The Promise of Upward Mobility

What do you think of when you hear the term "upward mobility"? In our culture, that would mean moving up in socio-economic circles, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that. But biblically speaking, upward mobility takes on a different meaning.

"The way of life winds upward for the wise,

that he may turn away from hell below."

~ Proverbs 15:24 NKJV

The book of Proverbs specializes in contrasting choices made by the wise and the foolish. 

The wise are those who trust God and lean on His wisdom in making their choices. The way of life, i.e., the path of life, winds upward for the wise. Fools, on the other hand, are those who do not acknowledge God. In fact they despise wisdom and instruction. Their promised reward is destruction, distress and anguish.

 

I find it interesting that the verse above does not promise an easy path to Heaven. Even the wise, at times, feel they're going around in circles and may be tempted to question the wisdom or the goodness of the God they follow. But the promise is that the way, though it may wind, is winding upwards.

How good to be spiraling upward rather than downward--downward to hell below.