The Path of Righteousness

March 19

Numbers 16-17

Psalm 35:17-21

Proverbs 8:20-21

Mark 14:43-72

The Path of Righteousness

“I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the pathways of justice, to give those who love me an inheritance of wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.”  Proverbs 8:20-21 LSB

The speaker in Proverbs 8 is “Lady Wisdom,”  a personification of God’s wisdom.  She is calling out to people to listen to her and embrace the value of choosing her way.  She explains that wisdom always walks in the path of righteousness.  Walking is intentional and involves persistence and dedicated effort.  A life that is characterized by wisdom does good, loves justice and is in right relationship with God and others.  She is encouraging a lifestyle of wisdom not just trying to make good decisions.  She then says that she walks in the midst of the pathways of justice.  If wisdom is a highway, she is driving right down the middle of the road.  She is not hugging the shoulder trying to get as close to the edge as she can without hitting the guardrails.  She does not test her limits.  Wisdom drives right down the middle choosing the right path every time.  She desires righteousness and justice.  She does not pursue it out of obligation, but because it is her heart’s desire.   She stays well within the boundaries because she recognizes that the path of wisdom leads to peace and joy, but  going off the path leads to difficulty and pain. 

            Verse 21 seems to suggest that wisdom gives us money.  This is true sometimes.  Making wise choices in our finances can lead to wise investments that will often give us financial success.  But there are other times when doing the right thing can negatively affect our finances.  Lady Wisdom is suggesting here that if we seek after wisdom and walk in her ways, our focus will not be on our bank account.  The wise person will not be fixated on making money.  The wise person will have his heart and eyes fixed on Jesus.  This will lead to riches that are far more valuable that silver and gold.  God wants to fill the treasuries of our hearts and our minds so that we walk in His ways and seek Him above everything else. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (LSB)  The wise person recognizes that the things that have lasting value cannot be bought or sold.  Faith, love, joy, peace, serving others, kindness, humility, and goodness are the treasures we are storing up in heaven, and these things also give us a better life on earth.