Wild Thing

Read Proverbs 29

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Proverbs 29:18

Running wild or happily obedient? Are those the only choices for humans? Solomon says yes, and his life is testimony to the truth. He stopped listening to and following God’s will, drifting further and further away from God. People need not be dashing through the streets to be effectively running wild. If our lives are out of control, it is not always apparent to passersby. Rejection of God’s guidance can take many forms and can run at many speeds.

Making the journey God’s way are the people who are obedient . . . and happy. Listening to and following God’s rules, we acknowledge that the one who made us did not lose interest and move on to another project. If he guides us by communicating his laws, it is with the motivation of loving us and knowing what’s best for us. In short, he knows better than we do what makes us deep-down happy.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Happiness is a by-product of living God’s way.

Lord, I thank you for loving me and knowing me so well that even your laws have my best interests at heart.