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Success On Three Levels
Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Jul 28, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Proverbs chapter 3 contains some wonderful advice concerning how to live a fulfilled life.
1 ¶ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Prov. 3:1-10 (KJV)
1- Do I want to live a long life filled with PEACE?
2- Do I want to have better HEALTH?
3- Do I want wealth – PLENTY?
Wisdom from Proverbs chapter three.
1- Trust God with my HEART. (vv. 1-4)
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. 4:23 (KJV)
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mk 12:30 (KJV)
1. Make God my TRUE devotion, affection and passion. (Emotions)
2. Keep the God’s WORD from MY heart. (v. 1)
3. Be MERCIFUL from the heart. [God loves for us to be merciful]
4. RESULT:
• A long life full of PEACE
• FAVOR with God and men.
2- Trust God with my HEAD. (vv. 5-8)
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mk 12:30 (KJV)
1. “Trust” means to DEPEND on a person or thing.
2. God wants me to trust Him for DIRECTION.
3. In contrast I am not to “trust” in my “own understanding”. (vv. 5-7) [Discernment]
• I shouldn’t be “WISE” in my own eyes.
• I should “FEAR the Lord”.
• I should “DEPART from evil”.
• I should “Acknowledge the Lord in all my WAYS”.
4. RESULT: HEALTH. [Psychosomatic connection]
3- Trust God with my HANDS. (vv. 9-10)
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mk 12:30 (KJV)
1. I should “honor the Lord with my …INCREASE”.
2. It should be “the FIRSTFRUITS”.
• Literally, the BEST.
• It should be of “ALL… my increase”. [Income or gain]
3. I can be a PARTNER with God!
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts Mal. 3:10-11 (KJV)
4. RESULT: PLENTY.
Claim God’s word for a long peaceful life, better health and plenty.
ACTIONS: Trust God with my Heart, my Head and my Hands.