The speaker in Proverbs 3 tells his son there is a two fold benefit of obeying his commandments and teaching and that ‘is length of days and years of life, And peace they will add to you,’ verse 2. It appears this verse refers back to one of the Ten Commandments, exodus 20:12. Verses 5 and 7 of Exodus 20 have warnings attached but Exodus 20:12 is the only one with a promise attached.
The writer urges his son to have and to display kindness and truth, for it not only pleases God but others notice as well, verses 3 and 4. Is this what others notice about us?
Do you and I trust the Lord with all our heart, or only sometimes? Do we acknowledge Him in all our ways or all when it suits us? Are we prone to relying on our own insights and ideas rather than finding out what God has to say and trusting Him to direct us, verses 5 and 6?Do we make a conscious decision to turn away from evil, verse 7?
Do we honor God with our money and give to God first, giving Him the best of our time, as well as of our financial and material goods, verse 9? God promises to bless those who put Him first, verse 10. This promise is reiterated in the New Testament, Matthew 6:33.
What is our reaction to God’s discipline? Is it resentment and rebellion? Or, do we learn from it, verses 11-12?
Wisdom is not meant to be a restrictive thing but a way to a fuller richer life. That wisdom only comes through trusting the Lord rather than trying to muddle through on our own. As Proverbs 1:7 reminds us ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,’ whereas ‘fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Which will you and I choose today, this week, this year? When God’s resources are available to us why would we choose not to avail ourselves of them.
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
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