Despising Life

For Thursday, November 30, 2006
Proverbs 19:16

Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.

Most likely the sense of despising one's ways is that of being careless about how one lives. Such a person is not so much defient against God's commands as he is uninterested in the subject. His motto is "go with the flow."

Such a person ultimately is defient, and he would be surprised to learn to whom it is he shows disdain. It is himself. He is willing to forfeit eternal happiness to go with the flow. Many persons would be surprised to find that they fit the category of such a lackadaisical person. This week I watched an interview with a 92 year old man renown for physical fitness. He exuberates enthusiasm for life and tremendous discipline to be healthy. I then read about a young entrepreneur who in his thirties has achieved weath through hard work and tenacity. But both will die, and they do not seem to be interested about keeping the commandment that will give eternal life. They are careless about their ways.

What kind of witness are you to such persons? They would have to see in you someone as committed to the gospel as they are to health and wealth. They would have to see in you someone who is exuberant about the gospel as they about their passions. Would they see in you something to envy?