Proverbs 9 has a comparison between two paths, the path of light and of darkness. These are some passing thoughts;

I am continuously amazed at the huge dichotomy between the path of light and the path of darkness. Both paths are led by women. Both paths call to the same sorts of people: people who lack sense and are simple. They both claim to be teaching the truth. However, the path of the foolish leads to death and becomes daker the farther you walk. The path of light gets brighter and leads to life. Even more interesting is the difference in proverbs 9 about the character of these two women.

Wisdom prepares everything, there is food and strong shelter. She sends out her servants and goes out herself calling to bring people in.

Foolishness prepares nothing, but tries to lure the same kinds of people. She has gain for following her path but it is emptiness and ends only in sorrow and death.

I find this interesting in light of my studies in Hebrews and Isaiah where the recurring theme is the same. God wants his people to follow him. God wants his people to live wisely and act justly. God will return and will “reward” based on the path chosen by his people. For those who suffered in life yet clung to God, they receive their full reward. Even under the old covenant, those people who were undesirable (foreigners and eunuchs) receive recompense greater than any gift they could have had in life for their disability. How often do we as Christians focus on what happens after salvation. Getting on the path of righteousness is just the beginning, we are called as believers to live that life with excellence and justice. To obey God’s laws and treat all courteously. I think “Pilgrim’s Progress” is an excellent allegory for the believer but it misses out on the real key of how a person’s character develops after they find Christ. Maybe one day I’ll write my own allegorical tale.

P.S. On a side note, the Bible says if you share wisdom and reproof with those not on your path (wicked, foolish) they will hate you for it. Maybe Christians wouldn’t have such a bad name if they worried about themselves and realized that the Bible says to be a good witness for Christ but not share wisdom that is reserved for Christians (ie. how to live). Keep that in mind before you leap to share all the wisdom of proverbs with someone who doesn’t love God.