Wisdom For Living

                                          Sunday School Lesson Week of September 4,2011

Lesson Focus:Trust God and not yourself.

Proverbs 3:1-12

Introduction:Learn God's Truth; God uses the bible to reveal His will for his people.The Bible should be studied and closely followed,not merely carried under one's arm to church.His word is to be deeply written in the hearts,and that is at the center of decision making.As the bible is taken to heart and practiced, it causes a life to overflow with truth,love,and faithfulness.We must learn to lean of God completely,believe his hands are big enough to keep all that we entrust him with,which should be all that we have.


Hold Fast to God's Wisdom
proverbs 3:1-4KJV

¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
   ²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
   ³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
   ⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man

footnote:

The implication throughout the Book of Proverbs is that the teaching and wisdom of the father,King Solomon,represents God's word and wisdom.The plea of the father is for the son to never let go of God's understanding,love,and faithfulness and to keep them close to his heart so they become a part of his lifestyle.Such a lifestyle results in a long life,prosperity,and a good reputation.Also following God's wisdom will bring a certain graciousness that will endear the son to both God and man.

Trust in the Lord

proverbs 3:5-8KJV

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

   ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
   ⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
   ⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones

footnotes:

From the general admonition of keeping his commands,the father now becomes specific with the admonition for the son to "trust in the Lord". Whom we can absolutely depend upon for our well being,help and security.The alternative to trusting in God is trusting ourselves,our own limited ability and understanding.We must obey God's word, even when what we think, seems best for us and our current situation.("for there is a way that seemeth right unto a man ").Along with trust we must acknowledge God in all our ways, pray to him before we do anything, let him lead, guide and direct our actions.

Honor the Lord
Proverbs 3:9-10KJV
⁹Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
   ¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

footnote:

Let us honor God with the first of what he blesses us with,be it the first part of a new day,the first of our substance,and all of our increases.Remember God can do more with a dime that we can with 90cents.He said to try Him ,bring your tithes and offerings into his store house and see don't he open a window and pour you out a blessing.While you might think that giving the firstfruits to the Lord would lead to a leaner harvest for yourself,God promises just the opposite is true,and God cannot lie.

Accept God's Discipline
Proverbs 3:11-12KJV
¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
   ¹²For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth

footnotes:

The last of the instructions,Solomon warns his son not to despise or reject God's discipline.Those whom the Lord loves he chastens.While we might think that his discipline shows his dislike of us it actually shows that he loves us too much to let us go astray.God always has our best interest at heart.The more we know God ,the less scary it becomes to trust Him with our whole life.