Crooked Paths

Some of us find ourselves at times in an attitude of resentment or envy toward the apparent prosperity and well-being of those whose seeming success and good fortune have been achieved by practices which conform neither to the laws of men nor of God.

Particularly to young and immature minds, that such things are permitted to continue is sometimes taken as justification for departing from the straight ways and following crooked paths on the supposition that if evil may be committed with impunity and with profit by some, why should others not have their share of the spoils thus gotten⎯all of which goes to prove that the world has not changed much these many centuries and that human nature is still the most constant thing in all the universe.

For even in his day, the ancient Preacher was shedding the light of his wisdom upon the situation when he said: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God . . . But it shall not be well with the wicked.”

There is no peace or lasting satisfaction in ill gotten gains, nor in cheating or lying or stealing or in any immoral action.