Then you will understand what is right and just and fair -- every good path (Proverbs 2:9).

The Good Guys are the ones who fight to right the world's wrongs, bring villains to justice, and ensure that all people everywhere are treated with fairness.  That's what Superman and all of the Super-Friends at the Justice League of America were about, wasn't it?  "Truth, justice, and the American way."  Or to phrase it in more culturally-neutral terminology:  righteousness, justice, and fairness.  I think we could all agree that these are desirable qualities.  And deep down inside of us, I think we all kind of want to possess these qualities.  We want to be Good Guys.  We want to understand what is right and just and fair.

The trick is that our ability to understand what is right and just and fair is dependent upon a good many things.  Proverbs chapter 2 lays it out quite explicitly for us.  There, it says if we accept our Father's words... if we turn our ear to wisdom and apply our hearts to understanding... if we call out for insight... if we look for understanding as if it was a hidden treasure... then we will understand the fear of the LORD, we will experience protection and victory, and then we can understand what is right and just and fair -- every good path.  The "Then" at the beginning of Proverbs 2:9 is a pretty important word in the verse (placing it within the context of the chapter).  And it's significant that it can help us to possess those Super-Friend-like qualities, those character qualities which help to separate the Good Guys from the Bad Guys.

So assuming that you want to be a Good Guy, and that you want to understand what is right and just and fair -- perhaps it's helpful for you to ask yourself the following questions, which help to clarify the prerequisites for righteousness, justice, and fairness?

1. Are you accepting our Father's words?  Do you give the Bible an appropriate place of authority in your life?  Do you read it regularly?  Do you read it with a sense of faith and acceptance?
2. Are you really applying yourself to understanding and applying what God is teaching you?  Is your posture active and expectant or passive and apathetic?
3. Are you asking God to give you insight into His Word?  Do you pray as you read the Bible, asking God to give you supernatural understanding?  Do you call out for this insight (and not just passively hope for it)?
4. Do you keep going after understanding as if it were some kind of hidden treasure?  Or is it more like you're doing God some kind of favor to spend time together with Him?  Do you seek after God throughout the day, and not just for a brief "devotional" thought at some point in the day?  What level of persistance and perseverance do you bring into your relationship with God?

The more we can answer "Yes" to these questions, the more we can hope for a deep, meaningful understanding of God and His righteousness, justice, and fairness.  I don't know about you -- but I sure could stand to be the Good Guy a bit more often, and I would do well to have a whole lot more "good paths" in my life.  It's good to know that this doesn't have to be just a pipe dream.  According to Proverbs chapter 2, the outcome is in our hands.