Don't Go That Way, 2016 Go For It And Follow Wisdom

Don’t Go That Way, 2016 Go For It and Follow Wisdom

Proverbs 7:1-27NLT

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for UCLA. Picking up the loose ball, and he ran 65 yards toward the goal line. Unfortunately… he had gotten confused… it was the wrong goal line.

One of his teammates Benny Lom ran him down and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team.

From that day on, Roy Riegels was branded “Wrong way” Riegels

There are many people that live their lives that way.

They go the wrong way, because they’ve lost sight of, or never had a goal.

Andy Stanley once noted: “Many people are what you might call directionally challenged; They don’t know where they’re going, They haven’t a goal, They just wander thru life expecting that everything will turn out all right.”

Proverbs 7:1-27NLT Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. 2 Obey my commands and live!Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. 3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. 5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous (Immoral) woman. 6 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, 7 I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. 8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. 9 It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.10 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. 11 She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. 12 She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, 14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. 15 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! 16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. 17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, 19 for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. 20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month.” 21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. 22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. 24 So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. 25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. 26 For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. 27 Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.

Beginning a new year- 2016, remember Proverbs 29:18KJ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Now look with me at Proverbs 8:1-6NLT Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. 3 By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, 4 “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. 5 You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. 6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, 7 for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. 8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

Again Proverbs 7 teaches us, The foolish man meanders along in places he doesn’t belong, in places he shouldn’t be, because he has no specific direction in life.

By contrast, the wise man has a specific destination. He doesn’t stumble into the harlot’s bedroom because he is pursuing a different kind of woman. He has destination, He has a direction he wants to go.

There are several wisdom directional paths I want to give you this morning.

1. Have a plan, keep purpose as your main focus and priority. (Get off the seat and let Jesus take over.)