“The way to keep a path open is to walk on it”. When you first read this proverb, like many of them (including some in the Book of Proverbs) it seems obvious and not very deep. Of course the way to keep a path open is to walk on it – what’s so significant about that? The significance is not in the statement of fact, but in our reaction to it – from our thoughts on what it means in relation to our lives.
When I first heard this, I thought of a path through tall grass along the edge of a lake. Here and there the path veers off to a clear fishing spot on the bank. Over time if you don’t walk on it and keep it open, it will become covered with grass, weeds and thorns. At some point, trees can even start covering up the clear spots.
Several other “paths” in life came to mind: The path between me and God; The path between me and my wife and family; The path between my house and the Church; The path between me and my Brothers and Sisters in Christ; The path of service; The path of obedience; The paths of righteousness.
All of these paths must be travelled constantly to keep them open. If we neglect them they can become covered in weeds and thorns, making them more difficult to walk. If we neglect them too long we may find that trees have grown up and obscured the paths completely.
The mention of the “paths of righteousness” is meant to bring to mind the 23rd Psalm: “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” (v3). I believe that tells us why we are to continue walking these paths to keep them open. Not just because they’re “good” things to do, but we are to keep them open for God’s name’s sake. All that we do should bring glory to God. Allowing weeds, thorns and trees to cover a path we should be walking doesn’t bring glory to Him, especially if it is the path between us and God.
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 
I love the reminder of consistency you give here. If we let a path become overgrown, the next time we do try to travel along it, it’ll take more work in order to re-clear it. The longer we leave it, the more it’ll disappear and have to be re-form it. Powerful lesson there—thanks for sharing it!
You’re very welcome Heather – thanks for the great followup comments
A very good comparison, Bill. Reminds we of a friend who, on her way to the barn to do chores, would pull up weeds that were getting a start on their driveway. We keep the path open not only by walking in it, but by pulling up the grasses and thistles that pop up.
I also thought of this verse: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16 When people leave the old paths and take shortcuts across the lawn, there gets to be a maze of new paths. But God wants us to look for HIS path.
Thank you Christine – an excellent example and a wonderful verse of Scripture.
The LORD said to Joshua, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now then, I want you and all of these people to get ready to go across the Jordan River. I want all of you to go into the land I am about to give to the people of Israel.
3 “I will give all of you every place you walk on, just as I promised Moses.
Joshua chapter 1 from the NIV “I WILL GIVE YOU EVERY PLACE YOU WALK ON”!
Thanks Debra – great Scripture to consider our path.
I like that fact that God is willing to help us with the path, so we don’ have to do it ourselves! Pretty picture, Bill!
God Bless you & yours!
Thanks Dei – that’s a very good thought – especially since I know I can’t do it myself. God Bless you and yours also!