Proverbs 3

Wisdom and keeping His commandments promises several rewards such as...

1. Longevity (length of days and years of life)
a) Proverbs 3:2a "For length of days and years of life"

2. Peace
a) Proverbs 3:2b "And peace they will add to you."

Proverbs 3:3 says "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart."

According to this verse kindness and truth should be written on the tablet of our heart. Everything we think, say, and do should be done in kindness and truth. It reminds a little of the think before you act saying. Don't let it ever leave you.

3. Find favor and good repute in God's and man's sight
a) Proverbs 3:4 "So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man."

4. Guidance
a)Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Most people I would hazard to guess have this verse memorized. But do we really listen/believe that this is true? I think we can tend to forget one very small word when we are reading and saying it. This very small word has a great importance. This small word is all. It says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." All=all, everything. Not just some trust or some of your heart but all, giving Him everything, every little piece. The same goes with "In all your ways acknowledge Him." Everywhere, every time, and every step of the way. He is there to guide and direct. We need to give it ALL to Him just like this verse says.

5. Healing and refreshment
a)Proverbs 3:7-8 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones."

Do not be wise in your own eyes. Our eyes and our minds are deceitful. No matter how good it looks to us, God's way is always best. We can think we are being wise but since we are looking through our own eyes we can actually be really foolish and not know it at all. That is why we should always go to the Lord in prayer and ask the Lord what he would have us do. Fear the Lord and turning away from evil. You will be refreshed and your spirit renewed and have more of a yearning to walk closer with Christ.

6. Prosperity
a)Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine."

Honor the Lord from your wealth and the first of all your produce. Immediately this reminds me of tithing. He should be getting the first of everything. Not our scraps at the end.

7. Proper response to discipline
a)Proverbs 3:11-12 "My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof, 12For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Do not reject the discipline of the Lord. Do not loathe His reproof. The Lord loves those He reproves.

Job 5:17 "Behold how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

The reason for discipline is shown in Hebrews 12:5-11 "and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,"MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;6FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Just as a father who corrects his son, whom he loves; it is a means of learning as well as other things.

Wisdom from the Lord is better than anything else we can ever imagine. Better than silver or gold, precious jewels. Nothing we desire can compare to the wisdom that can only come from/given to us by God.

Wisdom will be life to your soul. With wisdom you will be able to walk securely in your way and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid and your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:25-26 "Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 26For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

I wonder what this sudden fear is or what it could mean? (v.25) "For the Lord will be your confidence." (v.26) God provides the confidence we need when facing the enemy and our fears.

Proverbs 3:27-28 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back,and tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you."

I think children and even some young adults have problems with this idea of giving just to be nice to the other. They are wondering what they can get in return.

The Lord is intimate with the upright...

Last but not least I learned that those who are wise they will inherit honor but fools display dishonor and shame.

This is what I learned from reading Proverbs 3.