The Path to Well Being Proverbs 3:1-12

The Character of Wisdom  Encouragement to pursue the Father’steaching (vv. 1-4)  Encouragement to pursue the Father’s teaching (vv. 1-4)  Trust in God and not your own understanding (vv. 5-6)  Fear God and do not be wise in your own eyes (vv. 7-8)  Honor God and do not fail to give to Him first (vv. 9-10)  Appreciate God and do not misunderstand His discipline (vv ). The Path to Well Being Proverbs 3:1-12

The Character of Wisdom  Loyalty  Love and integrity  Faith  Humility  Gratitude  Meekness Thus, we need: Proverbs 3:1-12 The Path to Well Being

Requirements: FImplies the need for continuance (John 14:21-24; James 1:25; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:16) FAll obedience MUST be from the heart (Romans 6:16-18; Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:23) Proverbs 3:1-2 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Loyalty “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Blessings: FProlonging of life (Proverbs 3:16; 4:10; 9:11; 10:27) FBetter quality of life – happiness and enjoyment (Psalm 30:5; John 10:10) FShalom – prosperity, health, and abundance (Romans 14:17) Proverbs 3:1-2 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Loyalty “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Blessings: FKeeping God’s commandments provides the best quality of life here and now… FAnd the promise of eternal life which is to come (Romans 2:7) Proverbs 3:1-2 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Loyalty “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Requirements: FMercy--love (Matthew 5:45-48; Luke 6:35,36) FTruth—”a standing to one’s promises, and not falsifying just expectations, thus fidelity.” (K & D) (1 Corinthians 4:2) Proverbs 3:3,4 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Love and Integrity “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”

Requirements: FMercy and integrity should grace one’s life like a neck chain (Proverbs 3:22; 6:21) FTo impress both virtues on the heart so that things we do and say come from within (Hebrews 8:10) Proverbs 3:3,4 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Love and Integrity “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”

Blessings: FObtain grace. Viewed favorably by God and men (Romans 14:18) FViewed as competent and worthy of honor. A good reputation with God and men (Proverbs 22:1) Proverbs 3:3,4 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Love and Integrity “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”

Requirements: FPut all your hope and confidence in God (Numbers 23:19) FYour own understanding will not support you (Proverbs 14:12; 28:26; Jeremiah 10:23) Proverbs 3:5,6 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Faith “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

FMany trust God ONLY as long as His will and instructions make sense to them (2 Kings 5:11; Mark 16:16; Acts 20:7; Colossians 3:16) Proverbs 3:5,6 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Faith “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

FGod’s ways are far above our ways (Isaiah 55:8,9; Romans 11:33,34) FTherefore, we should always focus on God and His will in every aspect of our lives (Colossians 3:17) Proverbs 3:5,6 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Faith “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Too many think of God ONLY: F When it is time to assemble with the church FWhen we eat… FWhen tragedy strikes FAfter we get ourselves into trouble Proverbs 3:5,6 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Faith “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Blessings: FGod removes the obstacles, making a smooth path, or way of life (Psalm 25:8) FThose who follow wisdom have easier, less troublesome lives (Proverbs 3:10, 16, 24, 25) Proverbs 3:5,6 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Faith “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Requirements: FArrogance and ego blind people to both faults and needs (Proverbs 14:16; 26:12) FReverence for God leads to repentance and righteousness (Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13) Proverbs 3:7,8 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Humility “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Blessings: FHumility and reverence are as essential to spiritual life, “and to continual growth in grace, as the umbilical cord is to life and growth in the womb.” (Adam Clarke) Proverbs 3:7,8 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Humility “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Blessings: F“And marrow to thy bones” (ASV) FAs the marrow gives support and strength to the bones, and the bones to the body, so reverent living gives support and strength to the soul. Proverbs 3:7,8 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Humility “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”

Requirements: FAs a way to express gratitude to God, He commanded Israel to honor Him with the first fruits of all their crops and gain (Exodus 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 18:4) Proverbs 3:9,10 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Gratitude “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

We too must give to the Lord: FWith “love, liberality, and thankfulness” (2 Corinthians 8:2-9) FAccording to what we have (as we prosper) (2 Corinthians 8:12) FWhatever we can give cheerfully (2 Cor.9:7) Proverbs 3:9,10 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Gratitude “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Blessings: FPromotes more blessings (Acts 20:35) FPromotes temporal success, but does NOT guarantee it! FWe receive more than enough spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3; 5:20) Proverbs 3:9,10 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Gratitude “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Requirements: FDo not reject or take lightly the Lord’s discipline, nor loathe or abhor His rebuke (Job 5:17) FThrough teaching, testing, commanding, God disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:5,6) Proverbs 3:11,12 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Meekness “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

Requirements: FToo many balk at His commands. FToo many wilt under trials. FToo many surrender to the world. FToo many reject His rebuke. Proverbs 3:11,12 The Path to Well Being The Character of Wisdom Meekness “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

The Character of Wisdom  Encouragement to pursue the Father’s teaching (vv. 1-4)  Trust in God and not our own understanding (vv. 5-6)  Fear God and do not be wise in our own eyes (vv. 7-8)  Honor God and do not fail to give to Him first (vv. 9-10)  Appreciate God and do not misunderstand His discipline (vv ) The Path to Well Being Proverbs 3:1-12

The Character of Wisdom  Loyalty  Love and integrity  Faith  Humility  Gratitude  Meekness Thus, the need for: Proverbs 3:1-12 The Path to Well Being