The King James Version of the Bible interprets the first part of Proverbs 29:18 this way: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Growing up with the KJV, for years I misapplied this verse. I thought it was addressed to those who lacked spiritual insight. In other words, should a person fail to see things from God's perspective and do it long enough, it will lead them to premature physical death. That may be true, but I believe there is more to this verse we need to consider.

This verse could be paraphrased like this: "where there is no clear communication of purpose, the effort will likely fail because everyone will do what they think is right." Verse one of this chapter confirms such an interpretation by stating that a man who continually fails to heed the rebuke of authority is headed for disaster which will ultimately end in his death unless he changes.

Solomon previously taught this message in 14:12 and 16:25, just to mention a couple of places. It seems then, that the lesson he wants us to learn is twofold: those in authority should communicate openly and clearly to those under their charge, and 2) those under authority should listen and heed the instruction of those who have responsible over them. The second part of verse confirms the consequence of failure: the failure to listen to authority and exercise proper discipline is tantamount to breaking the Law while those who obey are blessed by God for doing it.

You need look no further than your local church to see this principle at work. In congregations where rules are evenly applied for all and instructions made frequently and with clarity, the people are content. But in those places where problems are met with silence and issues avoided rather than discussed, the opposite is true.

I've personally worked in many corporations over the years and can from my experience confirm Scripture has relevance in the secular world as well. There's nothing so discouraging and defeating than for a middle-manager to be given guidelines by management that is then passed on to customers. Then at some point the customers tell the people who gave them contrary information that management had failed to pass on. If you want to know if the death knell rings for corporations that ignore the truth of Proverbs 29:18, it does.

What we're really addressing is the issue of contentment, are we not? Real contentment comes, not from a sense of false complacency, but from timely information and confidence that the authority is forthright and truthful regardless as to whether the news is good or bad. As a Christian, we can have contentment through confidence we have in God's word. As a church member, we have can also have contentment when we follow Scriptural guidelines. It comes with full disclosure from ministers who will not conceal matters in order to fend off uncomfortable questions and create silence that sounds like endorsement.

The world-view tells us that ignorance breeds discontent, but I think it breeds contentment in church.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Jl. 1:1-3:21 Rv. 1:1-20 Ps. 128:1-6 Pr. 29:18 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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