The Book of Proverbs - Chapter 3 - Personal Bible Study
For Chapter 2 Click Here
Chapter 3 of the book of Proverbs, starts with the title "Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart."
In the previous chapters we learned that Wisdom has to do with the knowledge and understanding of doing the right thing and the consequences of what happens when you don't. It has something to do with accepting God's grace and avoiding sinful behavior. It has something to do with not giving into temptation. Acting with fairness, exercising good judgement, acting morally, etc.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
Staying faithful to God and keeping true to his commandments is the next part of it. Wisdom comes from God and God knows what's best. He knows the mistakes of those who have come before us. And he knows us.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Trusting and staying faithful to God, acknowledging him will help you to stay on the straight and narrow path. From my own personal experience, as I try to get closer to him, this is even more true. My sins, even the little thoughts I have, bother me more than they used to. That is how he is trying to help keep me on the straight and narrow path.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
You do not know better than God does so don't think that you do. Everything you do, you do in the sight of the LORD. You may think you can get away with it, but it will come back to you. If you turn away from evil and do good, that will come back to you too.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
This passage is about giving. Jesus said, "That which you do to the least of us, you do to me." Being generous has its rewards. You feel good. Good things happen to those who are generous.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
We are all God's children. If he disciplines us, it is because we have strayed from the straight and narrow path and need to be turned back around so we are headed in the right direction.
If you do evil, evil will be done to you. If you do good, then good things will happen to you. Wisdom not only helps you to understand the difference, but it helps you to understand the consequences before you turn the wrong way.
Therefore Wisdom is a Blessing.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
Wisdom is about knowing and doing the right thing. It is about knowing and doing good. God rewards those who do good. God punishes those who do evil. If you live your life in the pursuit of riches instead of God, then your life will be shallow, and you will never have enough. You will always need more and more and more.
In modern life, we are taught to desire more and more and more. We are constantly being shown all of the wonderful things that we could have if only…
The wise man is satisfied with what he has or rather what God has given him.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
If you are satisfied with less, if you detach yourself from your worldly possessions, if you are happy with the love you are given by others, then you are truly rich.
17 All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
Because the wise man is satisfied with what he has. He doesn't stress over that which he doesn't have. Those who do stress over things they don't have will die younger. It's bad for your health.
19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
God will provide what we need. He gave us the world.
21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
The wise man doesn't make enemies, who will seek revenge. The wise man doesn't flaunt that which will be desired by others who would take it all away.
25 Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
God will punish the wicked and reward the good. He will keep safe who stay true to his word.
27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
Be generous and helpful.
28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Be kind. Don’t make your neighbor jump through hoops to get the help that you can graciously give them if they are in need.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
Be friendly. Be a friend.
30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
Do not bare false witness.
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
An evil man may get his short term rewards, but his sins will always come back to haunt him.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
Wisdom has to do with the knowledge and understanding of doing the right thing and the consequences of what happens when you don't. It has something to do with accepting God's grace and avoiding sinful behavior. It has something to do with not giving into temptation. Acting with fairness, exercising good judgement, acting morally, etc. It has to do with staying faithful to God, so that God will bless you and work through you to help others. It has to do with not getting attached to worldly desires and being satisfied with the little things in life.
Those who don't exercise wisdom will ultimately suffer the consequences.
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