Proverbs 3:6-10
 
Prov 3:6 (KJB)
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
 
Acknowledge - To know
And he shall direct - To make straight or level
 
The true believer, being indwelled by the Holy Spirit will have a knowledge of God but as we continue in our Christian walk daily, we will come to know God more and more. The writer here is stating that in everything we do, we are to know God’s ways and when we know God’s ways, we acknowledge those ways as being better than the world’s ways and methods. Once we continue to walk in the ways of the Lord, He will make our paths straight. We see from the definition of the word that it means a leveling out of our life. We saw this same principle enunciated at the Jordan River when John announced the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 3:5 KJV) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; Luke 3:5 teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ completely straightens out the paths of His children. When one trusts completely in Him, their paths are made smooth and straight. It is when we forsake the Lord and try to go our own way is when the path becomes rougher. When one trusts the Lord, peace will prevail. (Isa 26:3 KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. When our minds get diverted, then they become divided and that is when Satan has a field day and brings in much confusion.
 
Prov 3:7 (KJB)
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
 
When we think that we have control of our lives or that we are masters of our own fate, we are being wise in our own eyes, that is, we are deluding ourselves with the wisdom of the world. (1 Cor 3:20 KJV) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. There is nothing but vanity awaiting any believer who thinks they can be the guide of their own life and who does not acknowledge the Lord in every way. Here the writer tells us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes, that is, do not go according to the ways of the world with all its deluding pride. We need to fear the Lord and once we see the Lord in light of worldly wisdom, we will fear Him and that fear will cause us to realize that we must depart from all evil because we could face some serious chastising from the Lord. The word “depart” carries with it the idea of “turning away.” We must avoid all evil so we will not get entangled in the world’s system.
 
Prov 3:8 (KJB)
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
 
Health - Healing or medicine
Marrow - Refreshment
 
Here Solomon is stating that once we fear the Lord and depart from evil, what that is to the soul is like medicine to the navel which speaks of the internal organs and the marrow which refreshes the bones speaks of the skeletal system. So what we have here is when a Christian departs from evil, it brings total health to the body, just as when a person become saved, salvation brings total healing to their soul. Prov. 3:8 is a metaphor because when a person become saved, that does not mean their body becomes saved but as we previously mentioned, a Christian will definitely want to stay away from the things which could harm our bodies, so in essence, healing can come to our physical bodies if, as unbelievers, we held some very bad habits but have now forsaken them. In treating diseases like leukemia, doctors will transplant good marrow into the bones which can bring about some healing in that situation.
 
Prov 3:9 (KJB)
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
 
Here is the law of the first fruits. (Exo 23:19 KJV) The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. (Deu 18:4 KJV) The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. The Israelites were to honor the Lord by giving a gift to Him of the first fruits of all their increase. Today we would bring a gift to the Lord to send forth the Gospel around the world. As we bring home our paychecks, we are to give of that to the Lord because we do not have the power to make wealth, only the Lord does and giving to Him is a faith gesture on part of the Christian. If we fail to give to the Lord, then we are failing to have faith in Him. I believe deeply that the economy of each country is tied to the generosity of the Christians living there. God does not expect unbelievers to give of their wealth for the Gospel because they are greed driven and give only to get. As Christians continue to give without complaint and joyfully, then God will bless their efforts as He has stated in so many places in His word. Proverbs 3:9 is a verse of faith on behalf of the believer.
 
Prov 3:10 (KJB)
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
 
Here is the principle of faith giving fulfilled. Once we voluntarily begin to give, God has promised that He will give an abundant crop, which means He will bless bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6 KJV) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Not everyone has a farm but we bring of the substance which God has given us. It does not necessarily mean we bring it to a church but a Christian can give directly to missionary organizations so there is no middle man taking anything out. As we continue to give, God will continue to bless because He will never forsake what He has written in His word. Of course, let me say at this juncture that it is not name it and claim it, but God will bless in His own timing and sometimes the blessing may not come for years but this is to build our faith upon Him.
 
In the last verse I stated that Christians in each country can affect their economy by giving unto the Lord. If we continue to give, and God continues to bless us, that means the economy of the land must stay healthy so He can continue to bless us through jobs, investments, or material goods. If Christians become cheap and stop giving, then God may take down the economy of that country. Our responsibility is to send forth the Gospel and to disciple other Christians. If we stop investing in lives, then what would be the purpose of having a good economy? Just to buy more material goods for storing up or for selling at 1/100 of the purchase price at next year’s yard sale? When Christians give bountifully to the work of the Lord, He will bless those Christians mightily.

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