Somerstrand Gemeente
Proverbs 3: 1-12 - Trust in the Lord and in all your ways submit to Him
GPS vir die lewe
Locations & Times
Somerstrand Gemeente
77 Louis Botha, Port Elizabeth, 6001, South Africa
Sunday 6:00 PM
The "right path" is determined by our values and principles
Proverbs makes a great effort to bring home the idea that there is a "right way" to live, and a wrong one.Every effort must be made to find the right way.Nothing must stop you from doing that. And everything possible must be done to avoid the wrong way.
In light of the challenges and temptations that come about our way, the decisions we make are determined by our values and principles. All situations do not always have a clear right and wrong answer. Having wisdom in these situations means that you need a strong value system, a strong set of principles to make decisions.
Such a strong principle-based value system grows from our relationship with God.
1. The first principle is the awe of the fear of God
2. The second principle is the reverence for role models
Proverbs 3 expands on both principles
Let's read Proverbs 3:1-12. You will see that it contains six principles. So, I’ll also teach you how to read the Bible so that you can appropriate the message for yourself.
1. We are going to read the Bible first – lees in Afrikaans.
2. Then we will reflect on its meaning – luister in Afrikaans.
3. Then we will respond to it – leef in Afrikaans.
These "life lessons" are divided into six aspects to help us choose the "right way". Each aspect is spelled out in 2 verses. The first is positive, the second negative. It is repeated twice – positive, negative; positive, negative.
READ - LEES
Proverbs makes a great effort to bring home the idea that there is a "right way" to live, and a wrong one.Every effort must be made to find the right way.Nothing must stop you from doing that. And everything possible must be done to avoid the wrong way.
In light of the challenges and temptations that come about our way, the decisions we make are determined by our values and principles. All situations do not always have a clear right and wrong answer. Having wisdom in these situations means that you need a strong value system, a strong set of principles to make decisions.
Such a strong principle-based value system grows from our relationship with God.
1. The first principle is the awe of the fear of God
2. The second principle is the reverence for role models
Proverbs 3 expands on both principles
Let's read Proverbs 3:1-12. You will see that it contains six principles. So, I’ll also teach you how to read the Bible so that you can appropriate the message for yourself.
1. We are going to read the Bible first – lees in Afrikaans.
2. Then we will reflect on its meaning – luister in Afrikaans.
3. Then we will respond to it – leef in Afrikaans.
These "life lessons" are divided into six aspects to help us choose the "right way". Each aspect is spelled out in 2 verses. The first is positive, the second negative. It is repeated twice – positive, negative; positive, negative.
READ - LEES
REFLECT – LUISTER
Give enough time for each one to share their own thoughts. Work through the verses one by one. Reflect especially on the meaning the proverbs have for you personally. The following is my thoughts that you can also use.
1. Do not forget what your dad teaches you → it leads to a long and full life – verse 1-2.
The content of the first "Life lesson" of the father to his son is:
1. Do not forget my teaching (ie remember) and
2. Keep my commandments.
This is where the secret of your whole spiritual life is locked up.
2. Do not lack love and faithfulness → It gives you favour and a good name with God and man – verse 3-4.
Another way of understanding love and faithfulness is to translate the words as faithfulness and truth. That is, to remain loyal and to speak the truth at all times. To be a reliable person, one of whom you know that his or her word is their bond. They adhere to the things they are committed to.
Love and faithfulness, faithfulness and truth, that is what must become part of your life. As it says in the original: "Write it on the tablet of your heart " (NIV) . Let it live in your inner man. Then it will show in your life.
And that's exactly what the Scriptures wants to give us. That is what the Bible wants to teach us, the truth that applies to all times. As Paul says, "we will speak the truth in love" (Eph 4:15).
3. Trust the Lord completely and in all your ways submit to Him → you will experience God leading you on the right way – verse 5-6.
You see, in the Bible wisdom is not primarily linked to a list of rules and regulations but to a relationship with God. Wisdom begins with serving the Lord, in doing what God reveals in His Word.
But it is equally important to realize that that relationship goes via the Bible and not through your own insights, no matter how good it seems or sounds. The words the Spirit uses in your life to teach you God's will, to guide you in truth, is recorded in the Bible. The Bible is:
"the criterion for what I believe, think and do. It contains the perfect will of God. The Bible is essential and sufficient, reliable and clear. The Bible confirms and guides me to live in everything according to the will of God to his glory and my salvation."
(My answer to Question 7: "How do I read the Bible?" in my book Wie is God? wat volgende week beskikbaar is - cf. 2 Tim 3: 14-17; Ps 40: 9; Neh 8: 1-8; Luke 24: 25-27; Acts 8: 30-35; Belgic Confession Article 7)
4. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil → it leads to healing and wholeness – verse 7-8.
Do not think you know everything. Do not think you are wise because of your knowledge about all sorts of things in life. Recognize your dependence on God and do what he says. This will help you to avoid bad things. It will heal you with the medicine of the soul. It will even touch your body. This is the promise of the Lord.
5. Honour the Lord with your wealth → you will experience God’s blessings and prosperity – verse 9-10.
The fifth principle is the well-known promise of the Lord. He made us to be a blessing to the world. If you obey Him, you will find that you will also be blessed. It's actually a paradox. By giving, you will fill your barns. By giving you receive.
6. Accept the discipline and rebuke of the Lord → it confirms your status as child of God – verse 11-12.
Here, the hardship is described as "discipline" and "rebuke" of the Lord. The "discipline" is of course not meant in the sense of "punishment" as it is sometimes translated, and the "rebuking" is in the sense of "correction". It is all about the Lord teaching us about cause and effect, that the "wrong way" has consequences, bad consequences; that the "right way" also has consequences, good consequences.
That's why Psalm 1 encourages us to choose the path of the Word, because then we are like a tree planted by the streams of water. If we choose to follow our own head, we are like chaff that’s blown away by the wind.
Give enough time for each one to share their own thoughts. Work through the verses one by one. Reflect especially on the meaning the proverbs have for you personally. The following is my thoughts that you can also use.
1. Do not forget what your dad teaches you → it leads to a long and full life – verse 1-2.
The content of the first "Life lesson" of the father to his son is:
1. Do not forget my teaching (ie remember) and
2. Keep my commandments.
This is where the secret of your whole spiritual life is locked up.
2. Do not lack love and faithfulness → It gives you favour and a good name with God and man – verse 3-4.
Another way of understanding love and faithfulness is to translate the words as faithfulness and truth. That is, to remain loyal and to speak the truth at all times. To be a reliable person, one of whom you know that his or her word is their bond. They adhere to the things they are committed to.
Love and faithfulness, faithfulness and truth, that is what must become part of your life. As it says in the original: "Write it on the tablet of your heart " (NIV) . Let it live in your inner man. Then it will show in your life.
And that's exactly what the Scriptures wants to give us. That is what the Bible wants to teach us, the truth that applies to all times. As Paul says, "we will speak the truth in love" (Eph 4:15).
3. Trust the Lord completely and in all your ways submit to Him → you will experience God leading you on the right way – verse 5-6.
You see, in the Bible wisdom is not primarily linked to a list of rules and regulations but to a relationship with God. Wisdom begins with serving the Lord, in doing what God reveals in His Word.
But it is equally important to realize that that relationship goes via the Bible and not through your own insights, no matter how good it seems or sounds. The words the Spirit uses in your life to teach you God's will, to guide you in truth, is recorded in the Bible. The Bible is:
"the criterion for what I believe, think and do. It contains the perfect will of God. The Bible is essential and sufficient, reliable and clear. The Bible confirms and guides me to live in everything according to the will of God to his glory and my salvation."
(My answer to Question 7: "How do I read the Bible?" in my book Wie is God? wat volgende week beskikbaar is - cf. 2 Tim 3: 14-17; Ps 40: 9; Neh 8: 1-8; Luke 24: 25-27; Acts 8: 30-35; Belgic Confession Article 7)
4. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil → it leads to healing and wholeness – verse 7-8.
Do not think you know everything. Do not think you are wise because of your knowledge about all sorts of things in life. Recognize your dependence on God and do what he says. This will help you to avoid bad things. It will heal you with the medicine of the soul. It will even touch your body. This is the promise of the Lord.
5. Honour the Lord with your wealth → you will experience God’s blessings and prosperity – verse 9-10.
The fifth principle is the well-known promise of the Lord. He made us to be a blessing to the world. If you obey Him, you will find that you will also be blessed. It's actually a paradox. By giving, you will fill your barns. By giving you receive.
6. Accept the discipline and rebuke of the Lord → it confirms your status as child of God – verse 11-12.
Here, the hardship is described as "discipline" and "rebuke" of the Lord. The "discipline" is of course not meant in the sense of "punishment" as it is sometimes translated, and the "rebuking" is in the sense of "correction". It is all about the Lord teaching us about cause and effect, that the "wrong way" has consequences, bad consequences; that the "right way" also has consequences, good consequences.
That's why Psalm 1 encourages us to choose the path of the Word, because then we are like a tree planted by the streams of water. If we choose to follow our own head, we are like chaff that’s blown away by the wind.
RESPOND – LEEF
My assignment to you this week is therefore to get used to reading the Bible as the Word of God. To listen to its meaning, as I have taught you now. To do it, to live it.
Here is my short summary of it:
1. Remember what the Scriptures teaches you. Hold on to it. Obey it daily.
2. Do not lack love and faithfulness. It is the secret of good relationships.
3. Trust the Lord completely. Submit to Him in everything you do. He will show you the right way.
4. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and shun evil. It leads to healing and wholeness.
5. Honour the Lord with your wealth. He will bless you with plenty.
Accept the discipline and rebuke of the Lord. It confirms your status as a child of God.
My assignment to you this week is therefore to get used to reading the Bible as the Word of God. To listen to its meaning, as I have taught you now. To do it, to live it.
Here is my short summary of it:
1. Remember what the Scriptures teaches you. Hold on to it. Obey it daily.
2. Do not lack love and faithfulness. It is the secret of good relationships.
3. Trust the Lord completely. Submit to Him in everything you do. He will show you the right way.
4. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and shun evil. It leads to healing and wholeness.
5. Honour the Lord with your wealth. He will bless you with plenty.
Accept the discipline and rebuke of the Lord. It confirms your status as a child of God.