Text:
Proverbs 3:5:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Theme:
Keep Coming Back
Introduction:
- Proverbs is one of the books of poetry written by Solomon, son of David and King of Israel…the man, who when praying to God and requesting additional resources, asked for WISDOM. One result of this request was believed to be three thousand proverbs written by Solomon of which the book of Proverbs is an excerpt or portion.
- The book, Stanley’s Jewish Church, explains well the book of Proverbs,
“philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education… It deals, too, in that refined, discriminating, careful view of the finer shades of human character so often overlooked by theologians, but so necessary to any true estimate of human life”
- Proverbs deals with the reality of life
- As the Master said in John 17:11, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
- We have to be in the world, but we must not be OF IT!
- Our text is contained in the first of the three parts of Proverbs, chapters 1-9 — Wisdom as the highest good.
- We find our text focusing on the theme of TRUST!
- Trust means “Assured Reliance” or “to confidently depend on someone or something else”
- Trust in God
- “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart”
- Trust in man/self
- “lean not unto thine own understanding”
- Put it ALL in God’s hands!!
Body:
God wants all!
- Our text, Proverbs 3:5, says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- Psalms 38:9 says, “Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.”
- Matthew 7:12 says, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
- Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Trusting with ALL our heart requires that we GIVE ALL of:
- What you don’t want
- Not respected by God
- People will share what they don’t want first!
- Sins (I don’t ever steal, although I am rich.)
- What you want
- Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac
- Sins (It is hard to stop, but I give it up to God!)
- What you don’t need
- Not respected by God
- People will sacrifice what they don’t need first!
- Tithes (I give what I have extra.)
- What you need
- The rich young ruler was asked to sell ALL that he had to the poor and follow Christ.
- Tithes (I give to God what is god’s regardless of my understood needs.)
- What God has given
- Gifts
- In Acts 3:6, at the Gate of the temple called Beautiful, Peter said to the lame man, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
- Understanding
- Our text, Proverbs 3:5, says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- Responsibility
- The bible says in Luke 5:11 that the disciples “forsook all, and followed him.”
- God must be first!! As it says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Ahead of:
- Job
- Relationships
- Family
- We have to trust God to take care of our responsibilities when we have to “forsake all, and follow Him”!
- Our text, Proverbs 3:5, says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- Gifts
Conclusion:
- When all else fails, Keep Coming Back!
- In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), we have a saying for everyone after they give their story. It is “Keep Coming Back!” It is also used as encouragement for anyone in their struggle. It is important to come to meetings to allow yourself to be caught up in the spirit of sobriety and recovery. Without your continual attendance to meetings in the early stages of recovery, you will surely relapse or go back to drinking. Then, even after you have relapsed, we still say “Keep Coming Back” to help put the setback behind them. You must “Keep Coming Back” to ensure growth.
- The same is the case for the believer in Christ. We must “Keep Coming Back” to God in spite of our mistakes, weaknesses, frustrations, or shortcomings.
- How do we come back?
- Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
- As the old hymn says, “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me.”
- Keep giving ALL THAT YOU CAN until you have given ALL THAT YOU HAVE!!
- As the other old hymn says, “ Lord, I come to Thee, a sinner all defiled. Please take the stain of guilt away and own me as thy child. I cannot live in sin and feel my Savior’s love, but that Thy blood can make my spirit clean and write my name above.”
- How do we come back?
- You can’t GIVE ALL to God unless you TRUST God!
- When you need God to change your life, TRUST HIM
- When you need God to forgive you of your sins, TRUST HIM
- When you need to give God your needs, TRUST HIM
- When you need to give God your gifts, TRUST HIM
- When you need to give God your responsibilities, TRUST HIM
- But, we maintain our relationship with God Trusting in Him on a regular basis!!
- When you give all, KEEP COMING BACK!
- When you don’t give all, KEEP COMING BACK!
- We can Trust Him when we keep coming back because He’ll be there!
- To receive us
- To save us
- To direct us
- TO KEEP US!!
- WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE!
- So, KEEP COMING BACK!!!
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