Cause And Effect

"Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;" (Proverbs 2:9-10).

The Proverbs reveal many life situations impacted by the principle of "cause and effect." This is very different than living by a formula. Cause and effect is a natural course of life while "formula living" looks to manipulate God for a blessing. There is a difference between doing what is right so that God will make everything work out the way I want them to, and enjoying the fruits of righteousness simply because I walked the "good path."

As we live wisely, certain things are realized in our lives naturally. Wisdom naturally leads to a genuine experience of righteousness, justice, equity, and a life lived on the good path. This experience, in turn, leads to joy. As we live foolishly, the exact opposite is experienced. Much of life is truly "cause and effect."

Living out of the wisdom of God impacts a person's heart because it is God's wisdom that enters that heart and thus gives direction on "every good path." Cause and effect says that good things happen on the good path and bad things result from the journey on the bad path. This does not mean that bad things never happen to the person who walks the good path. It simply means that we can only experience the good things of life if we walk in wisdom.

Good things such as righteous actions, justice, and equity are welcomed results. Why? Because knowledge live out (wisdom) is pleasant to the soul. That means life is full of joy. As we walk through today, let's consider the cause and effect aspect of walking in wisdom. Wisdom leads us down the good path and that, in turn, leads to joy.