Friday - Proverbs 3 - Doing Things God's Way

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MONG other things in Proverbs 1 & 2, Solomon established the relationship between spiritual humility and wisdom.  He also told us that wisdom is valuable and rare.  And, he exhorted us to covet wisdom - to treasure it and to exercise our minds in that arena.  Here in this chapter, many of the verses are aimed at encouraging us to focus on our relationship with God and our fellowship with Him.  Many more basic spiritual lessons are taught in Proverbs 3, but instead of listing those, let’s jump right to the most powerful part of this entire chapter… and maybe the whole book.  Proverbs 3:5-6 have been used by the Spirit in my life many times, but never so powerfully as when I surrendered to the call of God to become a preacher and a pastor.  Combined with Psalm 37:3-5, these words can be particularly powerful and potent:  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  When we think we finally have things all figured out, this is when we are in very real danger of failing to walk by faith, and therefore failing to please God, thereby missing out on the right answers and the right direction we need.  But faith and obedience provide great safety!