Two Roads

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost


Our format for this study is 4 parts:
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2. Watch the video and read the message
3. Do as much or as little as you can over the two week time frame
4. COMMENT!! It doesn’t matter if you spend 5 minutes reading or everyday delving deeper into the study, interaction is the key to our success and connection with each other.


Each section is highlighted in a contrasting color so you can easily choose what parts you want to participate in. Take as little or as much and come back as often as you would like to over the course of the study.

Video


SCRIPTURE

Listen, children to a father’s instruction,
and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
Because I give you good instruction,
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son to my father,
a tender only child before my mother,
he taught me, and he said to me:
“Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands so that you will live.
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding;
do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will guard you.
Wisdom is supreme – so acquire wisdom,
and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
Esteem her highly and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place a garland on your head;
she will bestow a beautiful crowns on you.”
Listen, my child, and accept my words,
so that the years of your life will be many.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom
and I will lead you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered,
and when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
protect it, because it is your life.
(Proverbs 4:1-13)


LESSON
As a child I was often reminded that there are “two ways”; a right way and a wrong way – an easy way and a difficult way. As age and experience have had their way, I often find myself yearning to go back to those simpler times where every decision or life circumstance is neatly hemmed between these two very black and white guideposts.

Thankfully, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments provide us with just such a lens to view life! Jesus taught his disciples that there are two specific (albeit nuanced) ways to live;

“Enter through the narrow gate because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many enter through it. 14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt 7:13-14)

As Christ-followers, we are challenged to see life in two surprising ways – first, the way that leads to wholeness and life; and second, the way that leads to despair and destruction. Sounds simple enough, right? Not so fast! Jesus reminds us that the way that seems easy, “spacious”, and smoother is actually a trap! God’s way can be painfully difficult, costly, and isolating…but the benefits are eternal!

There is a beautiful symmetry between Jesus’ teachings and the instruction given to the Hebrew people as they journeyed through the long and difficult period of wilderness wandering;

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction… This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deut 30:15a, 19-20)

What does wisdom have to do with ‘the two ways’? EVERYTHING!! Wisdom serves two practical and important functions…First, it is a safeguard – a protector. When sought after, acquired, and lived out, God’s wisdom keeps us from the tempting snares of “the spacious,” “easy,” and “wide” ways which lead to despair. It is a sort of preemptive grace – a “garland upon our heads” - which liberates us from undue strife and struggle. Second, wisdom is a guide to us…an internal and moral compass which leads us up, over, and through the narrow gate.

As we continue our study, I pray that you would be intentional about acquiring and tuning your ear toward wisdom. May her voice be a safeguard for you and a guide to you!


Done?
If you are done with the study for this week and do not plan to go onto the optional sections, please consider commenting as your last act. Connecting with each other and our experiences in this journey is what will make this study great for all.


Scroll down to Prayer & COMMENTS if you are done (for now).

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Questions for discussion

Can you think of a time where the “easy” way ended up being far more costly?

Do you find it tempting to ‘take the easy way’ even if you know it’s not the ‘best’ or ‘right’ way?

How could wisdom help us when we are faced with temptations to take the easy way?


Further Study

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, spoke of God’s grace working in three distinct ways. First, he said, grace is “prevenient” or “preventing”…it goes on ahead of us, gives us the first inkling that God exists and an initial thirst to please Him. Second, grace is justifying – that is to say it restores us into right relationship with God. And finally, grace is sanctifying; it grows us and helps move us to maturity and completion.

If we understand wisdom as being a byproduct or vehicle of grace, then we see how and why the wise sage from Proverbs 4 links it with life and living. Wisdom serves to help us see things in the right (true) perspective…in doing so, it keeps our “steps from being hampered” and our “feet from stumbling”. It works in a prevenient way– protecting us and guiding us on our journey. With wisdom, we see how short of God’s glory we fall, and cry out in repentance. And through the wise counsel of the Holy Spirit, we grow more deeply connected to the Creator.

Friends, please note that grace and wisdom alone are useless unless they are put to work…wisdom leads us to a decision, but it does not make one for us. Grace may lead us to repentance, but it does not perform the action of turning away. As you seek wisdom, put it to use…seek it desperately so that you may live well!


Questions for Reflection

How often and how frequently do you ask or seek wisdom?

Who or what do you turn to when a difficult decision needs to be made?


Prayer
Our Dear and Righteous, Wise and all knowing God:
We humbly come before you in our search for wisdom and righteousness to offer our thanks and unending gratitude for Your sacrifices and lessons in this life. We are acutely aware of our short-comings and our failures along the journey, we have identified the road less traveled and know that it is ours for the taking. We ask for Your forgiveness and understanding as we offer ourselves as vessels for the love and wisdom you share with others through us. We ask that You be ever-present in our search for self awareness, understanding, and wisdom. For these blessings as well as others unspoken and deep within our hearts and soul, we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.