Proverbs 11:5

The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

It’s helpful to have good directions, although most people today just plug their destination into their smartphones and off they go….but what if the smartphone’s map software is outdated or has a bug? Worse yet, what if the software has been deliberately altered to throw you off course? So it is with our honesty as well as our sin.

On the positive side of this proverb, we find two traits that go hand in hand: godliness and honesty. Godly people can expect to receive God’s direction because their lives are marked by honesty. In fact, it is their honesty that takes the wheel and provides the best path through life’s twists and turns. Honesty always has God’s blessing and God’s blessing will always make your paths straight (Is. 26:7).

On the negative side, the “wide load” of sin will always lead to a fall. Wicked people are generally marked by behaviors like creating confusion, fooling others, and/or flattering speech . Wicked people demand control, they play on the sympathies of good-willed people, appear to have no conscience, and show no remorse. Sooner or later, their wicked ways create a wide load that becomes untenable and they collapse under the weight of their own offenses.

Godly men and women, who fear and obey God and live righteously and honestly, are led safely through life’s hazards and into heaven by their good and wise choices at life’s decision points. God inspired Solomon to write Proverbs to help you live righteously and acquire wisdom to direct your life. If you rebel against such help, you are a fool, and you will eventually fall. If you heed his advice, you can rest easy because your spiritual smartphone has perfect programming and will always get you to where our loving Savior wants you to go.