LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY

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PROVERBS 3:1-20
Lesson #04
LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY

• Memory Verse: Pro 3:13
• Review:
  • The things the young man (the believer who is the child of God) should diligently seek and learn from Proverbs 2 are these:
    • To listen and receive God’s Word
    • Hide God’s Word in his inner being.
    • Then he will gain the concept of skillful living having learned to distinguish the good from evil.
  • When the believer has built into his inner being the ability to discern good from evil, he will know the power of the truth of the Word of God. From that he will be able to make wise decisions and his life will show his skillful living.
  • The result will be an awareness of wicked people and their sins that he knows he must avoid.
  • Therefore, the child of God should take responsibility for his own life to see that he learns how to make wise decisions and how to be responsible for the decisions he makes.
• Read Pro 3:1-10 Instruction to My Son #5 As a young adult
  • =1= Wisdom (skillful living) finds its foundation in the teaching of sound doctrine.
    • This is the reason Bible Study is important to the life of every believer.
      • “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” (1-2)
      • Key words: law (list of rules); heart (soul); commandments (commands).
      • Notice the probability that results is that you keep the Word of God in your heart and are obedient to it, your life will probably be long and peaceful.
    • Mercy and truth: The two most important character strengths:
      • “…bind them about thy neck…” (3)
        • Make mercy (loving kindness) and truth part of your lifestyle and all will be able to see it in your life.

Mat 5:7 promises mercy to those that exhibit mercy in their lives.

Mat 5:37 says that we should always speak the truth.

• • • • • A person with these characteristics builds a sterling reputation among believers and non-believers because the yoke around his neck is Christ’s yoke which is easy and peaceful.
      • “…write them on the table of thine heart.” (3)
        • That which is expressed in your lifestyle comes from what is first planted in the inner man.
        • The result of mercy and truth in your life will probably find favor with God and people around you.
        • God’s truth written on the inner heart is one of the conditions of the new covenant we are under in this New Testament age of grace. (Heb 8:10) This is an act done by the Holy Spirit living inside of the New Testament believer.
  • =2= Wisdom (skillful living) finds its foundation in faith in God. (5-6)
    • “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (5)
      • Key words: heart (soul); understanding (discernment of good from evil).
      • Notice the parallel:
        • Trust in/ lean not on
        • Trust (rely and depend on) in the Old Testament is faith in the New Testament.
      • Man’s discernment between good and evil is often miscalculated and deceived.
        • Because God sees the heart of all men and the future as well, He has a better understanding of whether something will turn out for good or for evil.
        • Even for the believer in Christ, the Lord will make all come out for good to those that love God. (Rom 8:28)
    • “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (6)
      • Before Jesus left this earth in the ascension, He promised to give us the Holy Spirit who will guide us into truth. (Joh 16:13) Throughout the Bible the Lord has promised the believer that He will guide us.
      • Notice the conditions in the previous verse and in the first phrase of this verse, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.” And ”In all thy ways acknowledge Him”.
        • Acknowledge God in the good times and in the bad times.
        • The word “acknowledge” means to have an intimate relationship with Him.
        • This is man’s part in the equation. He must be willing to recognize God and permit Him to guide us in every decision that we make. When we do that, God will do His part.
  • =3= Wisdom (skillful living) has rewards for those who obey God. (7-10)
    • “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (7-8)
      • Key words: Fear the Lord (awesome respect).
      • The person that thinks he is wise in his own discernment of good from evil is setting himself up for a fall.
      • An awesome respect for God guides the believer away from evil and the probable result is a healthy lifestyle. An awesome respect for God is seated in man’s inner being, in the center of his life.
        • The navel is the center of the body. It is where a baby receives nutrients from the mother in the womb.
        • The marrow is the center part of the bones that have the potential of life.
    • An awesome respect for God will remove any pride and self reliance.
    • A healthy spiritual life will probably help you to live a healthy physical life.
      • Read Exo 15:26
      • Here in Exodus it is a promise.
  • Learn responsibility with God
    • “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:” So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” (9-10)
      • Key words: Substance (goods); firstfruits (first of the harvest).
      • This is a conditional statement. If you give to me, I will give to you.
        • Conditional statements like this one were part of the covenant that God made with Moses. (Deu 28 Mal 3:10)

The offering of firstfruits in the Old Testament was the first part of the harvest that was to be given to God in faith.

It was a faith offering trusting God for an abundant and full harvest to come.

It is giving to God your best and giving it to Him first.

• • • • • Even though we are now living in an age of grace under a different covenant where the covenant with Moses is currently not binding on us (Gal), we find the same conditional expression in Luk 6:38.
        • Read Luk 6:38

If we give to God…

He will use the same measure we choose to give back to us.

But He will give us more than we give to Him.

• • • • How much you give of your wealth to God is a barometer of your spiritual commitment to Him. For many people, their money is the last stronghold they surrender to God.
• Read Pro 3:11-13 Instruction to My Son #6: As a young adult
  • “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (11-12)
    • Key words: despise (contempt for); chastening (correction).
    • Notice the parallels:
    • Despise not/neither be weary
    • Chastening/correction
      • Many young people think that when they leave home, parental discipline ends. But God is an even better disciplinarian, and His discipline never ends.
      • As a parent we think of punishing our children when they do wrong, but the parent is to correct his children not punish them. Punishment is for the criminal.
        • The Bible uses the word “chastening” which means correction for the purposes of reclaiming.
        • In other words, it is not punishment for the sake of punishment, but the purpose of correction is to make you a better person.
      • His purpose of correction is to increase you ability to live skillfully and to discern right from wrong so as to bless you more. (13)
        • The Bible is clear to tell us that this type of correction is based on God’s love for His child.
        • Read Heb 12:7-11
  • “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (13)
    • Key words: Wisdom (skillful living); understanding (to discern good from evil).
    • Through God’s correction you find the way to skillful living.
    • And you will learn to discern right from wrong.
      • Where does the happiness come into this equation?
      • If you make less mistakes in your decisions in life, you make your path made straighter (more righteous) and less twisted because you do not have to try to undo those mistakes. The result is a happier life.
• Read Pro 3:14-20 Wisdom Personified: Learning to enjoy the richest treasures (profits or merchandise)
  • Remember that wisdom personified is Jesus Christ. (1Cor 1:30)
  • ^“ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold” (14)
    • The merchandise of wisdom means that you can trade with it, do business with it to gain something else.
    • Both skillful living and the person of Jesus Christ have spiritual value. Both give you success in life on this earth and an eternal life with God.
    • Gal 2:20 tells us to exchange our life for Christ’s life.
      • This is prosperity of body, soul, and spirit.
      • This is prosperity materially and spiritually.
  •  ^“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” (15)
    • What is more precious than rubies?
    • Skillful living is the most valuable thing to gain. Why?
      • All other worldly things are temporary. Wisdom is the building of your character that goes with you for eternity.
      • Life is not easy in this world of dangers, deceptions, fears, and death. Whatever you can gain to make life go more smoothly, will benefit you now and in eternity.
  • What is in wisdom’s right hand and in her left hand? (16)
    • Long life is in her right hand.
      • The right hand in the Bible is the most favored and blessed position.
      • Therefore, long life is more precious than wealth and honor.
      • How long did Solomon live? About 60 years.
      • But remember that later in life he fell away from the wisdom that God gave him early in his life.
    • Riches and honor are in her left hand.
      • But notice that riches and honor also come with wisdom (skillful living).
      • Remember Solomon…he asked God for wisdom instead of asking for gold or silver.
        • But Solomon was a very wealthy king, why?
        • God gave Solomon wisdom, but the wealth and honor came along with it.
  • “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (17)
    • Notice the parallels:
      • Ways/paths
      • Pleasantness/peace.
    • A life lived in wisdom (skillful living) will be a pleasant life of peace. That is the probable result.
  • Wisdom personified is a tree of life:
    • “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (18)
      • Notice the parallel:
      • Lay hold/ retaineth
        • Wisdom (skillful living) is a tree of life that first must be obtained and then it must be kept.
        • Wisdom personified is Jesus Christ. He said that He is the way, the truth and the life. (Joh 14:6) Therefore, Jesus is the tree of life.

Jesus Christ is first obtained by faith in His shed blood for the forgiveness of sin.

But Jesus said we must “abide” in Him. That means to live in Christ, walk in Christ, and trust in Christ for everything in our lives. (Joh 15:4)

• • • • The tree of life is first seen in scripture in the Garden of Eden. (Gen 2:9) Then when Adam and Eve sinned they were removed from the Garden of Eden which means they were removed from the tree of life. We do not see that tree of life mentioned again until Rev 22:2, 14 where the tree of life is restored to man for eternity because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
    • How do we know that wisdom is Jesus Christ?
      • “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.  By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” (19-20)
      • The word “LORD” is all capitalized in the King James Bible. That means = Jehovah.
      • God, the Father, created the earth by wisdom (Jesus Christ). (Joh 1:1-3)
      • Read Col 1:16
      • God, the Father, and Jesus Christ made everything, sustain it all, and control everything in this universe for the glory of God.
• Summary:
  • What are the responsibilities that the young adult should learn in life?
    • =1= Learn sound doctrine.
    • =2= The character qualities of mercy and truth.
    • =3= Faith in Christ to guide his life.
    • =4= To give offerings to God.
    • =5= To cooperate and learn from God’s correction.
  • The believer in Jesus Christ should learn to be responsible for his own spiritual growth and walk with the Lord. Yes, the Lord guides and helps us, but we must cooperate with Him to learn responsibility.`-

Homework
Proverbs 3:21-35

• Application of Pro 3:1-20
  • What is it that you find in Wisdom’s right hand? (16) Length of days.
    • What do you think that means? The probability that you will have a long life.
  • God created the earth by what? (19) Wisdom (Jesus Christ).
    • How does that relate to Joh 1:1-3 and Col 1:16?
      • Jesus Christ is wisdom personified, and He is the creator and sustainer of everything in this universe.
      • It all belongs to Him for His eternal glory.
• Preparation for Pro 3:21-35
  • Read Pro 3:21-35
    • As a child of God, what is it that should not depart from your eyes? (21)
    • How does this passage in Proverbs describe the sleep of the wise? (24)
    • From what you have already learned in Proverbs, what is the only fear a believer should have?
    • How does the Lord view a froward person? (32)
    • To whom does God give grace? (34)
• Memory verse: Psa 9:10