A Pathway For Others To Follow

As Christians, one of our greatest desires is to lead others to God, to a real salvation experience through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book of Proverbs is likewise concerned with the very same goal, and so will help us greatly in doing this. 

Proverbs 10:17 ESV “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.”

A Better Translation

“Whoever heeds instruction.” This is the person who meditates upon the Word of God and deliberately puts it into practice. “Whoever rejects reproof [i.e. correction].” This is the person who abandons the teaching he or she is given.

In this verse the phrase “is on the path to life” is more accurately and better translated from the Hebrew as “is a path to life.” This person who heeds instruction becomes a pathway to life for others to follow there. 

The point of this Proverb is the effect of our obedience on others, not just ourselves. As the apostate actively leads others astray (and gleefully quite often), so also, the faithful follower of God will show others the way to life. This is life both in terms of a quality and spiritually fulfilling life, but also in terms of eternal life with God.

Obedience Affects Everyone

In our culture, we tend to think that our obedience or disobedience only affects ourselves. Many social scientists strongly disagree and write, speak, and teach otherwise. However, it appears few of us listen, because we are so committed to our out of control individualism. Yes, even Christians.

Maybe some people would agree that on occasion our obedience or disobedience to God can have an effect others. Yet, this is usually acknowledged only if there is a direct and immediately observable effect. For example, we bless someone with kind words of spiritual counsel, or we hurt them with our angry words; we might meet some tangible need, or on the contrary commit some abusive act.

Instead, we should consider that obedience has indirect effects that can accumulate weightiness over time. Things like years of faithful time in the Word and prayer and letting the Holy Spirit change our lives. Things like faithful church attendance and simple, even behind the scenes, works of compassion and service. These will change lives and direct people to life often more than we realize.

Furthermore, there are ripple effects from our attitudes and behaviors that spread throughout the fabric of society, and especially within our Christian communities and our local churches. Our character is revealed by our attitudes and behaviors, again positively or negatively. It is especially grievous when we “reject correction” from the Word, the Spirit and fellow Christians, repeatedly refusing to be spiritually transformed and grow in wisdom. This is what “leads others astray.”

A Better Pathway

Perhaps, you have seen the truth and principle of Proverbs 10:17 at work, both positively and negatively? How a person’s, or one’s own, obedience or disobedience affects other people, even groups of people? The examples are limitless.

May we become a better pathway for others to follow and find life with God.

Not Just Any Verse For Every Situation

Pastors deal with complex situations in leading their churches, complex situations in counseling their congregations and complex situations in speaking to their broader communities.

Few troubles are as frustrating for pastors as church members who might be somewhat familiar with a situation, or outsiders with little knowledge of a matter, approaching them with urgent Biblical counsel they have discovered that will help him.

Where Do the Bible Verses Come From?

When Christians read their Bibles, sometimes verses strike them like never before, and they are eager to share them and apply them. Maybe it applies to this situation with which our pastor is dealing, they wonder.

Many Christians have favorite Bible verses they have memorized and find useful in their lives on many occasions. Somehow they made a connection from one of their favorite verses to the pastor’s situation. Maybe it will help, they reason.

Other Christians stay current with cultural trends and Christian trends. They know the Biblical passages under discussion these days. And so, they hope to inform their pastor and help him see how the situation with which he is dealing is addressed by this current discussion.

Yet other Christians believe that all of Christian theology and practice can be encapsulated in key verses. Often these key verses have to do with broad themes such as love, grace and mercy, or authority and submission, or divine sovereignty and human responsibility, and the list goes on.

In each of these examples, people wrongly think they have the secret answer verses providing simple solutions to complex problems. Sincerely motivated as they may be, not just any verse applies in every situation.

3 Unrecognized Problems

When we are excited by our new discoveries in the Bible we see perhaps more connections than are warranted. When we see the world primarily through our favorite verses we can miss a lot of other things in the Bible and in other people’s lives. When we vigilantly stay current, the foundations and the history too quickly fade from view. When we live by broad themes we might feel especially skilled, however, we might fail more often than we realize in specifics of life’s realities.

First, people often miss the point of the text they are referencing. It certainly holds great and godly instruction. It is inspired by God and intended by Him for proper use according to His intention. But such a misuse of the text will not really advance God’s purposes.

Second, people often miss the point of the situation into which they are trying to speak. Likely, they don’t really understand the life situation and the spiritual dynamics of it. As a result, they mismatch it to their selection of Scripture.

Third, people often miss the best and proper texts that could provide the counsel that is needed. Because of a cursory search of Bible passages and only a surface analysis of the situation, they draw hasty and inaccurate conclusions on both fronts.

3 Constructive Solutions

First, as a pastor and leader, make sure to pushback against off-base counsel. Often people are simply too eager to share their point of view without understanding other points of view. They are mistaken about the Bible, the situation and their relationship.

Second, teach people about how to use the Bible, and how to use it well and appropriately in conjunction with its purpose. Assume those who would counsel you are well meaning, even if you suspect they are not.

Third, explain with patience both the situation about which they are concerned and the Bible verse they about which they are excited. We do not have to share all details, and obviously most often we can’t do this. But, we can share what we are doing, our approach to the situation and the Bible, and our seeking of counsel.

Finally, simply thank those who visit you in this manner. Thank them for their concern. Thank them for their love of the Word of God, and eagerness to live by it and please the Lord. Thank them for praying for you and others involve. Then, close by asking for their prayers and praying together with them.