Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6
A) Everyone can gain wisdom, but not all do because fear of the Lord is required
(Proverbs 1:1-7) All people can use Proverbs for instruction, insight and prudent behavior - Fear the Lord is the beginning
(8-19) Listen to mom and dad, sinful men entice you to steal, kill and destroy - don't give in, they ambush themselves, ill-gotten gain takes away the life of those who get it
(20-33) Wisdom calls to all, "simple, mockers, fools - repent! I will make my teaching known to you" - hear when I call, if not when you call I won't answer
B) Wisdom comes from God, guides us when trusted in our heart
(Proverbs 2:1-22) Accept wisdom inside yourself from the LORD, for protection and salvation from wicked men and women - paths of the righteous
(Proverbs 3:1-6) Memorize in your heart my teaching: peace, prosperity, love, faithfulness - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight (3:5-6)
- Application: Trusting is submitting, follow-through on the plan and your path will be straight. How have I encountered this truth or the opposite of it? When have I known the right thing to do, yet done the opposite? I think of times when I've boasted about proud intentions, yet failed to follow thorugh. James 4:16-17 reminds us this is a sin (the source of guilt John 9:41, shame Luke 12:47 and personal disturbance 2 Peter 2:21). Trusting and submitting to God requires a conscious, daily action on our part. I'm reminded of Romans 12:1-2, in view of God's mercy, submit yourself to him as a living sacrifice and Hebrews 3:12-14 about helping one another today to hold firmly to the faith in the living God, Jesus Christ.
(7-12) don't be wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD, shun evil - Honor the LORD with your wealth, yours will overflow. Lord disciplines those he loves
(13-18) Blessing comes to those who find wisom, understanding; riches, long life, pleasant ways, path of peace: She is the tree of life those who hold fast will be blessed
- Application: See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. -Hebrews 3:12-14
- We were taught to put off the former way of life that is actively corrupted by deceitful desires (Eph 4:22)
- Let us consider how to spur on another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)
- Not neglecting to meet together but to encourage on another all the more as the Day approaches (Heb 10:25)
(19-20) By wisdom, the Lord created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1)
(21-26) We need to keep wisdom front and center and all around for judgment, discretion, understanding, safety, rest, avoid disaster/ruin - Lord will be with us.
(27-31) don't withhold good from those due when we have power to act - today, don't plot evil, accuse without reason, ency the violent
(32-35) Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence, Lord's curse on wicked, blesses home of righteous, Lord mocks mockers, shows favor to humble and oppressed, wise honor, fools shame
- Application: Truths reiterated in James 4:16-17 do what the Lord says and it will go well with you, all else is sin that leads to shame and being "beaten" (Luke 12:47) and personal disturbance (2 Peter 2:21).
