Good Advice
Proverbs 3 contains good advice. Let’s take a look at it verse-by-verse.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Proverbs 3:1 (KJV)
The foundation of this chapter is remembering God’s Word and keeping God’s commandments. The rest of this chapter tells us why this is important advice.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:2 (KJV)
Incorporating God’s word into your life contributes to a long, healthy life. It is tied to wisdom in verse 16. It also provides a peaceful life. If your life is full of stress and strife, turn to the Word.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: Proverbs 3:3 (KJV)
Mercy and truth are found in the Word. How do we bind them on our necks and write them on our hearts? By meditating on the Word and by speaking it forth. Meditation means to mutter or speak. So, pondering and saying the Word to ourselves helps to write mercy and truth on our hearts.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:4 (KJV)
This will provide us with success in both the spiritual and natural realms.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Faith in God will guide us. Don’t put your trust in your own natural “wisdom.” It will fail. When we keep God first, we experience good results. He never fails or steers us wrong.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7 (KJV)
Don’t assume that you can handle life on your own. That is arrogance, and it always leads to trouble. Rely on the Lord to do right.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:8 (KJV)
Staying in the Word of God produces health and wholeness. The wisdom and power of the Word always supports good health. When we read and follow the Word, it makes us well in every area of life.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (KJV)
The Word tells us to honor God with our material goods. We are to give to God the first fruits of what we receive. In other words, He gets the first and the best of what we take in.
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV)
God corrects His children out of love. He does it for our good. When we submit to His correction, it is always beneficial to us.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Proverbs 13-15 (KJV)
Wisdom and understanding bring happiness. Wisdom is to be treasured above all earthly goods. God’s wisdom and understanding that are found in the Word, give us the ability to get wealth and all other desirable things. Do not let loose of the wisdom of God, or wealth and other desirable things will destroy you. Jesus has been made wisdom unto us, and He is the most precious treasure of all.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. Proverbs 3:16-18 (KJV)
When we retain wisdom, holding fast to it, we gain happiness. As we stated, Jesus is our wisdom, and nothing compares to Him. When we stay near to Jesus, we keep our wealth and other such things. And if He tells us to give it away, we can be sure that He has even more in store for us. Wisdom found in Jesus, the Word, truly is a tree of life, preserving us from destruction.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. Proverbs 3:19-20 (KJV)
In the same way that the Lord created everything, we can do life. We are to be imitators of God. His wisdom, which is His Word, shows us how. We understand the world around us by the Word of God.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Proverbs 3:21-26 (KJV)
The wisdom of God removes all fear. As we hold onto wisdom, it gives us grace to walk safely in all our ways. we will not stumble, and we can experience the sweet sleep of peace. When our confidence is in God’s Word, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Proverbs 3:27-34 (KJV)
Wisdom and understanding encourages us to do good to our neighbor. When we are able to help someone, we are to do so. God’s Word reveals secrets of how to live. Don’t oppress or take advantage of others. The curse is upon the wicked so we shouldn’t emulate what they do. Keep the peace whenever possible and be a good neighbor and friend to others. The law of sowing and reaping is always in effect, so whatever we do for others will surely be done for us.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Proverbs 3:35 (KJV)
Grace and glory are given to the righteous, those who follow God’s Word. However, scorn and shame will come to those who do not. Fools cannot handle prosperity or promotion (Proverbs 1:32). However, the righteous can handle God’s glory by the grace He gives to them.
Allow the Word to make you wise, and all will go well for you.
