Life Ministries

Prov. 3:5-6

#2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” – “Lean not on your own understanding” - “In all your ways acknowledge Him” -  Result? – “he will make your paths straight.” What paths?  What does it mean to “trust with all your heart?” What does it mean to “lean not on our own under-standing?” What does it mean “in all things acknowledge Him?”
    Life is full of right and wrong paths; false steps; dead-ends; seemingly right ways and decisions that may or may not lead to the right goal. These paths are blocked by barriers such as temptation; failing health; and many other things brought on by unwise lifestyle choices and wrong decisions. Sometimes we may have to reverse direction and go a different way… in the church we call this “repentance”. Sometimes we may have to find a way through around or over the barrier in order to find freedom.  For the Christian we can depend on the God whom we serve to help us in those times and decisions, because He tells us that He will “never leave us nor forsake us”…but, He is always there and “if we seek Him we will find Him”...and “He will make our paths straight.”
    The question today is “How do we avoid those paths that led to dead-ends?... How do we spot those false and wrong steps that may look good to us, but lead to destruction and disaster?... How can we make good and right choices and enjoy their fruit in our lives?
    The answer to all those questions is found in the Book of Proverbs. It is called the “wisdom book” as we read; “for attaining wisdom, discipline, and understanding”. Now, wisdom in Hebrew also means “skill”… so wisdom also brings the skills we need to live the kind of right and abundant life that God desires for us as His children. The Book of Proverbs sets forth a path – with the wisdom of God – that will bring us out of the labyrinth of life and give us pure, holy, and righteous direction that always has our good in mind; Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
    With that being said, let’s look at this scripture from Proverbs 3 -  It is obvious that there are four parts to this particular scripture. The first three we could say are “directives” while the fourth is the promise, reward, or result of wisely following what it says.
     What is the first directive? (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart”)… And the second directive? (“Lean not on your own understanding”)… And the third? (“In all your ways acknowledge Him”)… And the reward? ( “He will make your paths straight”.) There seems to be a reference or an underlying assumption that to “make our paths straight” means that there is greater goal or reward in doing so. “Straight paths” are helpful if not life changing, but they are not the reward, it’s what they lead to!
    I want to write more about this subject, but let me close with this thought; Notice that it says he will make our “paths” (plural) – more than one – straight…How many paths do we walk in life?... How about the path of relationships?... This may be actually three paths that God can make straight; There is the path of our personal righteousness with God? There is the path of relationships with others; There is the path of our marriage and family relationships. Or, how about our financial path; our emotional path; our career path; and especially our spiritual path?   If we follow the first three directives, God will make all our paths straight! Do you think this could be the abundant life?...