on a bike for almost 6 years. To make matters worse the bike I was lent was a 500cc motocross bike…a lot of weight and power for someone that was just getting back his bearings on dirt biking. We came to an area where we could see the next marker, but to get to it we had to ride a very thin path that dropped into a deep ditch on the left side. Years before I could do this without even slowing down, but now I was unsure and knew my eyes would endanger me. I saw a very safe way around but it would take a lot of time. My friends had all crossed easily. I hesitated and said I was going to take the detour, they were frustrated and kept pushing me to just throttle up and cross over. Stupidly, I did, and just as I knew, instead of relying on instinct…that I had lost due to lack of practice…my eyes fixated on the ditch and my body over leaned not to go into the ditch…which of course, I did! The path I chose was a treacherous one, and I did not possess the skills to navigate it!  

The point is this, even if the path we have to take is dangerous, the godly will counsel that way ONLY if we are equipped to pass through safely. The issue is never the path, the issue is the “standard” we travel by. If I had not moved to the Philippines and continued to ride dirt bikes, I would have been equipped to cross over on that thin little path, because I had been prepared to do so. The ungodly do not concern themselves with the reality of where we are while on the path. Their one concern is that we get to choose the path we want, no matter the risk! That is what makes their counsel treacherous!

The Proverb continues with a scale that we can measure our own selves by, what do our words show us about our walk with God. If our words restore, encourage and comfort, we can know that God is moving in our lives. On the contrary, if our words tear down, demean or cause unneeded pain, we are far from God.

A most precious truth also is in this Proverb. After stating the sad reality of the wicked…they disappear…the godly see a greater reward from the Lord! God does not just watch over the individual, He watches over your family!

“The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.”

My wife and I have witnessed this personally. We love the Lord, and yet we are sinners…Big time. We have no illusions about our own righteousness. Do we seek to live right and follow God, yes, however, we know that compared to His righteousness we do not even get on the scale! Jesus makes us righteous! Still, in our practical living we have sought to honor Him. We live under the authority of the Word of God, and when we blow it through sin, we go to Him in confession and repentance. At the end of the day, my wife and I have held the commitment that in the end we only desire what He desires. It may take us some time to get there, but for 39 years we have lived with that as our bottom line. 

This includes living with difficult circumstances like being thousands of miles away from our children and grandchildren, sometimes not seeing them for years. As difficult as that is, I have sat with parents that live just down the street from their children, yet their hearts are broken because their children are thousands of miles from the Lord! I am convinced that because Dee and I try our best to keep God first, He has extended extra grace to my children. All are close to Him and have loving spouses that love the Lord also. I know my wife and I cannot take credit for that! If my children remembered all the sin they have seen in their dad…they would be walking around with 666 on their forehead! No…it is that grace of God that God took the things we did right, enabled our children to forgive the things we did wrong, and then extended grace to them in such a way that they stand firm in Him! What a tremendous comfort and Truth!

Meditation: When you make plans, do you consult God? If you seek other counsel also, which is good, who do you go to? Why? Do you understand that if you and your wife live close to God, it will impact your children? Are you doing that? How can you make sure that your children known how important God is to you?