Proverbs 15:19 “The way of an upright person is made plain.”
Here we have a picture of the kind of life that contrasts sharply with the life of the slothful man. This is the kind of life that everyone wishes to live, but does not necessarily attain to. Everyone wants to live a life of ease and peace, and walk a path that is clear of obstructions and traps. However, not everyone is willing to pay the price for peace. What is the price for peaceful living? The path of peaceful living is paved with the stones of hard work, extensive preparation, wise decisions, and great sacrifice. Notice that the proverb says, “…is made plain…” The path does not initially come that way. It is made that way by those who travel upon it.
I remember an old muffler company commercial, whose tag line went something like this, “Pay me now. Or, Pay me later.” That is so true in life. Life in itself has a justice system of its own. It is the way God designed it. The interesting thing to note is that the payments that are made later are usually much more severe that the ones made early. Here is a perfect example. I have a friend whose daughter for years never went out, never went to the movies, and never had time or money for anything other than studying. She was a medical student at LSU. She struggled financially for years just trying to make it through school, often taking odd jobs at the university just to try to make ends meet. However, the day came when her path was made plain. She finished her internship, and accepted her first job as an emergency room doctor. Can I tell you now that she often attends movies, vacations really wherever she wants, and loves her job? While others were playing their way through college, she was paying her way through.
This concept also applies in the exact same way to all things in life whether marriages, raising children, or even the investments one might make in all the spiritual developments of Christian Living. Let us all take time to make our paths plain, so that life can be lived in peace.
Pastor LaVaughn
