Proverbs 12:26. One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
The first line of this proverb is really difficult to translate. In the end, Hebrew scholars propose two opposite thoughts that both teach the same big idea. Some say that the line should read, “One who is righteous investigates, or searches out his neighbor.” The idea is that the wise person is cautious about who they choose to have a close relationship with. The second option is the one you see above from the ESV – One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor. The idea here is that the wise person is a good influence on his neighbor.
Both translations show the importance of wise relationships and the influence that one person can have on another. Truly, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, what kind of influence am I on others? You can either guide others or be guided by others, this is inevitable. The real question is one of character. Is the one guiding you wicked? Do they lead you astray? What about you? Are you leading others astray? Does your life point to Christ? Does it guide into grace and faith and a deeper relationship with the Triune God of life and love?
The bottom line is that every life is guiding others somewhere. There is no neutral life. We are all leaders. We are all guides. We are all influential. Your life can either lead others toward God and his goodness, or away from God and toward foolish wickedness. That’s a choice you have to make every day.
The first question to ask, of course, is who are you following? Are you following THE Righteous One? Is Christ your guide? Are you following Jesus into the cruciform life? Have you taken up your cross today in order to let him lead you into a life of service and grace. Do you perceive where Jesus is headed and follow him there? Or are you trying to guide Jesus to where you want to go?
In Christ, we have the greatest of all internal guides leading us, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Spirit will guide us into all truth. Christ IS Truth. The Spirit is guiding us into Christ, into his likeness. We can walk in the Spirit and keep in step with his love, the love of Jesus. We can march to his cadence. We can follow in his footsteps down the road to Calvary, laying down our lives over and over again for the cause of Christ. We can be led in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Galatians 5:25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Christ in you has transferred you from the way of wickedness to the way of righteousness. This means that we too can guide others just as the Spirit of Christ guides us. We can walk the road of eternal life together, side by side with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can say follow me just as I follow Christ. Let me show you Jesus. Hold my hand through this storm. Join me in the journey.
Who is guiding you? Is it the Spirit?
Who are you guiding? Is it by the Spirit?
You: Who guides you each day? TV news? Entertainment? Society? Friends? Family? The Spirit?
You in Christ: In what ways can you see the Spirit guiding you into the truth of Christ?
Christ in you: Who do you influence? How might you guide them deeper into Christ over time?
Pray: Father, thank you for giving me your Spirit to guide me into the truth of Christ in me. Cause me to be a guide to others into the blessings of eternal life. Amen.
To Live is Christ 