Trust The Instrument

You can listen to the sermon here:-

https://www.npbc.org.au/podcasts/media

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust The Instrument”

Who do you trust?

Many of us we will quickly say “I trust Jesus”.

That is a good answer.

But I’m thinking more broadly about the trust that you place in another person because they give you the knowledge or insight or direction that you need.

It will come as no surprise to any of you that I trust Corianna (my wife of 35 years)

I trust her for many reasons. One of those reasons is because of her impeccable dress sense.

Combined with the fact that I have no dress sense.

For some time in our marriage I was the person who was still wearing shorts and long socks, the ones that go up to your knees. I continued to believe and argue with Corianna that this was fashionable … until a group of ladies in our first church came and visited our house to specifically tell me that shorts and long socks is a fashion disaster.

Corianna just looked at me and said, “I told you”

I still felt I had something to contribute in choosing my own fashion – but regularly I would walk out of our room in the morning and she would say,

“You’re not wearing that are you” … it is not a question, but a statement of fact.

We are now at the point where I can admit – I have no fashion sense.

If ever you see me in mismatched clothes, or the wrong shoes, or wrongly dressed for the occasion, it is because I left the house early and Corianna wasn’t awake.

When you don’t have the right understanding, or you lack capacity, trusting in yourself is a fool’s errand.

It might not be such a disaster when it comes to a lack of fashion sense.

But it will be a disaster when it comes to a lack of spiritual sense.

With this in mind let’s turn to Proverbs 3:1-12

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 peace and prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them round 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.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7 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.

9 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.

11 My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline,

and do not resent His rebuke,

12 because the LORD disciplines those He loves,

as a father the son He delights in.

The writer of Proverbs identifies some tools, and attitudes, and insights we need which will enable us to be able to trust in the Lord.

One of the tools which enable us to trust in the Lord is found in Proverbs 3:1

Do Not Forget My Teaching

In the Hebrew Scriptures this teaching is often known as Torah.

The first five books of the Bible.

When we think Torah we may think, “oh … that is the law of God” books.

Certainly, they contain many laws – but the Torah is so much more than that.

The Torah starts at the Garden of Eden, where we read about the fall of mankind, and the promise of a Saviour.

The Torah then describes the tower of Babel, where mankind is scattered, and the establishment of the covenant with Abraham as the father of the nation of Israel.

The Torah then talks about Israel becoming slaves in Egypt, and God releasing them from slavery through the Exodus.

The Torah describes the journey to the promised land, including 40 years wandering in the desert. At the end of the Torah the nation of Israel is going to enter the promised land.

Among these big events there are many stories of rebellion and restoration.

Time and again the people … as individuals and as a nation … rebel against God.

Time and again, God forgives, and restores, and equips and blesses.

In among all of this are laws, precepts, commands and decrees.

That is Torah. That is teaching.

When Scripture says, “Do not forget my teaching” Scripture is saying “Don’t forget the big story.”

The big story that God has called us into fellowship with Himself and He is the God who continually says, “You are mine”.