02.28.24
‘A Glad Commitment- its Expression’
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).
We previously focused on these precious verses. They describe the foundation of a glad commitment to the Lord. A whole-hearted trust in Jehovah is essential for a joyful life.
Today we focus on the verses which follow (7-12). They describe the expression of this glad commitment—bold obedience.
There are three areas in which this obedience is displayed- the personal realm, the material realm, and in the realm of correction.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. (7, 8)
In our personal walk with God, we must be so careful to avoid pride. We are so prone to it. It was pride that caused Lucifer to fall, and the same thing happened to the king of Babylon. Only as one has a proper fear of the Lord can pride be overcome.
Solomon then reminds us that spiritual life and energy are tied to our fearing the Lord. The body is used as a metaphor, but often our physical health is tied to our spiritual well-being.
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine. (9,10)
All that we have comes from God. When He asks us to return a portion of that to Him, He is not being unreasonable. Our giving should be salted with gratitude and joy. We should give to the Lord first. He has promised blessing to those who are faithful in their giving. There is a steady principle that one cannot out-give the Lord.
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. (11, 12)
Note the contrast with the previous verses. God gives to His children a wise proportion of prosperity and adversity. Also note the sphere in which this correction takes place— from a loving father to his son. We find an elaboration on this in the NT (Hebrews 12:5-13).
When the Lord, in love, needs to correct His child, there are possible actions we can take, attitudes we can display. First, we can despise it. Saul on the road to Damascus was said to be kicking against the work of God in his heart. When we despise God’s chastisement, we might refuse to let it bother us. We might fail to discover why it is happening. None of these attitudes will lead to restoration and renewed joy.
Second, we can faint under God’s correction. Such is the case with Elijah when being chased by Queen Jezebel. He developed a bitter, brooding spirit, and tried to run from the Lord.
Or, we, like King David, can accept it and learn from it. He realized that the correction for his great sins against Uriah and Bath-sheba was given justly from his loving Father. He responded to God’s love and the joy of his salvation was restored to him.
Our lives can be described as a glad commitment to God. What is the foundation of this kind of life? Child-like trust. And how is this life expressed? By fearing Him, giving Him our best, and yielding to His loving work in our life.