The Roads of Life

Is there a lion in your road? Be careful about the excuses you make.

Whenever I see the Five-Minute Friday word, I usually do a quick search for that word in the English Standard Version of the scriptures using BibleGateway. I then look for similar words. Because today’s word was “ROAD” I also searched for “street” and “highway.”

Most people reveal their hearts, purposes, priorities, and character by their words. But you can also learn much from observing their roads. Here are some examples:

Ecclesiastes 10:3 Tells it like it is.

You don’t have to look at the lives of too many celebrities and professional athletes to see many of them lack sense. It amazes me that they are “idols”, but perhaps that says more about their followers than it does about them. “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.” Ecclesiastes 10:2-3

Lazy people always have excuses for inaction and for a lack of meaningful progress in life or for doing what is best for their family. Some just think life is too dangerous, so inaction is their course of action. They are like thorns to their friends and family. “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’” – Proverbs 26:13 “The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.” – Proverbs 15:19

Deuteronomy 27:18 Be careful where you lead your children.

You cannot send someone down the wrong path and think it is going to go unnoticed. Our lives are examples, so we need to be thoughtful about where we are leading our children and grandchildren. “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’” Deuteronomy 27:18

Thankfully, you don’t have to go down the road of life without help. God cries out in the streets of life. He shows himself by his creation, by the written word, and by the life and work of His Son. In fact, you can just observe the life of his Son in the four gospels and see how life can image God in our walk and our talk.

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?’” Proverbs 1:20-22

Sample link to the BibleGateway: LINK

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

They understand they have a new life that will change the way they go, how they go down the road of life, and with a clear vision of the life yet to come.

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.” 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.