The Easy Way or the Hard Way

The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom. Prov. 15:33

“Don’t tell me what to do! It’s my life and I’ll make my own mistakes!” Those words have been shouted by both rebellious teenagers and adults at parents, pastors, teachers, and friends for generations. We all want to spare others from making the same mistakes we made, from walking down paths we know will lead to destruction. Despite our best intentions, we are often seen as meddlesome and irritating. The old adage, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” is true in many regards…even in our spiritual walk.
Sometimes, as believers, we want to take what we think is the easy way. We go through life doing our own thing until something major or catastrophic sends us running to the Father. We gain a basic understanding of God and His truths, and we coast on autopilot until a life situation forces us to look more intently at God’s word. We want to make our own mistakes and then ask God to fix the mess we find ourselves in. Sounds a little like a rebellious teenager doesn’t it? And yet, what we won’t tolerate from our children, we do ourselves to the Father. 2 Peter 1:3-4 illustrates how God, like a loving parent who wants to spare his children from the pain of mistakes and ignorance provides a solution. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” So, where does this knowledge of Him come from?
Proverbs 1:1 says, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life…” Solomon, the man who received his wisdom directly from God shared with us what God taught him about wisdom. We can either try to gain wisdom through trial and error or we can follow the advice of Solomon who said in Prov 2:1-5, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Notice all those action verbs—it’s going to take some serious effort on your part.
Then he promises, “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you,” Prov. 2:10-11. Do you need any better promises than that? How about these: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you, 4:6; Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, 2:12; Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her, 8:11; He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers, 19:8; and, Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off, 24:14.
God’s wisdom is found in God’s word. Every day we should be actively and eagerly searching the scriptures to discern God’s good and perfect will. If you don’t know where else to start, may I suggest the book of Proverbs? Remember, its whole purpose, according to Proverbs 1:1 is to help us attain wisdom. You decide, do you want God to teach you wisdom the easy way (through his word) or the hard way (through your own experiences)? Wisdom will be taught—one way or the other.

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7