Proverbs 3:1-14 “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 acknow-ledge 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. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.”
I
have often said the answers to life’s many problems are found in God’s word.
2
Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
In
Proverbs 3:1-2, Solomon starts with a very bold and confident statement. “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.”
Solomon
then gives very specific details of 6 life principles that, if lived by, will
result in longevity, prosperity
& tranquility.
Admittedly,
like all Resolutions, they are ‘easier
said than done.’
·
Our first week in Proverbs we saw “The
Purpose of Proverbs.”
·
Last week we saw “How to Hunt for Buried
Treasure.”
·
Today we will examine Six Resolutions that will change your life.
I am Resolved to be…
1.
Merciful
& Truthful (v 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 & Truth: Let these
traits become guiding virtues in your life, in everything you do. These must become
essential to all we do.
To
be successful it will take determination and memorization. “Bind
them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:”
The
Reward? v 4
2.
Trusting
& Reliant (v 5-6). “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknow-ledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
To be successful you must guard your heart (with all thine heart) from tainted reasoning (lean not unto thine own understanding).
The
Reward? v 6 “He
shall direct thy paths.”
3.
Humble
& Obedient (v 7-8). “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.”
The
Reward? v 8.
4.
A
Giver, Not A Taker (v 9-10). “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.”
The
Reward? v 10.
5.
Correctible
& Teachable (v 11-12). “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.”
The Reward? v 12. Security
in and surety of God’s Love.
6.
Wise
& Understanding (v 13-14). “Happy is
the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the
gain thereof than fine gold.”
How
is happiness found? Through wisdom and understanding!
·
Knowledge =
information, data, facts, awareness.
·
Understanding =
discernment, reason, insight, common sense.
The
Reward?
“Happy is the man…” I can tell you with all honest and prudent reflection that
the happiest times of my life were when I…
Knew, Honored
and Followed
God’s will for my life.
CONCLUSION: Resolve today to pursue these biblical principles
and see what God will do in your life.
