Proverbs 4:14-19
“Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men… But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
A loving father will not withhold truths for life for his son and his kids especially if it’s about their future, safety, and salvation. As a son and as a new father myself, I am more willing to listen to any mature father and lovingly speak reminding truths to my child and other children just to prepare them for facing the reality of life.
As we can see in this passage, the life of a wicked breathes violence, destruction, harm, and evil. They cannot even sleep and probably eat well unless they wreak havoc on people and hurt someone. Wicked people are the devil’s advocate. They rally in the name of self, for the sake of flesh and the glory of the evil one. They keep recruiting people to join their forces so that they can destroy more.
What motivates these wicked people to live is to propagate evil, “For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence” (v.17). If this is the world we are living in (which it is), I will not hesitate to constantly remind my kids to avoid them for that is a right thing to do. But at the same time, telling them what to pursue is another better way to equip them.
Verse 18 wonderfully says, “But the path of the righteous is like the blight of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” This is the effect of following the right and true path of the LORD in our life. We shine and bring light to this dark world just like what our Lord Jesus Christ did and still doing it. A righteous man not only runs away from wickedness but also runs to the path of righteousness and holiness of God. That’s what he does and will continue to practice until the Lord Jesus come.
His motivation in life is to please God and reach people out in Christ to be saved. Contrary to the wicked man. The righteous man brings hope, offers good news, and does good things for the benefit of people. Being selfless is his joy but at the same time, he is wise to care for his own needs and knows his battles for God. That’s what makes this person shines for Christ.
If you hear your father reminding you like this, listen to it for it is wisdom. If you are a father, do not withhold these truths from your kids, speak these realities to them. And most importantly, let’s listen to God’s word in the scripture to gain wisdom and understanding as we live in this world.