Sep. 10, 2021

Proverbs 3:1-13 KJV

1...My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; 2...For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 4...Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 5...trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. 6...In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. 7...Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8...It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9...Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10...So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 11...My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12...For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13...Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs repeatedly highlights the following truths: Wisdom (the ability to judge and act according to God’s directives) is the most valuable of assets…Wisdom is available to anyone BUT THE PRICE IS HIGH…Wisdom originates from God, not self, and comes by our attention to instruction…Wisdom and righteousness go together. It is good for us to be wise, and it is wise to be good…Evil people suffer the consequences of their evil deeds and finally…We should not admire people who are simple, foolish, ignorant, proud, profligate (utterly and shamelessly immoral) and sinful.

God said this about Solomon, the writer of Proverbs… “I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee     (1st Kings 3:12). Imagine God promising that to you. In writing this message that thought applied to me  is stunning and it has nothing to do with ego. God thinks that about all His children.

Walking through each verse beginning with Chapter 3:1…You can see God the Father suggesting to His child to not forget my law, cherish and keep it in your heart. His law was given to Moses after a 40 day stay with God at the top of a mountain. That is the epitome of relationship. Then He lets us see why it is important in verse 2…For length of days, a long life and peace shall we have. Wait…STOP…realize the importance of what was just stated. The benefit of doing as we are asked is longer days, longer life and peace during those times added to you.

Listening to the world and all of its get rich quick schemes, do this for a better life, smoke this brand of cigarette, cigar, pipe, drink this brand of alcohol because of whatever it is supposed to provide as an escape from life’s realities, do this for more money, do this to drive this car, suv, truck, live here with this group and on and on do nothing but keep us constantly searching for better. A hard reality is none of what I just mentioned can add anything beneficial to life.

Proverbs 3:3…Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: nothing the world has to offer can provide mercy when you need it. None of what the world offers is truth because it is fleeting, not secure but God offers mercy and His Word is truth that is so precious we should keep it close to us at all times.

Proverbs 3:4…Expounds on verse 3 with God’s benefits. It will enable us to have God’s favour and a “good” understanding in the sight of God and man. The world offers various wages that we struggle to earn because what we earn just isn’t enough. God has favour . Which would you have a million dollars or God’s favour. I will take God’s favour. He provides everything needed for survival and He prospers us so we have good standing with Him and mankind. The stock market could crash causing me to lose the million dollars but God’s favour  Blesses me whether I have a little, enough or abundance.

Proverbs 3:5-6…Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Our knowledge no matter how educated is limited and changes. God says “Trust Me” with your all. I made everything from nothing but My Word. He knows man’s heart and just how wicked we are. I make the crooked road straight for us.

Proverbs 3:7…Don’t let your you take over, watch your ego and keep your pride from giving you the big head. Fear God not man and stay away from evil. We have enough sense to know what is good and evil; don’t even let evil come around you…why not?

Proverbs3:8…Health to the navel is “Strength” and Marrow to the bones is ‘Refreshment”

Proverbs 3:9-10…Honor the Lord with our substance, giving to Him what He asks for, our tithe whether it is money (for us) or the best of the harvest we have reaped. When we honor Him with it, we have plenty…more than enough.

Proverbs 3:11-13…Finally don’t get angry when God spanks us on the butt. This is probably the one that makes a lot of people scratch their head in wonder. God is to loving to bring hardships on us…REALLY? Remember how the children of Israel wondered in the wilderness for 40 years…We know when we have done wrong but apparently don’t care because of our pride. Or maybe some really don’t think they are doing wrong…they are doing the Lords work. I certainly scratch my head. But I have to remind myself He is the one who will make that decision about someone other than me.

My job is to make sure I am following what these passages say I must do…not would be good to do or might do. I want God’s Goodness in my life. I am making sure I adhere to what this message is about. Keep His Commandments So I Can Be Blessed. Keep His Commandments So You Can Be Blessed.

Thank You Lord For Your Word.