If you’ve ever been in a situation where you received mixed signals on how to conduct yourself, you most likely remember how confused you felt. Most of us have been in situations where we felt pressure to do something we knew was wrong, simply because “everyone else was doing it.” The world doesn’t know God, and therefore lacks His wisdom. However, we’ll never go wrong when we use His Word as a guide.

In God’s eyes, worldly wisdom isn’t wisdom at all. “Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’ And again, ‘The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20, NLT). Relying on what others say is the right thing to do can mislead us. Trying to navigate life on our own, without God’s input, is like a ship sailing without a rudder; we’ll just drift along aimlessly.

Worldly standards are constantly changing—what used to be wrong is suddenly right, and vice versa. Trying to live by those standards will get us confused and cause us to move in the wrong direction. By comparison, using God’s Word as a compass to direct our steps allows Him to intervene on our behalf. Listening to Him keeps us from making a bad decision and running into trouble because of it. “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133).

Taking to heart the negative messages we hear from the world alters the way we see ourselves, and not in a good way. Low self-esteem causes us to do dangerous and foolish things; a poor self-image can trap us in toxic relationships that are painful and destructive. However, seeing ourselves the way God sees us puts everything in a whole new light. “He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10, NKJV). When we know just how much God loves and values us, we’re much less likely to engage in self-destructive behavior.

When we’re young, we’re less likely to look ahead and think about the future. Our perspective tends to be in the present. We may not realize that our current situation can change down the road, and that earthly life is finite. “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:10, 12, NKJV). We show godly wisdom when we realize that what we do now has ramifications for years, or even decades, to come.

God has put His moral law in every one of us. We all have the capability of making the right decision and doing the right thing. Regardless of our age, we can set a good example for others. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV). Having the courage to do this causes us to stand out from the crowd in a good way.

For more on how to live a successful life guided by God’s wisdom, and not by what the world says, click on the link below for the MP3, The Good Fight.