Dear Church,
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, has given us tremendous insight into what it means to live wisely. On Sunday we looked at Proverbs 3 and discovered three principles for living wisely.
- BE A GOOD STEWARD.
Verses 9-10-Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
God gives us resources for us to manage, and He asks that we keep and manage 90% well, but that we give Him 10%. As we give to God in a way that honors and acknowledges that we understand He owns it all and we are just managers of our resources, He blesses us back in ways that are abundant. When we give Him from the first of our income, He will bless the rest. God can lead you to do more with 90% and have more on your 90% and you will be happier with your 90% than you would have been with your 100% if you had kept the portion God had ask for.
- BE OPEN TO DISCIPLINE.
Verses 11-12: “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
Wise people understand that love and discipline go together. When you see someone headed for destruction if you don’t correct them, but you simply adopt the attitude that it’s their life and they can do what they want to do, you don’t love them. Hebrews 12:7-8 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
God didn’t send Jesus so that we could become a better version of ourselves. He sent Him so that we could become like Him. That transformation won’t happen without discipline.
- BE CONFIDENT IN CHRIST
Verses 25-26: Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
If anyone has a reason to live with a peaceful mind, a calm outlook, a blessed assurance, it is the Christian. He will be our confidence. We don’t have to be afraid of a sudden disaster. We don’t have to worry about a “what if” scenario. God has got us in the palm of His hand.
Be a good steward. Be open to discipline. Be confident in Christ. If you test Him in stewardship, He will be faithful. If you open yourself up to His discipline, He will be loving. If you place your confidence in Him, He will see you through.
Rev. Dr. Melissa Pratt
Teays Valley Church of God
6979 Teays Valley Rd, Scott Depot, WV 25560
Melissa@tvcog.org
304-757-9222
www.tvcog.org
