Trust in the Lord: The Most Important Choice You’ll Make Daily

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

God has promised to bless us, but do we trust in the Lord so that we may receive our blessings, or will we choose to do our own thing?

Introduction

God has promised to bless us, but do we trust in the Lord so that we may receive our blessings, or will we choose to do our own thing?  This is the single most important choice we make daily, and it’s a choice that will either hinder us or reward us.  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover Proverbs 3:1-12.

Background of Proverbs

What must one do to find favor in God’s eyes?  What must one do to be blessed by God?  These are two common questions of man that Solomon covered throughout the Book of Proverbs.  

Before sharing and teaching scripture from Proverbs or Ecclesiastes, I like to acknowledge the author of both books and his history. Solomon was the third rightful king of Israel, after his father, David. As many of you know, Solomon asked for and received the wisdom of understanding from God (1 Kgs. 3:9-12).

Though he had received wisdom from God, Solomon lived disobediently as he chose to marry women that it was not lawful for him to marry. 1 Kings 11:1-10 highlights the tragic sin of Solomon as he married hundreds of wives who turned his heart to their gods when he was older. However, as shown throughout the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon did eventually repent and turn back to the Lord.

So, throughout both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, when you see Solomon speak of wisdom and knowledge, understand that he is speaking from firsthand experience.  In Proverbs 1:7, Solomon said that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge because he understood that it was foolish to live otherwise.  When you see him speak of foolish behavior throughout Proverbs, understand he was speaking of behavior that rejects God’s way.

The Promise of Obedience

Proverbs 3 opens with Solomon encouraging others to keep ‘his law and commands’ (Prov. 3:1-2).  The law that Solomon is speaking of is the law which he had chosen to abide by – God’s law.  

Solomon said that if one keeps his commands, “length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”  Now, some think this means that you will physically live a long life if you are obedient to God’s word.  However, scripture does not support the idea that just because one believes in God and lives in obedience, they will physically live a long life.

To fully understand what Solomon meant, we must focus on the notion of “added peace” to those who keep God’s command.  The peace that Solomon spoke of was peace from God, not from the world.  You see, worldly peace drastically differs from God’s peace.

Jesus invited all of those who are heavy laden (weighed down) to come to Him, and He will give rest for their soul (Matt. 11:28-29).  “Rest for the soul” speaks to having peace of mind, or peace within.  The world, or life itself, weighs on our souls as we worry about this thing or worry about that. The Lord desires to take away what weighs down the soul so that the soul can breathe, rather than be bogged down (Matt. 11:30).

God’s peace comes by way of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus shared this message to the disciples:   “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:26-27).”  

So, when Solomon promises “length of days” and “long life” to those who live in obedience, he is speaking of one living a healthy life spiritually.  Yet, the question one must answer for themselves is whether or not they believe in what has been promised, not by Solomon, but by God. 

How to Obtain the Blessing of Contentment

In Proverbs 14:12, Solomon warned that there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  The way that “seems” right is a way that despises wisdom, God’s instructions; it is the fool’s way.  There is no blessing from God if you choose to turn away from His instruction.  

Heed the voice of the Holy Spirit

To obtain the blessing of contentment, peace of mind, Solomon continued to focus on obeying God’s instructions.  In Proverbs 3:3, Solomon spoke of binding mercy and truth around the neck, so as not to let them get away.   

When Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:1-9, He likened Himself to a farmer who sowed seed in His land.  The seed in the parable represented the word of God.  Those who received the word, Jesus likened to being fertile ground in which the word of God was able to take root and grow.  

On the other hand, some of those who don’t receive the word of God, Jesus likened to being like the edge of a path, or field – the wayside.  Jesus likened others to being like stony ground.  Neither the wayside, stony surface, nor thorns were good for a seed to take root and flourish.  

In Isaiah 55:11, the Lord declared that the word He sent out shall not return to Him void (empty), but would prosper in the thing He sent it.  So, those who truly receive the word of God will flourish and prosper, living healthy lives, spiritually.  Keep in mind, healthy living, spiritually, should not be confused with the world’s idea of healthy living.  

The world’s idea of healthy living is for one to obtain wealth and riches.  Yet, such works, Solomon said, are vanity, distressing, and like grasping for the wind (Eccl. 1:14).  Solomon, a man who had great wealth, saw striving to obtain wealth as vanity, being distressing, because one couldn’t take their wealth with them into the afterlife (Eccl. 1:2-4; 2:17; 5:13-16). 

Rather than binding God’s word around our necks, the word of God dwells in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Yes, we have a written word, but we also have the living word, who is always in fellowship with us.  We have a choice to make of whether or not we will heed His voice or choose to do our own thing. 

 God’s Wisdom Is Superior

Solomon encouraged that one ought to trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their understanding (Prov. 3:5).

One of the greatest difficulties man has always faced, as individuals, is understanding that our way isn’t always the best. We have intelligence, awareness, and our awareness separates us from all other life in this world, but our intelligence has limits.  Man does not know everything.  Our speculations are smart, but they aren’t a matter of fact – absolute truth.

This is a thought that reminds me of when the Lord challenged Job.  The Lord asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth (Job 38:4)?”  Man loves to argue over whether or not a big bang started the universe.  God simply said He created.  As Paul said, God is the creator of all things, whether visible or invisible, known and unknown (Col.  1:15-16).

God is omniscient – He is all-knowing.  So, we should certainly put all of our trust in His wisdom and guidance.  Yet, when we make our plans, we barely include God in them.  I preached a sermon about this earlier this year – “Where Lies Your Devotion”.

The believer, when making plans, ought to always consult the Lord.  As Solomon said, we ought not be wise in our own eyes (Prov. 3:7), as that is a great evil.  Solomon said being wise in our eyes, self-righteous, is unhealthy, but trusting God is healthy.

One of the reasons why we should consult the Lord is because God often has plans that supersede our plans (Jer. 29:11)!  If we don’t consult the Lord, we risk blocking ourselves from a blessing because we aren’t in alignment with God.

Another reason why we ought to consult the Lord about our plans is because we will need help.  When you’re chasing after your dreams and desires, you are going to inevitably face obstacles.  Without God’s guidance, you will once again hinder yourself.  Whereas, with the Lord’s wisdom and guidance, He will lead you directly to your blessing.

God’s Thoughts and Ways Are Higher

With that in mind, we will see that Solomon also encouraged us to acknowledge God in all our ways (Prov. 3:6).   In other words, trust God in every circumstance!  Honestly, trusting God in every circumstance can be incredibly difficult, and is something I believe is learned over time, through experience..

This is a scripture that reminds me of Martha, after Lazarus, her brother, had passed (John 11:20-27).  Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus’ death, and Martha confronted Him, upset that He hadn’t come sooner to save Lazarus.  Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Now, Martha certainly told a truth, but there was a lesson that Jesus was about to teach her and all of those around her, including Mary, her sister.  The Lord has declared that His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours (Is. 55:9).  While things may not happen as we wish, God is still in control.

So, Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again … Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:23,25).”  Then Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”  

There are a few certainties that I can think of in life, with two of those certainties being:  Good things will happen, and bad things will happen.  I was baptized when I was 8 years old.  Yes, I believed in God at a young age, but I didn’t truly begin to move by faith until I was about 21 years old.  Even then, for the Lord to have my total trust, it took until after my dad passed and after I had gone through years of dialysis.

I genuinely trust the Lord more today because of the trials, tribulations, and afflictions that I have faced on my journey.  I watched as God delivered me in days when my hope and my joy of living were beginning to wane.  So, I feel that I am calmer today, slower to stress, because I know that God is able. 

In every circumstance, one must learn to trust in the Lord.  Whether it is your health, in the workplace, or at home, one must learn to trust the Lord completely.  Whether it’s bills or things are breaking down all around you, you must learn to trust in the Lord completely. Paul said it best, “All things will work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28).”

Give Honor and Thanks to God

With how good the Lord is to those who lean on Him and trust in Him, Solomon encouraged one to give honor to God (Prov. 3:9).  

We honor the Lord by remembering all that the Lord has done for us.  So, for example, Solomon said that when the Lord chastens us, we shouldn’t despise His chastisement (Prov. 3:11).  We should always remember that God’s thoughts toward us are of peace, as He desires to elevate us.

We honor the Lord by how we conduct ourselves.  As a child of God, the love and grace God shows us is the same love and grace we should show others.  As the Lord moves to elevate us, we should move to elevate others as well.  Again, this is how we honor the Lord and move in faith.