Proverbs 14:12 (16:25), Seeming Right Is Wrong!

August 11, Proverbs 14:12 (16:25)

Matt. 7:13-14; 2 Cor. 13 “Every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:5).

Seeming Right Is Wrong!

The Hebrew word way (derek) means just that, a path or road. It also has the sense of a distance between two points, a journey (Gen. 30:36; 45:23). Then, again, it has the idea of behaviour or an undertaking (Isa. 58:13). So way is a many-faceted word. There are different ways men take that can seem right to no one. These are ways of open ungodliness (1 Cor. 6:9,10). This proverb, however, concerns those, who, though on a wrong path, journey, or undertaking, claim that it seems right to them! Again, we have the word right, meaning straight, level. That’s the path we should all want to travel. There’s that Broad Road right in front of us. It is so convenient, and we see so many select people traveling there. It has the majority vote. It must surely be right! Wrong! It leads to Destruction! Here we have the seeming right but which is sincerely wrong. The seeming right ways are not themselves said to be the ways of death, but that they end in the ways of death! Satan is a cunning serpent, not revealing himself until ready to strike!

1. The Self-Deceivers: a. It is the way of Ignorance. This is a frequent pretext for ignoring God without facing the fact that ignorance is no excuse. Paul labels it wilful ignorance. This excuse won’t hold up in the Judgment. b. Religious formalism is another way taken by multitudes. It confuses rites with reality, shadows with substance, but it cannot give life. “Religion without heart is a dead formality.” c. Then there’s the way of Morality, living a good life, doing one’s best. Yet, what is officially moral may be radically wrong. It is delusive if it springs from wrong motives, and is guided by wrong reasons. These are often proud and self-righteous (Pharisees!). Yes, there is a moral way to perdition. d. Some are on the Unrepentant way. They continue on in spite of warnings. They admit they are sinners and merit God’s reproof, but hide in the belief that God is merciful. They resolve to seek God someday by repentance and faith. Alas, it is a deceitful path leading to eternal death. All agree that “no road is good if it leads to a bad end.”

2. The Self-Destroyers: Two men were talking about their beliefs, when one said: “I don’t care what you believe, I’m an agnostic. It makes no difference what you believe if you are sincere.” Yes, it does! A family was poisoned by eating toadstools that they sincerely believed were mushrooms. Three of them died. Did it make no difference? A toadstool remains a toadstool whatever we may think to the contrary. Poison is still poison even if labeled Lemonade! Right and wrong are independent of men’s opinion. Sincerity can’t save, but it can damn if we are sincerely wrong. “The road to ruin is as smooth as a bowling green.” As a result, those travelling upon it move all the more rapidly. “There is a way to hell from the gates of Heaven.” “Nothing is ever settled,” said Vance Havner, “until it is settled right; and nothing is ever settled right until it is settled with God.”

Thought: “Fallen man is curved in on himself” (Luther).

Prayer: Lord, give me no rest, until I have found that true rest in Thee.