In his mind’s eye, David could clearly see two paths perpetually stretched out before him in life: the path of righteousness and the path of rebellion.
On another occasion he prayed, “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.” (Psalm 25:4) He earnestly desired to follow the Lord in life. He wanted to know how the Lord saw things, how He functioned, His perspectives and attitudes about people. He was fascinated with everything about the things of God. Most of all, he wanted to go wherever the Lord was leading.
By contrast, he was also aware of another way of life. “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” (Psalm 17:4 KJV) He was utterly committed to avoiding the ways of Satan. He had long since learned that “the way of the wicked would perish.” He saw that lifestyle as a long, drawn out death; a tedious merry-go-round of sin and its consequences; of temporal pleasures and their unsatisfying results.
Double-minded men don’t see two paths stretching out before them but three. These are people who do not want to give themselves over to the paths of the destroyer, but neither are they prepared to throw themselves completely into the direction of God’s kingdom. They want the best of both worlds. They want to keep their options open. They want to remain firmly in control over their own lives. What it boils down to is the desire to dabble in the indulgences Satan offers while on earth, but still spend eternity in the land of bliss.
While double-minded men tend to be unstable in life, the man who accomplishes much for the kingdom of God has a single-eyed focus in life. He isn’t wavering “between two opinions.” He has one great passion ruling his life: to live for God.