Proverbs 3:1-12, The Traveller’s Chart and Compass

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January 27, Proverbs 3:1-12

Luke 12:1-12; Rom. 1:16-17; 14:23 Life, a lottery or divine plan?

The Traveller’s Chart and Compass

To receive mercy and truth into the heart will prove good seed bringing forth bountiful harvests. We look today at the next couplet (v.5-6). These verses were often among the very first to be memorised. Why? They represent the “polar-star” for every new convert beginning the spiritual journey. Is it not because they anticipate the Gospel? How grandly they potray what faith means? Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith is trust, but trust in What or Whom?

  1. God Determines: Man was created in the Image of God to trust and obey his creator (v.5). Note, this is entirely God determining here, for He initiates and enables man to truly trust in Him. If it were a mere option sinful man would still refuse to obey. Though man knows God, in his rebellion he invariably suppresses that knowledge. He alone decides the way he will go or what star he will follow (Deut. 12:8; Pr. 12:15, 14:12). Sinful man leans on his own understanding, lives by his own strength, boasts of his own deeds, and claims to be master of his own fate. What is the result? One look at our world as we enter the 21st century should be answer enough! For the majority there is no peace of mind, no personal satisfaction, no true inner joy. Man’s fulfilment quickly turns to frustration as he follows the gods of his own making. Man is a dependant in spite of his autonomous claims. God, in His Grace, directs man to the only path that leads to victory. David cried, O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man [woman] that trusts in Thee (Ps. 84:12).
  2. Man Disclaims: Lean not on thine own understanding. This means leaning wholly on God (Ps. 23:4). Man must disclaim the myth of neutrality and admit his rebellion against God. Yet, he will never do this without God’s intervention. Saving trust is a heart-trust that begins by disclaiming all self-trust, and acclaiming Christ as his heart’s trust. We cannot walk with one hand in Christ’s hand and the other in the world’s. It must be a trust that is not only entire but also exclusive. David said, My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him (Ps. 62:2). With all the heart means all, without reservation (Lk. 9:60). God hates those who are half an’ half, half-baked or half-hearted. Faith is a confident walk that trusts in the promises of God. It is more than believing in propositions. Faith rather turns propositions into a Person (2 Tim. 1:12). O youth, remember such trust is a mark of strength not weakness. C.T. Studd, while a student at Cambridge in 1883, wrote: “I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I had never understood that if he had died for me, then I didn’t belong to myself. When I came to see that, it didn’t seem hard to give up all for him.” He became one of England’s greatest cricketers, but gave up fame and fortune to go out as a humble missionary. His life’s motto was, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him.” He understood how to disclaim self and acclaim Christ. Dear reader, do you?

Thought: Faith may be simple, but its effect is sublime (J.C. Stern).

Prayer: Lord, let Forsaking All I Trust Him, spell MY FAITH.