02.21.24
‘A Glad Commitment- its Source’
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
It has been a couple of weeks since we have been in the Book of Proverbs. In our journey through the first nine chapters of Proverbs, we began to look three weeks ago at chapter three. The theme of the chapter is ‘Whole-hearted Discipleship.’
We have been looking at the first section which speaks of ‘a glad commitment’ (1-12).
Last time we considered the foundation of this commitment—the sound teaching of the Word of God (1-4). In a word, if we are going to walk with God whole-heartedly and gladly, our walk will be based on the Bible, God’s precious Word.
Today we focus on some familiar verses, as noted at the outset of this article. They tell us that the source of this glad, committed walk with God is child-like trust.
What does it mean to trust in the Lord? Someone defined it as “childlike unwavering confidence in the Father’s well-proved wisdom, faithfulness and love.”
Our text tells us that our trust in the Lord must be full. We trust with “all our heart.” This refers to all of our being—thoughts, emotions, inclinations and volition. It isn’t helpful if we are double-minded or wavering in our trust.
Our trust must also be exclusive. On a negative note, we have to refrain from leaning “on our own understanding.” We all have a fallen nature, and our reasoning cannot be trusted. God, on the other hand, makes no mistakes! On the positive side, we are told to “acknowledge Him in all of our ways.” This involves giving way to Him over our own impulses.
Our trust in God should also be uniform. We are to trust Him in ‘all of our ways.’ This would involve every area of life, from the mundane to the vital, from normal daily decisions to those involving life and death.
To whom are we to direct our trust? It must be to the LORD alone. Solomon is referring here to the God of Israel, to Jehovah. Just as my name is Rob, Jehovah is His personal name. More than that, it is His promise-keeping name as it is associated with His covenants to Israel.
And what will be the blessed outcome of such a trust? We are promised that He will “direct our paths.” He will control our life. He will give strength for us to accomplish His perfect will in our lives.
Once again, let us here these words in their entirety- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Wouldn’t you love to have your life centered on such a blessed promise? It can be so for you. God has already taken the initiative by sending His Son to pay the penalty for our sins, and to give us the assurance of this by raising Him from the dead.
Your task is simple—believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of your sin, and give your heart, soul, and life to the only true God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Once done, the words of these sweet verses can be the theme of your life going forward.