Proverbs 3 OBEY SOUND GUIDANCE Actions and attitudes reveal our character. Character reveals what we really are. In this chapter, the collection of proverbs has a lot to do with character and how it is formed. Things that we learn from the training our parents gave us, have a tendency to stay with us for life. Hopefully they are good things, and when they come from God’s word, we know they are. Love and faithfulness go together. When we learn how to choose love, then we will have ample opportunity to faithfully obey the Lord and respond to the needs to which He directs us. Loyalty and responsibility have a link in that when it is clear to what and who we owe our allegiance, we will choose to act responsibly to whatever wisdom directs. Truth and obedience also are tied in that when I know what is right according to the word of God, He gives me the wisdom to obey His command.
This chapter begins with fatherly advice, “my law,” that has the weight of a command from God. This plea for a son to pay attention is like the promises in the 5th commandment: “honor thy father and thy mother…” This is the first commandment with a promise attached, and expects obedience to parental guidance and purity of life to be a choice and a commitment. When such commandments are given, they are there to guide every decision and action we make. It is to be expected that we do this all the time with lovingkindness and honesty. Obedience to God and a good reputation before people is no accident, but rather a response to wisdom that comes from God to us through channels of His choosing.
Verses five and six give us the biblical approach to living an effective and good life. There is a great contrast between human wisdom and wisdom from God. Trust in the heart is more than an emotional response to a person but it includes our intellect and our own will. To “lean” is to put full confidence weight and trust on something or someone. Whole-hearted trust in the Lord leads to whole-hearted commitment to Him. To believe in Him and confess Him is how we can give first place to God. Then we learn from Him and learn how to walk with Him. We speak directly to Him when we pray and get advice from Him through His word. Wise spiritual leaders also can confirm to us those things they know to be applicable to our decision making. By the word of God, prayer, and counsel are ways we acknowledge Him. Our own understanding cannot do this for us. Only the Lord can: and we can, and must, trust in Him.
When we know what His will is, then He will “direct” us, or make straight the way before us. He then enables us to go forward in confidence. When guidance is confirmed, then we need to wait patiently for the assurance that the time has come to act on what we know, and then act on the guidance we have received and not wait any longer. There is no reason for us to think we did it on our own, so there is no reason for conceit on our part, but simply to be obedient to the Lord and submissive to His divine directions. There is a definite link between our emotions and our physical well-being when we are able to confidently go forward even into, and through, hard times.
The Lord does make us to prosper sometimes, and it is then we may have a temptation to hoard what we have been given in preparation for a “rainy day.” No matter what we are allowed to have, the “first-fruits” belong to the Lord. Then we should manage our finances wisely as God prospers us. In this day of the church, we lay aside a proportion of what God has “prospered” us with, and on the first day of the week, we give it as a spiritual sacrifice. The “new wine” is the juice just pressed from fresh grapes, and is a reference to the spiritual blessings we receive from God. The new birth, of a new creation, who is given a new nature to enable a new life to be lived for the Lord are just a few of the spiritual blessings we have received. The way we handle what God allows us to have or go through, reveals who we really are. The more we give the more is given to us.
There is a difference between a “tongue lashing” and verbal correction. Chastening is to correct wrong behavior and is to be consistent with the grievance committed. Correction and motivation go together. Appropriate correction should motivate a son to not do what is wrong again, but to know what is right and be committed to do it. Counsel and encouragement go well together. Wise counsel that is given in wisdom can be a great encouragement to make the necessary changes needed in life. There are times when a rebuke is needed for learning to take place. By firmly pointing out what is wrong, a son will be inclined to learn from his mistakes and not do that again. It is normal for a person to resist authority because we were born with a rebellious nature. Fathers will have to be patient and firm because training takes time. There are at least six forms of correction given in the New Testament, one of which can be applied to provide appropriate correction. Discipline is both learned in teaching and training. This enable us to do what normally we wouldn’t or couldn’t.
Benefits from correction are wisdom and understanding are gained. Long life is a general principle relating to honoring parents rather than an unchanging fact. There is profit, “merchandise,” and value that is not able to be measure in money or treasure, but can be seen in evidence of increasing Christ-likeness. “Rubies” have to do with the knowledge of the Lord that opens up to us the way to a good and a full life for one who chooses to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual riches far exceed anything a person can get from the world. Wisdom found in our Lord Jesus far surpasses all other pleasures and gives us peace within. Wisdom, like the “tree of life” in the garden of Eden of which the angel was sent to guard, brings happiness when we daily live out our eternal life. Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil rather than the tree of life.
Divine wisdom is revealed in countless ways in the creation when the Lord “founded the earth.” Visibly there is majesty, beauty, glory that moves the believing child of God to give honor to Him. There are unseen vistas in His creation that cannot even be seen by either a telescope or a microscope. Even the wonder of the millions of tons of water above us that protects us, the water that covers the largest portion of earth, or even the water that makes up the majority of our bodies, opens to our limited understanding some of the wonders of our Great God. When we keep even the limited amount of what we have learned as a source of our understanding and decision making, we will find ourselves living in harmony with our Lord. Discernment is the God-given ability to make correct choices. Judgment is how we apply those choices to life situations. By wise decisions and godly living, we can be kept safe from being tripped up and falling into sin. Faith in God, and confidence that we have made the right choices, takes care of anxiety and fear, even in troubled times.
When trust in God is real, and we are assured in our obedience that this is right, there is no need of second-guessing or fear. Real fellowship with the Lord is our best protection from any evil plots that are calculated by our enemy to bring us down. Confidence in God no matter what is happening around us, allows us to live a “quiet and peaceful life” ourselves in spite of turmoil, strife and even war going on around us.
Wisdom also instructs us to pay what we owe others when it is due, and do it on time. Holding back what needs to be given is unfair and inconsiderate. Take positive action when you have an opportunity to do good. When something needs to be done and you can do it, do it now, don’t wait for a more convenient time. To procrastinate may mean a lost opportunity which may never come again. Do what you can for neighbors without expecting anything back. The time may come when they will be inclined to help you in time of your need. Don’t argue with people about trivial things or just for the sake of arguing to win over some antagonist. Commit to living peaceably even though a person you deal with may be a bully or shrewd in business. Such a person is not one to envy. Such a person may be “forward,” which is another way to say they are crooked, a transgressor, one who deliberate rejects what is right. That is what apostasy is. The Lord knows who he is, but in contrast He shows Himself to be full of grace toward a righteous person and will guide them.
It is a fearful thing when God passes a legal curse on a wicked person and their family. It is a blessing when He shows favor to those who are fair to others and just in their dealings with others. God will deride the wicked and arrogant. Those who show contempt to Him and those who love Him, will be objects of divine contempt. People who act wisely, obey and trust God, will be honored by God. Fools on the other hand, will be made ashamed and will be dishonored, disgraced, denied and demeaned.