Proverbs 3:1-8 NIV– 3 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. 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 favour and a good name in the sight of God and man. 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. 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. 9 Honour 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. 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.
Corey Brooks—“The Rooftop Pastor”—spent 343 days living on the rooftop of his church on Chicago’s south side to inspire community transformation. Online, Brooks posted a “shout-out” to his elementary school teacher Joe Stokes, who taught him four unforgettable lessons: the power of perseverance, the importance of integrity, the value of community engagement, and the impact of education.
By embracing Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs 3, we likewise can strive to live in ways that have community impact. Solomon taught four lessons: “Trust in the Lord” (v. 5); “fear the Lord and shun evil” (v. 7); “honor the Lord with your wealth” (v. 9); “do not despise the Lord’s discipline” (v. 11). Such wisdom compels us to be God-focused, but there are people touching dimensions to our faith too. (Arthur Jackson, Our Daily Bread, 10th December 2025)
Wherever we are and at what station in life, we must always remember the LORD in all that we do. In Solomon’s words, “do not forget my teachings but keep my commands in your heart” (Proverbs 3:1). Whether we are a young man or woman or we are already in our old age, the principle remains. We keep His commands (His Word) in our hearts.
Keeping His commands may be broken down into many parts but in Proverbs 3, Solomon summarised it down to 4 main principles: (1) trust in the LORD, (2) fear the LORD and shun evil, (3) honour God with our money, and (4) do not rebel against His discipline. The results are that we will have a long life, have peace and prosperity and we will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man. In other words, we will live good and honourable lives on earth. And since we are also sons and daughters of God through the redemptive blood of Christ on Calvary, we are assured of our place and treasures in eternity at the new heaven and new earth. In other words, we will live comfortably here on earth and thereafter.
As part of the living, we will no doubt still face challenges and rigours that life itself brings. The tears and joys, the heartbreaks, the health challenges as we age after years of neglect. But our eyes remain focused on Christ and our hearts still trust in the LORD. As Paul points out, “we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “He makes all things beautiful in His time”, Solomon in all his wisdom says in Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Ultimately, trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our understanding and He will make our paths straight.
Ronnie's Thoughts 