10 New Year’s Resolutions From the Wisest Man Who Ever Lived by (copied) Proverbs 3:1-3:35
10 Resolutions to live by. (Copied)
This is the 1st Sunday of the New Year. You know, when you think about it, all New Year’s Resolutions basically fall into 3 categories. They deal with:
1. Things to make us look better and live longer.
2. Things to make us have more.
3. Things that will help us to get along with everyone.
- Longevity, Prosperity and Peace.
I have often said that we could find an answer in God’s word for any question or situation of life if we would just look.
Proverbs - chapter 3. Now this first time I read I will just leave out a few words here and there and we will see just the benefits of adopting this set of New Year’s Resolutions set forth here in this 3rd chapter.
1 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 prosperity. [Longevity, Prosperity] . . . you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man (peace) . .He will direct your paths. . . will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (longevity). . . your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine (prosperity). . . you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. . . you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. . . the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (peace)
Solomon starts off this 3rd chapter with a very matter of fact statement.
1 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 prosperity.
Then He gives very specific details of 10 precepts or principles that we should live by in order to have long life, prosperity and peace
I. LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU V 3-4
A. 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.
B. Love and Faithfulness
1. Let these two qualities be the guiding lights in our lives
2. These must be foundational to all we do.
Definition of Love - Meeting needs
Definition of Faithfulness: keeping faith; maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal
II. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. V 5-6
A. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
B. Faith is the root, trust is the fruit
III. DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES V 7-8
A. 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.
B. Faith is the root, trust is the fruit, Fear is the motivator
IV. HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH V 9-10
A. 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.
B. This starts with tithing - God’s Law of harvest.
1. giving is the evidence of the seed, root, the harvest
2. giving is the first fruit, after faith, trust, and fear.
3. without giving can there be faith, trust and fear?
V. DO NOT DESPISE THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE V 11-12
A. 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.
B. Only a fool despises chastisement
C. Evidence of love
VI. SEARCH DILIGENTLY FOR WISDOM AND FIND IT V 13-24
A. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and
honour. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her
will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by
understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the deeps
were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, preserve sound
judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22 they will
be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on
your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down,
you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
B. WHAT IS WISDOM? WISDOM HAS TWO GROUPS OF CHARACTERISTICS.
1. INFORMATION
Do an analogy of a farmer with a tractor in a field. He must have the right equipment and materials - gas etc. But he still must know what to do and what not to do with it - how to use it and how not to use it - when to use it and when not to use it - and where to use it and where not to use it - if he is going to be a successful farmer.
2. WISDOM
V 13-20 talks about those characteristics of wisdom which deal with
knowlege, learning, information, intelligence, data, facts, intellect, and
experience.
3. V 21-24 talks about those characteristics of wisdom which deal with
perception, discernment, judgement, reason, insight, prudence, discretion,
and just plain ol’ common sense.
VII. HAVE NO FEAR V 25-26
A. 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.
B. Only fear God!
VIII. DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT V 27-28
A. Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power
to act. Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back later; I’ll give it
tomorrow” — when you now have it with you.
B. Second part of giving. If God has given you two coats, one is for someone else.
IX. DO NOT PLOT HARM AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR V 29-30
- Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason — when he has done you no harm.
X. DO NOT ENVY A VIOLENT MAN OR CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS V 31 - 32
- Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the
LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
Verses 33-35 ARE SIMPLY STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL PROMISES IF WE KEEP THE ABOVE COMMANDS.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise inherit honour, but fools he holds up to shame.
