Little Strays

(Proverbs 7:25 KJV)  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

Proverbs has different styles.  Most of the book is short, pithy comments that stand alone.  Here we have an unusually long passage that goes together.  This verse comes toward the end of a discussion of the path to sin.  It warns us that it is dangerous to “go astray” (stray NASB) (8582).

This word has a moral nuance to it.  Most of us know what is right and wrong.  We are human beings created with the image of God.  We make choices.  This word implies making the wrong choices.  It also is sometimes used to the staggering of a drunk.  That would imply that we have made choices which impair our judgement and cause increased danger.

So?  Little errors become major disasters.  I want to pay attention to the little things because that may mean I won’t need to make hard decisions later on or right some grievous wrongs.  Now is a good time to start.