In verses 3-4, we see that choosing love and faithfulness, as constant companions brings us favor and gives us a good name in the sight of God and man. That is tremendously good news! Many of us are familiar with verses 5-6, as we often quote it. Trust is the key choice here; our whole trust with our whole heart and our whole mind. It produces a straight path for us to walk on, which just so happens to be directed by the Lord Himself.
In verses 7-8, we are urged to avoid our own form of wisdom, but to fear (greatly respect) the Lord and make the choice to shun evil (this means evil things for our own life, not that we shun people). This choice brings health to our body and life to our bones. Wow! How amazing is that? Did you see that? Health is connected to our spiritual choices.
In verses 9-10, we are told to honor the Lord with our wealth. The term "firstfruits" is an agricultural term from ancient times when farmers would plant their fields in sections. The "firstfruits" section was strictly dedicated to the Lord. It was a tenth of the whole crop. We are to return this to him with a grateful heart, for He is our source that supplies money for us in the first place. When we choose to honor God with the first portion of our money, the rest of what we have overflows and spills over the brim that contains it. My best friend is Puerto Rican and she taught me a Spanish proverb: "Dar el ala, para comer la pechuga." Basic Translation - You have to give up the wing of the chicken to get the breast of the chicken. It is true in our finances too. Give God 10% and watch Him bless the 90% like never before. It's crazy math and you'll be astonished by it. You'll try to calculate the excess and you will realize that it does not compute, because God's math is not like our math.
In verses 11-12, we are told to choose discipline and not to despise it. The Lord's correction is good for us. Do not be afraid of this. He is a loving Daddy. He is not abusive, but gentle and tender. He knows what is best for us. Remember, He sees the BIG picture we do not see. He sees past, present, future, and all of the people and events connected and intertwined in all of it. So, allow Him to discipline you. Don't run from it. That makes it worse. He loves you, so of course He is going to correct you when you need it. This is one way how He shows His love.
Verses 13-18 describes wisdom and understanding as choices of great and high value; more valuable than silver, gold, and rubies. Nothing compares with wisdom and understanding. She brings us long life, riches, honor, peace, and blessings. Verses 19-20 validates the powers of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge and how God used them when He created the whole earth.
Verses 21-24 tells us to choose sound judgment and discernment, for they bring us life and safety. They keep us from stumbling, let us rest without fear, and give us sweet sleep. Verses 25-26 tells us not to choose fear, because the Lord is our confidence and He protects us from the traps of the enemy.
Verses 27-29 tells us to give to others and not to withhold anything. If we have it to give, then we are to give to those in need. We are to do no harm to our neighbor. We may be the only Jesus they ever meet, so we need to love them, as we love ourselves. Our neighbor is anyone and everyone, not just the person in the house next door. Verse 30 cautions us against false accusations against people who have not done us any harm. I think this is important, because we need to remember that we are not fighting people, but the enemy, who uses people to get to us. See Ephesians 6:12.
Verses 31-32 warns us against choosing envy and violence, because the Lord takes up for us. He contends with those that contend with us (Isaiah 49:25). So, let Him have His way with your enemies and those who do you wrong. He can deal with them far better than we can. Verses 33-35 shows us that the Lord blesses the righteous and curses the wicked. He gives grace to the humble, but mocks the proud. There is honor for the wise and shame for fools. So, we would be wise to choose righteousness, humility, and wisdom.
Proverbs 3 (NIV)
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.[b]
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace 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 lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”
— when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.32 For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
- Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
*Bible passage and footnotes courtesy of Biblegateway.com
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