Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
Summary: Understanding this proverb teaches us a lot about ourselves and each other. To walk in integrity requires an understanding of God’s Word. To avoid the crooked paths requires a heart devoted to the Lord.
Do you ever wonder where some of our modern phrases come from? Reading through the Bible, we find that many of them were common thousands of years ago. Being “found out” is what happens to bad guys. “Crooked” means that someone is doing something immoral or illegal. To “walk in” something is to take a certain path. For example, a man who “walks in” the ways of his father might take up the same line of business.
To walk in integrity is, to be honest, moral, and upright. In a biblical sense, it is to walk in a way that pleases God. To take a crooked path is the opposite of integrity. The crooked path does not please God.
The world is full of people who have chosen the crooked path. Men and women who walk in integrity seem rare. Even within the church, finding integrity is not as easy as one might hope.
Jesus taught:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7: 3-5)
Do you see the problem?
If I imagine myself to be walking the path of integrity, I have to ignore the plank in my own eye. In truth, it is very rare to find someone who walks in integrity. Yet this is the goal of righteousness; to adhere to the tenants of God’s Word and be faithful to his instruction.
So let’s rephrase the question: Are you doing your best to walk in integrity? Do you consciously avoid crooked paths? If so, there is one more lesson to consider.
The promise of this proverb is that if we walk in integrity, we will walk securely. I think that means we will have peace. We will have no cause to worry. In a way, we can tell how well we are doing in our walk with God by how much peace we have. If we are worried or uncertain, perhaps we need to re-examine our walk.
Finally, we have God’s assurance that those who willingly walk crooked paths will be found out. Whether that means in this life or the next, I do not know. But I believe God’s Word. They will be found out.
Application: Challenge yourself to understand what it means to walk in integrity.
Food for Thought: Why is it that those following crooked paths tend to be found out?
Powerful message!
Jim,
I agree! Thank you for checking in. 🙂
Why is it that those following crooked paths tend to be found out?
There is a quote in a popular syndicated show about a judge who frequently says “If you never lie you don’t have to have a good memory.” I think that little piece of truth was peeled off of Solomon’s words “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely.” You don’t have to fill your mind with all the lies you have told to try and keep them straight.
I think NOT walking in integrity is a bit like playing Jenga, you have to keep removing pieces and stacking them on top, the whole time anxious about whether the whole thing will topple and when. “Whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” because no one can play that game forever, and eventually your actions and plans will be the cause of the whole thing falling over.
I think people want to believe in truth and in goodness, they want others to love them more than those people love themselves, and they want to be secure. I believe that when people hear what you say and see what you do, they want to “test” it to see if it is real, if you are what you say you are. They can begin to see that your “stack” has holes and loose pieces in it, and that you keep “rearranging the stack.” Even before it topples they begin to wonder why your blocks aren’t straight and upright, why it is misshapen.
Sorry, I ran away with that illustration. People tend to recognize those that walk a crooked path because what everyone does affects everyone else, and what they see and feel contradicts what is being said. I do it regularly to my toddler (I’m working on this). He says “Daddy come here, I want to show you something” and I say “OK, be right over” and I keep working. 5 minutes go by and he is wondering why Daddy is walking a crooked path. It is just as easy for me to say “I need to finish this and then I will be there.” That is the straight path.
If we strive to walk the straight path, God has promised to use us for His good purpose:
Matthew 25:21 “You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things”
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Chris,
The Jenga game is a GREAT illustration! 🙂 I love your summary: “No one can play that game forever.” Eventually, it all topples down. Well said, and great supporting verses, too. Thank you!
Why is it that those following crooked paths tend to be found out?
Well this months memory verse is Hebrews 4:13 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.
Ooooo — Bonus points!!
🌠
T – good call on this months Scripture memory. I thought of that verse too. Even if we somehow manage to fool everyone else, we will be found out by the Lord.
An non scriptural American proverb says, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. It does seem like a lie catches up to a person. God has a way of bringing things to the light. And of course, from an eternal perspective we will be found out eventually.
Thank you, Rich. Good summary! 🙂
04-19-2022, Proverbs 10:9, Why is it that those following crooked paths tend to be found out?
They become ungodly as the desires of their heart controls their actions.
Years ago. I chose to repent my sins, accept Christ and follow Him. I know God wants the very best for me and I have resolved to live my life according to His Word. I am very satisfied, and grateful regarding this decision because living this life makes me happy. Nevertheless, at times I feel like I am just going in circles, hitting pretty rough spots and getting nowhere, which is not what He promises.
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” Is not happening!
Psalm 23:2
Why, do I not live in this rest, this total peace? I have a degree of rest because I know I have Christ who gives me peace and makes me happy. At the same time my peace is not consistent as described in the Bible and I wonder why. The answer lies in the Bible.
“Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing And their eyes they have closed.”
Matthew 13:14-15.
My heart has been drawn to something of this world. I have walked off the straight path and God will not accompany me on this path. My hearts desire has turned from God and I can no longer hear His voice.
This is the life of all believers, we walk with God, times are great and WHAM, we find we have been drawn away. All around us will see this happen, but we will be blind. Christ will wait for us and if we are not too far gone, we will feel the loss of His peace, hear the call of the Holy Spirit and return to the straight path.
Walking with God is walking in God, full time, every day. He sustains us, He protects us, we need to let Him.
Amen, Ron!