God does not support nor encourage nor reward for reckless life. Haggai 1: 5,7 says, now this what the Lord Almighty says, “Give careful thought to your ways. The Lord said so because everything we do has consequences either for a reward or a punishment. The caution shows the love God has for us. Jesus said in Matthew 18: 14, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
We are sometimes misled to believe that God’s silence regarding our conduct means divine approval. On the contrary, 2Peter 3: 9 says, the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. The caution is thus a warning against ungodly deeds done without wisdom or godly fortitude in Christ Jesus.
Samples of thoughts
Christ Jesus cautions us to give thought to eternity in Matthew 16: 26; Mark 8: 36-37, what good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? To Christ Jesus, the thought of eternity must be the foundation for what we do. It is not every action which may glorify God in the end. Our focus of thought determines our end in eternity.
Paul calls us to be discerning in Philippians 1: 9-10, and this is my prayer: that your love may abound and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. To Paul, we must discern what is righteousness to God’s glory in our ways.
King Solomon, believed to be the wisest person who ever lived on earth invites us to be guided in our thoughts by wisdom in our ways. This is because our ways should be more profitable to the soul than to the body for the inevitability of judgment cannot be whittled away by denial. Hebrews 9: 27 says, we are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. In effect Jesus, Paul and Solomon point to the same fact.
Effects of our thoughts
Good thoughts lead to eternal life in Christ Jesus whereas bad thoughts lead to eternal death in hell. Romans 6: 10 says, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul says bad thoughts lead to sin and to eventual spiritual death whereas good thoughts lead to righteousness as a gift of God and results in eternal life which only Jesus gives.
We are cautioned because we are accountable for our ways of life which belong to God. Romans 14: 12 says, so then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Life belongs to God who is holy, hence God told the Israelites in Leviticus 11: 45; 20: 26, I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God, therefore be holy, because I am holy. The thoughts we give to our ways should not devalue God’s holiness and image for Paul says in Romans 14: 8, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Our ways cannot be hidden from God whose Spirit enables us with life. Hebrews 4: 13 says, nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. As the judge Christ Jesus who has prior knowledge of our ways cannot be deceived hence, 1Peter 4: 5 says, they (the reckless) will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Our thoughts must be to avoid reckless and wild living.
Good thoughts cannot come of our own accord. Jesus said in John 15: 5, apart from me you can do nothing. He therefore warns us in Matthew 16: 6; Mark 8: 15, “Be careful. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Jesus’ caution was against misleading influence and distorted religious practices misrepresented as God’s doctrine which like the yeast, balloons to affect the entire body giving it a semblance of goodness though unhealthy.
Giving thought to our ways
We must be guided by divine principles. Romans 12: 17 says, do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. This is what is written in Colossians 3: 13, bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. What thoughts do we give to grievances and hurt by others?
Paul said in 1Corinthians 8: 9, be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. Scripture abhors self-interest, insensitivity to the needs of others, and inconsiderate attitude. So Paul says in 1Corinthians 10: 12, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall. Our ways must respect the needs of others else we will fall one day.
Scripture says in Ephesians 5: 15-16, be careful, the, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Our thoughts must be guided by wisdom so we can maximize every moment in life to God’s glory. To this end, Hebrews 2: 1 says we must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. In other words, we must live the word preached and read to us. What thoughts do we give to our ways?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, please guide our thoughts which inform our ways so we may be pleasing to you in all our ways. May our thoughts be guided by your Holy Spirit in your holy name, Amen!!
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