3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace. Proverbs 3 (ESV)
This whole chapter has so much great stuff on wisdom. Different times through the years, different parts of this chapter has really stood out to me. However, this time, when I read it, verses 5 and 6 just jumped out at me.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
A straight path is a whole lot easier to overcome than a curvy, uphill, rocky life. My own wisdom and thoughts about what to do creates a really hard path for my life. Yikes! That doesn’t sound fun! Don’t just glance over this idea. The things that come naturally that feel right in our own minds are usually making things harder on us. That’s bad news, because sometimes I get really proud of myself when I feel like I am making the right choice. My right choice seems so much better than the wrong choice I congratulate myself for avoiding.
The good news is that I don’t have to have the right idea. God knows exactly what I am supposed to do. He has all the wisdom I will ever need.
Here’s the kicker: On the surface, I always want to do what God directs. But in my heart of hearts, that’s where I need to trust in the Lord with all my heart.
If I am brutally honest, there are times when deep inside, I doubt that His choice is what is best for me. I want to lean on my own understanding because it feels right. It feels natural. His way feels awkward and uncomfortable. Not fun.
That’s the moment that I need to acknowledge Him. AND, I need to acknowledge that my way of thinking, my wisdom, is inferior to His.
Leaning in to Him deep in my heart, trusting God, acknowledging that He alone is God. When I do that and submit to Him, obeying His directives, peace surrounds me as the path seems to straighten in front of me. My feet land in the right spot all the time.
Action Step: It’s time to examine our hearts for all those things in our lives where we are not choosing God’s way but depending on our own wisdom. Those actions that you know God is calling you to, but feel so intimidating, so awkward or uncomfortable, that you really don’t want to obey. That think right there – it’s time to acknowledge that God is right in your heart of hearts. Then, obey. Right away, so you don’t have time for your own brain to get in the way. Straighten those paths. Usher in peace.
Dear God, Your ways are so much better than mine. Your thoughts are higher than mine. Help me to have the honesty to admit when I am avoiding obedience. Enable me to obey when it is uncomfortable and difficult. I love you and want Your best for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.