Trustworthy & True

Introduction:

Question: How can we tell what is trustworthy and true in an age where that can mean anything?

It does not take much to say we have encountered something counterfeit in our lives. Even something as small as trusting the things we buy will last. From facebook, to purchases online. I don’t trust a ton of people or things. How do we identify the sage of skepticism that pervades our culture, and how will this help the doubting Christian? Tim Keller in his book belief in an age of skepticism says this:

“Three generations ago, most people inherited rather than chose their religious faith. The great majority of people belonged to one of the historic, mainline Protestant churches or the Roman Catholic Church. Today, however, the now-dubbed “old-line” Protestant churches of cultural, inherited faith are aging and losing members rapidly. People are opting instead for a nonreligious life, for a non-institutional, personally constructed spirituality, or for orthodox, high-commitment religious groups that expect members to have a conversion experience. Therefore the population is paradoxically growing both more religious and less religious at the same time.”

We need a renewed view of faith- one that has a clear view of God and a clear view of self. We need to work top-down, rather than bottom up. John has something to allude to this.

Top Down- God is true.

John 3:30–33 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.” He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

His word is true.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:19–21 ESV

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

When we are reading Scripture, we can believe that God speaks to us today clearly through his Son (Heb 1:3, 2 Cor 4:4-6). The reason why we see more counterfeits and turn skeptical of Christianity might certainly be attributed to a lack of understanding of wisdom.

Wisdom, in its simplest form is the fear of God (proverbs) that patiently leads (Job) us to obedience (Ecclesaistes). It is the true knowledge applied to our life. It is the difference between knowing honey is sweet, and tasting of it’s sweetness. Knowing how a bandaid works and its functions, and actually applying it to our wounds. As we read, let us look into Proverbs 3 through this lens. If God is trustworthy and true, this must mean his character will change ours.

Outline:

Proverbs 3:1-4 (The Order- Trustworthy)

Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Faith- True)

Proverbs 3:7-12 (The Change- Trustworthy & True)