Some Clear Rules - Proverbs 6

So often in Scripture we get a good idea of the do’s and don’t for the follower of God. It is very easy to put off making changes to those areas that are not always so clear cut. But I think that if we could get really good at covering the bases on those things that are very clear, it would go a long way to shaping most other areas of life.

For instance, in Proverbs 6 today, I read about six, no seven things that God hates. The NASB lists them as these: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. Galations 5 and other passages cover similar lists, comparing wickedness to righteousness.

Simply put, we have all the power of the Holy Spirit we need to accomplish “not doing” those things which God says He hates.

Haughty eyes depict pride, thinking way too highly of ourselves, arrogance, when we ought to be pointing our lives to Him

A lying tongue is self-explanatory. God’s Word is truth, we ought live truth as well.

Hands shedding innocent blood; we need to remember that all people are created in the image of God, and He takes bloodshed very seriously.

When the heart plots evil, it usually controls the will.

When our feet run rapidly to evil, it means we are eager to do what we want, not considering what God desires, and our natural tendency is to sin.

A false witness returns to the theme of lying and deception.

And one who spreads strife is descriptive of someone with a short fuse, or contentious and quarreling.

So if God hates these, we must strive to please Him with the opposites: Humility, truthful speech, preservation of life, pure thoughts, being eager to do good things, being honest, and striving for peaceful harmony.

Earlier in the Proverb He warns of being lazy. And then later He tells us to bind His words on our hearts, tie them around our necks. We must never forget His Word, and we must never stop pursuing a life lived for Him. The Godly life is to be purposeful, not accidental, with His Word and its authority central to us all.