Proverbs: A Fathers Instruction

Proverbs 3:1-12
(1st of 2) My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (1-4) This inspired writing is attributed to King Solomon, son of David, and in this instruction he admonishes his son to honor his parent by remembrance and disciplined obedience The teaching is consistent with the fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord is giving you (Exodus 20:12) The fruit of obedience in this passage (longevity and prosperity) also mirrors the result of obedience in the fifth commandment (longevity and enjoyment of Gods land) Paul teaches: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right; Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:1-2) Solomon teaches his son that obedience is to be accompanied by love and faithfulness which are to be worn as eternal ornaments of life (expressed outwardly in relationships) and impressed upon the heart (transformed inwardly by an uncompromising love for God) Obedience leads to wisdom, and wisdom brings the benefits of longevity, fulfillment, good reputation (favor with man) and character development (favor with God) It has been said that reputation is what others think of you, but character is what you are when no one is looking then you are motivated purely by pleasing God, not men Jesus warned that the pursuit of worldly recognition has the approval of man as its only reward, but there will be no reward from the Father (Matthew 6:2, 6:5, 6:16) Pleasing God and man are often in conflict, yet not always as Paul teaches: whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men (Romans 14:18) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (5-6) Solomon profoundly and simply expresses the great choice of life: do we trust in an omniscient, omnipotent and loving God or do we rely upon our fallible understanding? Our human perceptions and judgment will fail us there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25) When we acknowledge God in all our ways that is, there is no aspect of life we are withholding from Him then He directs our steps and makes our paths straight Remember the Israelites who experienced the ultimate in crooked paths they wandered for forty long years in the desert because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:19) The scholars tell us the journey from Egypt to Canaan should have taken only 18 days Trusting God with all your heart does not imply perfection, but a wholehearted commitment without reservation (unlike the unstable, double-minded man of James 1:8) This simple choice lies before us every day do we rely on ourselves or do we trust God? Jesus taught the same truth in different words: Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it (Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24)