Trusting in the Lord
9/1/2017
PROVERBS: WISDOM TEACHING
» Psalm 90 & 139 – a call to make God our dwelling place – locate our identity in him » Today we hear a similar call to trust God – wisdom literature of Proverbs
Trusting in the Lord Proverbs 3:1-12
» Billy Graham’s devotional practice of reading one chapter of the Psalms and one of the Proverbs each day is a good reminder.
“Do not forget my teaching” (v1)
I. A Call to Not Forget God’s Teaching Proverbs 3:1-4
» Keep it in your heart (v1b) – the centre of your decision making » The heart is the first thing to wander » Keep centred in God (the Father)
Your life will be blessed (v2) » Remembering will keep you from poor decisions » It will lead you in the way of prosperity
Remain loyal to the Father (v3-4) » ‘Covenant language’ – being faithful to God and others » Staying faithful to the covenant protects you from straying/making poor choices
1
9/1/2017
WISDOM/TEACHING (v13-20) i. Wisdom is better than
monetary riches (silver, gold, jewels – v13-15) – Pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46)
ii. Wisdom is a ‘tree of life’ (v18) –
her ways are pleasant & peaceful (v17) – living wisely is better than abundant riches
iii. Wisdom reminds us that
having and doing are less important than being – who we are is what is essential
Trust in the Lord (v5) II. A Call to trust God Proverbs 3:5-12
» Trust in God (primary) rather than placing all of your trust in yourself – lean on God like a walking stick » He will direct your paths (v6) » It speaks to keeping God as the ground of our being – He is our bedrock - God is the one we fundamentally look to
Trusting requires humility (v7-8) » Do not overestimate your abilities » Humility is the ability to see yourself properly » As we do so it lessens the load and creates more reasonable expectations (v8)
Honour the Lord (v9-10) » Recognize that God is first of all » We honour him practically by giving honour to his name – engage in kingdom work » We do not keep everything for ourselves but share our first fruits with God - a call to be generous and grateful
2
9/1/2017
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10
Receive God’s discipline (v11-12) » Parents discipline their children for their own good – so the Father disciplines us for our good (Hebrews 12:5-6) » The question is whether we will receive God’s correction – Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7), Jonah in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17), Job
Keep sound wisdom (v21) III. Going Forward in Wisdom and Trust
» Don’t let it go unobserved (v21a) » It will provide for your security (v23)
» Be in the word, remember the word » Let the wisdom guide your living patterns
Be Alert, Attentive, Aware (v26-28)
» Be alert to the needs of others (v27) » Don’t sleep-walk » Live spiritually awake (Ephesians 5:14)
3
PROVERBS: WISDOM TEACHING
» Psalm 90 & 139 – a call to make God our dwelling place – locate our identity in him » Today we hear a similar call to trust God – wisdom literature of Proverbs
Trusting in the Lord Proverbs 3:1-12
» Billy Graham’s devotional practice of reading one chapter of the Psalms and one of the Proverbs each day is a good reminder.
“Do not forget my teaching” (v1)
I. A Call to Not Forget God’s Teaching Proverbs 3:1-4
» Keep it in your heart (v1b) – the centre of your decision making » The heart is the first thing to wander » Keep centred in God (the Father)
Your life will be blessed (v2) » Remembering will keep you from poor decisions » It will lead you in the way of prosperity
Remain loyal to the Father (v3-4) » ‘Covenant language’ – being faithful to God and others » Staying faithful to the covenant protects you from straying/making poor choices
1
9/1/2017
WISDOM/TEACHING (v13-20) i. Wisdom is better than
monetary riches (silver, gold, jewels – v13-15) – Pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46)
ii. Wisdom is a ‘tree of life’ (v18) –
her ways are pleasant & peaceful (v17) – living wisely is better than abundant riches
iii. Wisdom reminds us that
having and doing are less important than being – who we are is what is essential
Trust in the Lord (v5) II. A Call to trust God Proverbs 3:5-12
» Trust in God (primary) rather than placing all of your trust in yourself – lean on God like a walking stick » He will direct your paths (v6) » It speaks to keeping God as the ground of our being – He is our bedrock - God is the one we fundamentally look to
Trusting requires humility (v7-8) » Do not overestimate your abilities » Humility is the ability to see yourself properly » As we do so it lessens the load and creates more reasonable expectations (v8)
Honour the Lord (v9-10) » Recognize that God is first of all » We honour him practically by giving honour to his name – engage in kingdom work » We do not keep everything for ourselves but share our first fruits with God - a call to be generous and grateful
2
9/1/2017
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10
Receive God’s discipline (v11-12) » Parents discipline their children for their own good – so the Father disciplines us for our good (Hebrews 12:5-6) » The question is whether we will receive God’s correction – Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7), Jonah in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17), Job
Keep sound wisdom (v21) III. Going Forward in Wisdom and Trust
» Don’t let it go unobserved (v21a) » It will provide for your security (v23)
» Be in the word, remember the word » Let the wisdom guide your living patterns
Be Alert, Attentive, Aware (v26-28)
» Be alert to the needs of others (v27) » Don’t sleep-walk » Live spiritually awake (Ephesians 5:14)
3
