Proverbs 3:1-6 "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. [3] Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: [4] So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
When we study the topics of joy and wisdom in the Scriptures, we quickly learn that their presence or absence in our lives is directly linked to the decisions we choose to make. In the opening verses of Proverbs chapter three, Solomon shares six important steps with us that must be taken in order to experience true joy and lasting wisdom in life. We will consider each of these steps today as we learn to acknowledge the Lord and enjoy the journey that He has ordained for us to walk in life.
1. We must diligently remember God’s Word. Proverbs 3:1a “My son, forget not my law…” It is possible for us to become so busy – even in worthy pursuits – that we begin to neglect our time spent in the reading and study of God’s Word. This, however, is a dangerous error to commit, for our daily nourishment comes from the Scriptures. Instead, we should choose to “forget not” God’s law by taking time to reading it (Joshua 1:8), meditate upon it (Psalm 1:2) and memorize it (Psalms 119:11).
2. We must faithfully keep God’s commands. Proverbs 3:1-2 “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.” There is a three-fold promise attached to our obedience to this Bible principle – length of days (the ability to accomplish more in the time we are given), long life (as a general rule when we live according to God’s principles), and peace (with God that enables us to live peaceably with others).
3. We must hold tightly to God’s virtues. Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: [4] So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Mercy and truth are twin virtues that, when used together in harmony, produce a life that is balanced. Possessing mercy without truth will lead to compromise and error, while possessing truth without mercy will lead to cruelty and harshness. However, when both mercy and truth are present in the heart of the believer, the result is a life of balance and wisdom that reflects the Savior.
4. We must trust completely in God’s Wisdom. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Trusting in the LORD with “all” of our heart is the wisest and safest way to live. In Philippians 3:3 we are admonished to “have no confidence in the flesh,” for our own strength and wisdom will fail us every time. Instead, we should choose to place our trust in the LORD Who alone is trustworthy and wise, and we should do so with “all” of our heart.
5. We must acknowledge God in all things. Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him…” To acknowledge the Lord in all our ways means that we choose to recognize His hand at work in every area of our life. We should strive every day to make Him aware that we are aware of His presence through our prayers, our praise, and our righteous living.
6. We must willingly follow God’s Leading. Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” One of the greatest blessings of choosing to acknowledge the LORD in our lives is that the result of that decision is that “he shall direct [our] paths…”
When we put God first in our lives (by getting out of that position ourselves), He is then enabled to lead and guide us in the pathway of righteousness. Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
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