CHAPTER 29: Think Righteous Thoughts

c HAP t E r 29

THINK RIGHTEOUS THOUGHTS

“Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. Those people have no future at all; they are headed down a dead end street.” Proverbs 24:19-20 (MSG)

The King James Version says it this way, “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.”

Many of us at one time or another have observed the wicked and thought “Things seem so good for them. It seems like it would be nice to live like that. What would my life be like if I lived without moral constraints?” Solomon admits that thought even crossed his mind. But remember what Solomon told us in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart, so will he become.” Our thoughts precede our actions. Ultimately you are going to move in the direction of your thoughts. That is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ.”

Even though this is a thought we should not welcome, it is a common one. David, who was Solomon’s father, also asked himself

that question in Psalms 73:12-19. He says, “This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.”

David is being transparent. He allows us to follow him through his question, his frustration, and then to the answer. He begins like many of us who observe the success of the wicked and he admits that he feels he has “kept his heart pure in vain.” His thoughts begin to stray from the present as he admits that if he had allowed his thoughts to become words and actions it would have had consequences for his grandkids. David says it was not until he began to think beyond today, that he realized how ridiculous he was to feel jealous. When he considered the future that lay in store for the wicked, the fleeting success they currently enjoy is no longer attractive, when the future judgment for their actions gets included in the deal.

We need to be mindful of a truth that is easy to ignore. Jesus said in John 10:10 that, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.” There is a devil and according to 1 Peter 5:8 we should “be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” If the wicked are already headed for destruction “on a dead end street” then why would Satan waste his energy on them?

it was not until he began to think beyond today, that he realized how ridiculous he was to feel jealous

Jesus said a very interesting thing in Mark chapter 4. This is where He tells the parable of the sower. He says the sower goes out and He sows the word of the kingdom. Let’s look closely at verses 16 and 17. “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” Jesus specifically said that when these hearts had gladly received God’s word “for the word’s sake” tribulations came. Jesus is telling us that being a Christian won’t guarantee that life will be a bed of roses. In fact it will put a bull’s eye on your back. There will be “tribulations” or difficulties that will come your way expressly because you have chosen to live by God’s Word. If you have been hearing the word, if you’ve been studying the word, if you have been meditating on the word, Satan is going to try to use trials and tribulations to steal it from your heart. What are tribulations? It could be a layoff at work, or the car and the washing machine both breaking down. Anything the devil can use to get you to give up, he will. That is why the Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” It may not be instantly but in “due season” righteousness will pay off.

David came to his epiphany in the “Sanctuary of God.” Often the answer to our questions are found at church. There, David was reminded of eternity. It is amazing how we can move through life day after day, week after week, and just not think about eternity. It is easy to get caught up in the things of life and not give the future a thought. That is what the wicked are doing. They are walking with their head down unable to see the dangers they are headed straight for. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” In our 29th saying, at the end of verse 20, Solomon said, “The candle of the wicked shall be put out.” He is reminding us that eternity is coming, and eternity matters. Wishing for something without considering its long term effects is not wise. But that is exactly what the devil hopes we will do.

I have good news for you. Satan hasn’t changed his approach in 6000 years. The bad news is that people are still falling for the same tricks. In the Garden of Eden, when Satan set out to deceive Eve, he said, “Has God said you shall not eat of these trees?” and she said, “Yes we are not supposed to eat.” Then Satan said, “You will not surely die.” After all this time Satan is still doing the same thing. He wants you to question what God actually said. And if he can’t convince you God never said it then he tries to convince you that somehow, for you, in these circumstances, it is not true, or doesn’t apply. He will say things like these: “Well, that’s true, but not for you.” Or “it’s not true for today.” “It isn’t true anymore.” He will try to convince you that it isn’t really wrong. His goal is get you to stray from God’s Word. If he can get you to use anything but God’s Word as your standard then he knows he can win. There are many standards to pick from. Culture, religion, logic, the laws of the land, even the best of these if followed long enough will allow you to stray from God’s Word. For example, we cannot allow the law to be our standard of right and wrong. There are plenty of sins that are 100% legal. Porn and abortion for example are both very legal. But that doesn’t make them ok in God’s eyes. This may sound obvious but, George Barna of the Christian research organization says that only 10% of those who profess to be Christians have a Christian world view. In other words only 10% of Christians take their values, their morals, and their understandings straight from the Bible. The other 90% have fallen for Satan’s trick. They are making their decisions and basing their values on something other than scripture.

The antidote for temptation and wrong thinking is God’s Word. That is why when Jesus was tempted He answered, “It is written.” The question this raises is, “Who is Lord of your life?” If we have made Jesus the Lord of our lives then it is His Word that should establish our values, our morals. It is His Word that should direct our decisions.

You must recognize that God’s Word is speaking to you. It reveals God’s will for your life. Maybe my wife is about to go to the

store and I tell her, “Please remember to get my favorite cheese.” She has now been made aware of my will. Likewise God has revealed His will for us in the Bible. Our choice is what we do with what we know is His will. As a Christian, the Bible should be the first place that you turn for answers. Don’t fall for Satan’s tricks, there is no other standard. God’s Word is it!

Psalms 19:7-11 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.”

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Scripture is clear that in order to please God we must first know that God exists. The very next thing we need is to understand that God is a rewarder. We need not doubt if living righteously is worthwhile. God promises us it is.