May 9

May 9 - Today from Proverbs 9 we look at verse 6
"Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."

It is important that we stay in context as we focus on the phrase 'simple ways'. This does not refer to one who has chosen to live a more primitive life-style at 'Walden's Pond'. It does not refer to a person who has an abnormally low I.Q. It has nothing to do with life-style or intelligence, it has to do with a developed personality characteristic. The 'simple' in the book of proverbs are those who choose to continue to live according their feelings rather than by developing an ability to investigate and reason. Of the seven major theories of human nature, the 'simple' would best fall under the category of 'existentialism'.
There are three main concerns that are central to existentialism:
1. The uniqueness of the individual human as opposed to general theories about humanity
2. Concern for the meaning or purpose of human lives rather than with scientific or metaphysical truths about the universe.
3. The freedom of individuals is the most important and distinctive human property.
The conclusion of such a theory is to believe in the ability of every person to choose for himself his attitudes, purposes, values and way of life. It goes without saying that very few existentialists would identify themselves as such, or could articulate this theory, because they never really thought through the process. They simply adopt it from the culture because it 'feels' right.
One breaks out of the dead-end ways of existentialism by learning to investigate and reason. When one seriously begins to look at the evidence of history and nature, one will quickly come to the reasonable conclusion that there is a 'Divine Intelligence'. Verse 10 of today's chapter says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Once the simple acknowledge that there may be a higher purpose for them other than to 'feel good' or to 'feel good about themselves' for whatever period of time is allotted to them, REASON will lead them to wisdom.
I am convinced that atheists and evolutionists are some of the most unreasonable people on the face of the earth. I don't hate them. I don't judge them. I am simply making an objective observation; Everything they believe and tout is based on nothing. Anyone who would seriously investigate their claims and apply sound reason to their theories would dismiss them in a heartbeat. Yet, these principles continue to be taught as a reasonable truth in our public education systems and millions of dollars are spent each year making 'historical documentaries' promoting their unreasonable theories on Public TV and various 'educational channels'. Meanwhile, our children continue to be indoctrinated in existentialism (although they have never heard the term), and are never taught to investigate and reason in search of truth. Instead, they are taught to be suspicious of people (groups) who claim to have a knowledge of universal truth.
Because the 'simple' are focused on 'feeling good about themselves' today, they seldom, if ever, think about eternity (after all, that would involve investigation and reasoning). They quickly 'buy into' stories about people who came back from death where they saw a 'bright light and everything was so wonderful and peaceful' - and adopt that as their 'feel-good' solution to forever. There is no logic or reason - only a satisfactory subjective feel-good solution to something they'd rather not think too much about. It is strange to me how they can be so casual about something so final - eternity.
The first step for the cure of the simple is to learn to reason. This calls for us to investigate, to gather credible information, to objectively evaluate what we found, and to apply what we hold to be true.
"Leave your simple ways and you will live." Hold fast to your simple ways, and you will too late discover the reality of eternal separation from a loving God who offered life. He says to us in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." There is not enough in this verse to tell us how that is accomplished, but there should be enough here to send us on a reasonable investigation which could lead us to the way of eternal life.