MENU

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8

 

I swayed along with the sweet melody as my son’s fingers danced effortlessly from key to key. He sat up tall and glanced over at his piano teacher expecting approval. Surprise came over both of us when she revealed some of the notes he played were incorrect.

Proverbs 14:12 says “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Consequently, what sounds right to us might indeed be wrong. In fact, many worldly philosophies promise to provide solutions to all our problems yet will not save us from our greatest problem: sin.

Fortunately, my son listened to the instruction of his teacher. He identified the right notes in his piano book and self-corrected. However, do I compare worldly ideas with the instruction provided in God’s word? Afterall, human hearts are “deceitful above all things and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9).”

Proverbs 8:33-36 pleads with us, “Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it. Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

Friends, whose instruction are we listening to everyday? Could we be placing too much trust in the wisdom of the world? 

Unfortunately, I wait around for outside sources to provide instruction more than I would like to admit. Inevitably, I am met with confusion as I attempt to wade through contradicting opinions. When the problems of the world drain the life out of me, I need to run toward the Word of Life.

Furthermore, when I miss out on receiving the wisdom of God each day, I harm myself. Only God can reach the deepest, darkest crevices in my heart. While the world is busy pointing out the heart problems of everyone else, the instruction of the Lord reveals heart problems within me. My problems require a God solution, and friends, Jesus is enough to meet the need.

Therefore, let us compare what we hear from the world with the Master’s sheet music. If the notes do not match up, we will not find the hope and direction we desperately crave. May we not lean on our own understanding and instead acknowledge God in all our ways, expecting Him to make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).