Trust in the LORD.
Simple words. Simple enough, right? Choosing to trust in the LORD is made complicated by peer pressure from this world and our fleshly desires. We tend to trust in self or others. But God invites us to gain wisdom and understanding in Him. We will have to trust Him more than popular opinion, though.
Trust in Wise Advice
Today we are in the book of Proverbs, chapter 3 Solomon is giving advice to his son. Now we as parents know how hard it can be sometimes to give advice to our kids. Sometimes they will take it and sometimes they won’t, but the blood is on our heads if we do not share it.
Being controlling will likely cause them to flee from our advice but offering it when they ask for it or when they are sharing and asking if they want to know what we think is when we have a chance to influence them.
I can’t imagine having someone like Solomon as my dad. He was the wisest one in the land. But he wasn’t perfect, and neither are we. And in today’s Proverb Solomon is telling his son and us some sage advice about where our trust is placed, about wisdom, and about how we should treat others.
Please God and Man?
Kicking off with Proverbs 3:3-4, we have such a wonderful principle that we can apply to our lives during this time of division in our world.
“Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.”
Different translations render these two principles differently. CSB says LOYALTY and FAITHFULNESS. NIV says LOVE and FAITHFULNESS. NASB says KINDNESS and TRUTH. NKJV says MERCY and TRUTH.
The Bible says to please God, not man, and yet these verses show us how we can reach the world around us. With love and kindness. With mercy. And friends, with truth. I would say one word really ties all of these principles well together: humility.
Loving others means I love them more than being right or more than my pride. Don’t ever let these principles leave you, friends. Even when people disagree with us. May we have the heart attitude of how can I be Christ to them in that moment.
With loyalty or love—even when people think differently than we do.
With faithfulness—keep our love on and don’t be offended in this crazy time of our society.
Trust in God’s Truth
Political correctness would say not to say anything that would get anyone mad, but we are told to reach this world around us with truth.
The Gospel offends, friend, but how can I share it in such a way that people can receive it? I don’t want to go out of my way to offend someone, either. We can’t shrink back from that, but how we communicate truth makes all of the difference in the world.
Trust in the LORD—not in self
Scripture of the Day: Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
There are so many timeless Biblical principles in here today, friends! We live in a culture that supports the self-made man. We trust ourselves . . . and nobody else. They let us down.
Trust in the LORD—Rely on His Understanding
But to trust in the LORD means I rely on Him. It means I take His word and plan over my own. I know my understanding is finite and warped by sin apart from His enlightenment.
We also see in these verses that you have to seek in order to be able to find. But what are we seeking? His will and not our own.
People can seek their beliefs to be dominant over God’s.
Proverbs 3:7 sums it up: Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. I am wise in my own eyes when I choose my way over God’s. This is pride. I am wise in my own eyes when I seek man’s affirmation or popular opinion over God’s word.
Application
You have to seek in order to be able to find. But sometimes what we seek after can be contrary to God. Trusting in God’s ways and understanding and not depending on our own will require laying down our plans. And when God’s Word does not line up with the world’s view around us, may we communicate His truth with grace and refuse to bow our knee to worldliness.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #166: Proverbs 3
Scripture of the Day: Proverbs 3:5-6
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Prov.3
Join me live at 8am ET: www.facebook.com/deniseduboispass
Bible Reading Plan: https://denisepass.com/bible-reading-plan/
#SeeingDeep #BibleInAYear
Sign up for the Bible Reading Plan!
