Proverbs 12:5  – “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, an interesting thought filled my mind.  “Led by deception.” That caused me to pause.  Proverbs 12:5 – “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.”

This touches every area of life, and one that the writer highlights is in verse 11: “He who cultivates his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who pursues empty things lacks a heart of wisdom.”   This touches every dimension of life, yet humans and many Christians equate spiritual success with material possessions, numbers, and position or recognition.

Proverbs 13:11-13 expands on Proverbs 12:11.  It says, “Wealth obtained from empty effort (you didn’t work for it) dwindle, but the one who gathers with his hand abounds.”

Fascinatingly, the context includes the following two verses.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but the desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”   Fantasy that requires nothing from us is empty (every dimension of life).   But pursuing the labor set before us has its reward, and, like the farmer, it produces a harvest that lasts and brings contentment.

Back to being led by deception.   The cravings of man easily convince him that his desires, plans, pursuits, and motives are righteous.  They convince the heart that this is God’s way, will, and Word.  

Proverbs 16:1-2 – “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.  ALL the ways of a man are pure in his own sight (mind), but Yahweh weighs (evaluates) the motives.”

Proverbs 18:9 –“He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.”

We quote 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”   But we often miss the whole message that the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit (Jesus) is, there is liberty.  

• The liberty is embodied in the finished work of Jesus.  
• The liberty is in complete surrender to Jesus.
• The liberty is diligently pursuing our assignment.

Deception is allowing our human desires and reasoning to convince us that our way is the right way.  Usually, that is formulated because it benefits us.  Deception is not being able to see truth because we only see what we want.

I am praying for illumination so that only God’s truth can remain.

May the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment cover each of you and enable you to avoid being led by deception!