Read the original Proverbs 3.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
Remember God’s teachings. Remember his commands. Results = peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Keep love and faithfulness around you. To me this means that I need to constantly remember to be loving and faithful.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
This is my theme scripture the year. God is so much wiser than I. There are things I won’t understand. I need to follow him the best as I can and he will take care of the rest.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
My guess is being wise in your own eyes means being arrogant. This is probably one of the areas I need to work on. Sometimes I feel like I’m better than other people for x, y, and z reasons. If I remain humble its supposed to keep health in my bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Tithe and give my best to the Lord. God promises to bless me if I do.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
God is going to discipline me, because I will mess up. When I get disciplined it means that God loves me. All the hardships that I go through now, is because God loves me and wants to make me a better man.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
Wisdom is awesome. With wisdom and understanding I will be blessed, more profitable, live longer, be honored, be rich, peaceful, and understand science.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Wisdom is awesome part deux. With wisdom and understanding, help me make better decisions, more life, be safe, be brave, sleep will beb sweet, have no fear, and the Lord will protect me.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
If I am able to do good. Do good now.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Be good to your neighbors.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
Be honest and be content with what you have.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
With Wisdom I will be confident, blessed, shown favor, and inherit honor. I will be cursed if I am perverse, proud, and shamed.
Action Items: Wisdom is awesome. I need to post more posters of good scriptures around the house like I used to.
