Proverbs 3 The Sum of Godly Living

Fatherly Wisdom King Solomon, son of righteous King David, recorded for his children the skills to achieving wise, godly living. Most likely written toward the end of his lifetime, Solomon took painstaking care to instruct and advise his son on the art of skillful living. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Solomon directed his children to understand the only way to fully enjoy the best and blessed life God has to offer is by living in the Fear of the Lord. LIKE AN EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN WHOSE STUDIED HIS MAPS, TRUSTS HIS NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND SAILED THESE WATERS BEFORE, Solomon expounds and explores the various life situations you will encounter while offering godly skill on how to successfully navigate the treacherous waters of life. Highlighted in the first twelve verses of Proverbs 3, Solomon presents a succinct summary of rewarding principles for those who live under godly wisdom. Anyone who has a relationship with their Heavenly Fatherly is still in need of listening and living out their Dad’s wisdom. Since our Heavenly Father is the Creator and Author of your life, His wisdom on how to live with godly skill is needed, no matter your stage of life. As the Master Teacher of Proverbs 3, GOD Instructs us WITH SIX EQUATIONS FOR Your tutoring in GODLY Living.

READ Proverbs 3:1-12

Proverbs 3:1–12 ESV

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

I. Safeguard God’s Word for Peacable Living [vs.1-2]

NET PROVERBS 3:1-2 1 My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. 2 for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.

Proverbs is a book principles and consequences. It often sets forth God’s principles of how He blesses those who fear Him, while explaining the consequences of those who reject Him. At the start of Proverbs, Solomon lays the groundwork for how you achieve wise, godly living. The theme is, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7); then in ch.2, wisdom is presented as the most attractive quality to pursue.

Chapter 3 begins to offer practical instructions as to how wisdom will look in your life. A series of exhortations are presented, followed by a rewarding, spiritual principle. These exhortations are both positive and negative in their approach, but explain the principle benefits God rewards to those who follow them.

Keep My Commandments

Solomon tenderly addresses “My son” (vs.1, 11, 21) 3x through this chapter. He begins his instruction with an adamant charge NOT to forget his teaching (torah). When Scripture uses this word “teaching/instruction”, it relates to the revealed Word of God. Along with Scriptural instruction are the fatherly commands (practical applications) to be preserved and carefully guarded against forgetfulness.

DADS ARE YOU TEACHING THE BIBLE TO YOUR CHILDREN? Moms are you opening the Scriptures to show from God’s Word where your instruction is coming from? Don’t just offer parenting advice, instruct throughthe Scriptures.

THE MOTTO OF THE MARINE CORP IS SEMPER FIDELIS, “ALWAYS FAITHFUL”. Marines pledge themselves completely to the Constitution of the United States:

I, [NAME], DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD.

The concept is the same, TO GUARD GOD’S WORD WITH FIDELITY IN YOUR HEART.

Peaceable (shalom) Well-being

The rewarding principle of safeguarding God’s Word in your heart affects both the quantity and quality of your life. The Hebrew word shalom(“peace, prosperity”) “includes harmonious relationships within the family, payment of all debts, and the collection of all loans. It means rewards or wages, ultimately even a right relationship with God which comes through Jesus Christ, our peace.”[1] IF YOU KEEP THE WORD OF GOD THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE, THE WORD WILL KEEP YOU IN PEACE UNTIL THE END OF YOUR DAYS.

II. Adorning yourself in Godly virtue attracts favorable relationships[vs.3-4]

ESV Proverbs 3:3-4 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Living by godly wisdom affects not only your personal well-being but your relationships with others. Your diligence to keep God’s Word will bear the fruit of steadfast love and faithfulness in your life. These qualities are favored by God and desired by others.

Loyal-Love (hesed)

The Hebrew term hesed (ds,x,) is used to describe both God and His people. It is often translated as mercy, loyalty, loving-kindness and faithfulness. A fitting description would be “loyal-love.” When applied to God it strongly emphasizes all His good attributes as they actively benefit others without expected repayment. In other words, it is loving acts of devotion that go beyond expectation. A biblical example is RUTH’S LOVE FOR NAOMI, AND GOD’S LOVE TOWARD NAOMI AND RUTH THROUGH THEIR TRIALS.

STEADY FAITHFULNESS

The second virtue is faithfulness, which implies reliability, steadiness, accuracy, dependability and truth. These are two of God’s most glorious perfections and are to be self-evident in the lives of His children. LIKE EXQUISITE JEWELRY WORN TO MAKE A PERSON MORE ATTRACTIVE, these qualities enhance a person’s demeanor to make them more favorable to others. Yet, these virtues aren’t only for outwardly adorning your lifestyle, but inwardly imprinting your very nature. THEY ARE LIKE WORDS ENGRAVED IN STONE, NAMES IMPRINTED ON A PLAQUE, INITIALS ETCHED INTO A TREE; these qualities are UNBENDING CONVICTIONS of your heart, garnering the grace of God and the respect of others.

III. Whole-hearted Eependence on God Secures Spiritual Understanding[vs.5-6]

NLT Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ESV 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

Wisdom’s highlight of godly living is encapsulated in these profoundly succinct statements on faith and humility. These verses are some of the best-known, yet most misunderstood passages on “trust”. The main issue at stake is whose understanding will rule your life: YOURS, or THE LORD.

Trust, Lean

There is a spiritual struggle being presented within our hearts. Positively, you are commanded to place yourself under the complete and utter dependence the Lord (“the Heb. for trust had originally the idea of lying helplessly face downwards[2]). Biblically speaking, the heart is the CONTROL-CENTER of your thinking, meditating, and decision-making. Negatively, you are warned against the self-deception of exalting your own understanding for guidance (“trusting your heart”) at the exclusion of acknowledging God.

Trusting God is not based on feeling, intuition or gut instinct. It is not a “reading-the-tea-leaves” approach to spiritual guidance; nor is it having a sincere feeling that God will take care of you because you feel good about Him. Trusting God does not bypass your mind, but engages all of your will, intellect, knowledge and emotion. Solomon has assembled the framework of God’s Word as the structural support for your trust in Him. It is through the discipline and application of God’s Word in your life that secures your trust in Him.

“Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.”[3]

Know-Him

“Ways” refers to your life’s pursuits, including all the detailed areas of your life. There is no part of your life unknown or off-limits to God. Every role, position or responsibility (i.e. husband, wife, father, mother, employee, volunteer, child, student, friend, etc.) you hold is a “way” under God’s authority. In each of these “ways”, you are commanded to “know-Him”; knowledge which comes through intimate experiences. Knowing God in all your ways leads to obedience and submission to Him in every detailed aspect of your life.

The more you know someone, the more you trust them.

For instance, SUPPOSE YOU HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS AN EXPERIENCED AIRPLANE PILOT. YOU’VE SPENT TIME TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT PLANES, INCLUDING THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS FLYING; ENOUGH TO LEARN ABOUT FLYING A PLANE BUT NEVER PILOTED ONE. YOUR FRIEND INVITES YOU INTO THE COCKPIT OF HIS PLANE AND BEGINS GIVING YOU DIRECTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON FLYING. THEY MIGHT CONCLUDE THE END OF THEIR INSTRUCTION BY SAYING, “TRUST ME.” BY SAYING THIS, THEY ARE NOT MEANING FOR YOU TO SIT THERE MOTIONLESS, LET THEM DO EVERYTHING, AND JUST HAVE POSITIVELY GOOD FEELINGS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE. INSTEAD THEY MOST LIKELY MEAN, “FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT MY CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU CAN TAKE MY WORD THAT I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING. SO TRUST ME ENOUGH TO FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS AND DO WHAT I SAY.”[4]In the same way, THE MORE YOU KNOW GOD IN YOUR WAYS, THE MORE YOU TRUST HIM IN YOUR LIFE’S PURSUITS.

Make straight, smooth

The rewarding principle for trusting the Lord in this way is the deliberate work of God to “make straight, smooth” your paths. The Hebrew term yashar does not mean “direction, guidance.” This does NOT refer to a special revelation or secret knowledge of God’s particular plan for you.

When used with the word “path” (course of life), the reference is toward MORAL and SPIRITUAL STRAIGHTNESS. Proverbs speaks of life in two ways: wisdom vs. folly; righteous vs. wicked; life vs. death; straight vs. crooked. Yashar is also translated “upright.”

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” (Pro.11:3)

“Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is deviousin his ways despises him.” (14:2)

“The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.” (21:8)

God’s reward is not smooth sailing or ease through life’s circumstances, but the straightening and smoothingof godly character affecting the moral and spiritual course of your life. YOU MAY WORK AT A JOB THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, YOUR LIVING CONDITIONS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE, YOUR FINANCES ARE PROBABLY STRESSFUL, OR YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH COULD BE INSUFFERABLE. God is not promising to ease your pain, make you rich, or remove your discomforts. But He does assure you He will smooth your character and straighten your spiritual understanding so that you will know the direction that is right and pleasing to Him.

“God’s guidance is almost always step-by-step; He does not show us our life’s plan all at once. Sometimes our anxiousness to know the will of God comes from a desire to “peer over God’s shoulder” to see what His plan is. What we need to do is learn to trust Him to guide us.”[5]

IV. Humble Fear Contributes to a Healthy Well-being [vs.7-8]

ESV Proverbs 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Continuing his explanation of trusting the Lord, Solomon states in concise terms how this is portrayed in your attitudes and actions. The attitudes of HUMILITY toward yourself, REVERINGthe Lord, followed by the action of REFUSINGto do wrong (instead, loving to do good) have a personal affect on you, both spiritually and physically. JUST AS A DRINK OF WATER WOULD BRING PHYSICAL REFRESHMENT TO YOUR BODY, TRUSTING IN GOD AND TURNING AWAY FROM EVIL WILL BRING PERSONAL REFRESHMENT TO YOUR SOUL. It is no secret that your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being affect your health. This isn’t Eastern medicine or mysticism, but God’s design for your total well-being.

V. Foremost Honor Yields Household Provision [vs.9-10]

ESV Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Continuing down the application slope of trusting the Lord is the imperative to “honor” the Lord from your possessions. “To honor God means to give Him the rightful place of authority by rendering to Him gifts of tribute.”[6]An Israelite honored the Lord by returning to God the first of what he received from his labor. This was done as a thankful reminder for God’s redemption of him from Egyptian slavery (Exo.13:11-16; Deut.26:1-11). Likewise, the NT believer is privileged to honor the Lord from the first/top of his labor (income) for your rescue from slavery to sin, and giving to God’s work being done through His church.

These verses are regularly misused as a means to promote a Prosperity Gospel – teaching all Christians should be rich – while grossly undermining God’s purpose for your holiness, not your wealthiness. As you honor God with your possessions, He will supply all your provisional needs (Matt.6:33; Phil.4:19).

VI. Accept Heavenly Discipline as Affirmation of Your Father’s Love[vs.11-12]

NET Proverbs 3:11-12 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, and do not loathe His rebuke. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Solomon continues his tenderly counsel by reassurance of a privileged position as a child of God. THE WISE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PATH OF GODLY LIVING MUST TRAVEL THROUGH THE SURFACE STREETS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE. The Lord’s discipline is not to be taken negatively.

Under-, Over-reacting

The natural reaction to any form of criticism or discipline is to recoil, resent and refuse it. These attitudes are precisely what Solomon warned against. Don’t react to discipline by:[7]

1) UNDER-REACTING, failing to take it seriously and thus to despise it;

2) OVER-REACTING, taking it too seriously and so resent it

Loving delight

Instead, your spiritual understanding helps you see God’s discipline not as destructive, but lovingly constructive. If you are a child of God, He is not your Judge but your Father. He does not punish out of anger, but corrects in love because of His delight in you. Discipline from God affirms your position as His child and His direction for your life. Any parent who delights in loving their children will use the appropriate means to direct, correct and protect them. The author of Hebrews expands on our understanding of this passage through his explanation of us as God’s sons:

Hebrews 12:3-11 “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

CONCLUSION

The instruction comes full circle as Solomon instructs his son, so God is instructing you in the fear of Him in the path of wisdom. The sum of godly living is more personal than a math equation. It is more affectionate than apathetic; it is more active than passive. Learning the skill of godly living is based on a vibrant, intimate Father-child relationship that trusts God. “The whole idea of trusting God is, of course, based upon the fact that God is absolutely trustworthy.”[8]

[1] Roy B. Zuck, Learning from the Sages, 206 [2] Derek Kidner, Proverbs, 63 [3] Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, 200 [4] Dan Phillips, God’s Wisdom in Proverbs, 141 [5] Bridges, 171 [6] NET Bible notes, Pro 3:9 [7] Eric Lane, Proverbs: Everyday Wisdom for Everyone, 34 [8] Bridges, 197