A Smooth or Rough Way? Proverbs 11:5

The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.Proverbs 11:5

There is a way of living that will "smooth" our lives and the way which we walk - but there is another way of living that will guarantee that we will trip and fall.

We learn from today's proverb that the righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way.  Righteousness here is "sedaqah" which means integrity or blameless conduct.  It refers to someone who acts with justice - in having right attitudes and living out right actions.  This right way and right thinking come from knowing and walking with God.  So we have a man who desires to live right before God.  He is also described as "blameless" - which means someone whose life is filled with truth, virtue, and uprightness.  This is wisdom - to walk in what God says is right - so others can look at our lives and see that we are walking blamelessly when it comes to God and His view of who we are and what we are doing.  This "smooth" what that is promised is actually the word "yashar" which means to be smooth, straight, or right.  When we want to live in what is right in God's sight - He will grant that ethically we will walk in a way that is prepared for us - a smooth and straight way.  This is the lifestyle of the godly - and whether men realize it or not - this lifestyle is one where men bless you - and want you around. 

The wicked however is said to fall by his own wickedness.  He does not walk right - or true - or with integrity.  Thus in time his sins catch up with him and he finds himself drowning in his own lifestyle.  This is the way that men are brought down.  They simply truth in themselves rather than trusting in the Lord. 

There are two paths in front of us every day - there is the path that leads us to righteousness and God's way - and then there is another path.  It is a path that will lead a person to the point where they want to question God and His work in their lives.  In the end - the wickedness of the human heart overwhelms us - as we walk in our flesh and seek to please ourselves.  May God give us great wisdom to choose the path that embraces godliness, righteousness, and blameless living.  That is truly the path that will lead upward for us until Christ comes again to take us home.