Proverbs 3:11-12 Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you.
13-15 The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgment and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels. Nothing else compares with it. 16-17 Wisdom gives: a long, good life, riches, honor, pleasure, peace. 18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who eat her fruit; happy is the man who keeps on eating it.
19 The Lord’s wisdom founded the earth; his understanding established all the universe and space. 20 The deep fountains of the earth were broken open by his knowledge, and the skies poured down rain.
21 Have two goals: wisdom—that is, knowing and doing right—and common sense. Don’t let them slip away, 22 for they fill you with living energy and bring you honor and respect. 23 They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail. 24-26 With them on guard you can sleep without fear; you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men, for the Lord is with you; he protects you.
27-28 Don’t withhold repayment of your debts. Don’t say “some other time,” if you can pay now. 29 Don’t plot against your neighbor; he is trusting you. 30 Don’t get into needless fights. 31 Don’t envy violent men. Don’t copy their ways. 32 For such men are an abomination to the Lord, but he gives his friendship to the godly.
33 The curse of God is on the wicked, but his blessing is on the upright. 34 The Lord mocks at mockers, but helps the humble. 35 The wise are promoted to honor, but fools are promoted to shame!
Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you. The story is told of General Robert E. Lee, the Commander of the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War, known in the South as “the war of Northern aggression.” After the war, General Lee headed the Washington and Lee University. Lee was a magnificent leader and a dedicated Christian. One day, a widowed lady brought her young son to Lee, seeking his advice on the best way to rear him. Lee’s answer was brief but unforgettable: “Teach him to deny himself.”
Proverbs 13:24 tells us, “If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him.” Spoiler alert-God has standards and He refuses to back down from them! Not only that, but when we try to back down from God’s standards, we too will suffer. These days, employers are complaining about young workers with no sense of obligation to dress appropriately, report on time, work for a full day, or to work whole-heartedly. The answer is simple: when these people were kids, nobody set any standards for behavior and then required them to live up to those standards.
Farm families have received scathing criticism on Facebook for demanding their children work and do hard difficult tasks consistently. But watch a video from two young brothers who have earned money for their first small tractor, and you get a different picture of the situation. These boys are proud, for they know they have achieved something tangible. In farming communities, this achievement is recognized as a step toward adulthood.
13-15 The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgment and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels. Nothing else compares with it. 16-17 Wisdom gives: a long, good life, riches, honor, pleasure, peace. 18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who eat her fruit; happy is the man who keeps on eating it. In an effort to be kind, some parents are failing to teach their children the difference between right and wrong, blinding them morally and severely crippling them for life.
21 Have two goals: wisdom—that is, knowing and doing right—and common sense. Don’t let them slip away, 22 for they fill you with living energy and bring you honor and respect. 23 They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail. 24-26 With them on guard you can sleep without fear; you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men, for the Lord is with you; he protects you.
Face it, there is no amount of money that buys total security. God is the only One who can keep us secure. When we live according to God’s plans, God will care for us. When we insist on trying to run our own lives, we are like someone trying to drive a vehicle in which the steering has failed.
29 Don’t plot against your neighbor; he is trusting you. 30 Don’t get into needless fights. 31 Don’t envy violent men. Don’t copy their ways. 32 For such men are an abomination to the Lord, but he gives his friendship to the godly.
33 The curse of God is on the wicked, but his blessing is on the upright. 34 The Lord mocks at mockers, but helps the humble. 35 The wise are promoted to honor, but fools are promoted to shame!
Want God to laugh? Just tell Him your plans. God is the One who knows everything, and God is the only safe Guide for your life. Micah 6:8 tells us, “No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Can you argue with this? Certainly. God doesn’t force anybody to choose His Will. But why fight with perfection? Why not humble yourself and allow God to guide you. The path to heaven is humility, not arrogance.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, pursuing Your perfect Will for our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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