Smooth Straight Path

As I read my wisdom scriptures in the morning, Proverbs 11:3 reminded me that my ethics should guide me when I decide what to do next, if I want my life to be good. Today’s verse tells me that a good, righteous decision once made, will often result in a smooth path to get there.

“The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight (or smooth or level-some versions), but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.” Proverbs 11:5 (BBE)

For those who do not pretend to be deep thinkers, walking in a “straight” path is a good thing.

One of our best ideas as a couple came from a how-to-be-a-good-Christian seminar we attended before our marriage. Based on some insights from the book of Ephesians, we were told to put the Lord first, the marriage second, children third, career fourth and our service in the kingdom last.

The way we applied the idea was, I earned the money and she managed the home when kids started to arrive. I advanced my career only when our walk with Jesus was good, the marriage was good and the kids were doing well.

Right away I began to get good feedback. The one paycheck stretched farther in the hands of a full-time and rather hot looking expert. The marriage was better knowing it wasn’t going to be short-changed, and the kids did better with the input of both parents. The odd part was that the career did okay too.

Now if one believes in God it is normal to ask Him for money and other resources we don’t have. Miracles do happen.

In hindsight though, we grew as a couple when we learned to manage well, the meager resources we had.

One test of what one believes is this. Does it cause us to flourish? In those arenas that mattered to us most, I would say yes. The goal was noble. The logic to get there was simple. The path was “straight.”

Initial submission: 27Nov17

Final submission 9Dec17

Published 12Jan18