Faith and Trust

January 14, 2024 Background Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-23 Lesson Passage: Proverbs 3:1 - 8 Familiar scriptures can be difficult to study because we believe we already know them. Such is the case with today's Background Scripture. Some Study Bibles label this passage of scripture as "Advice for the Young". However, the advice contained in this passage is good for people of all ages—some of us don't understand it until we become senior citizens. This advice challenges us to forsake our own abilities and depend entirely on the Lord. Both of those are difficult to do. We are taught from an early age that maturing should lead us to become independent of others. We learn to walk on our own, to feed ourselves, to dress ourselves, and eventually to provide our own resources. As adults, we are expected to depend on our own strength, resolve, and wits. The advice contained in today's scripture says we should forsake all of that and depend on God. It goes on to say that in every aspect of our lives, we are to acknowledge God as Lord of everything. It promises that having a reverent fear of God and avoiding evil will lead to physical wellness for us. We are reminded that we never truly own anything in this world. At best, we become stewards of worldly goods. Our stewardship of earthly possessions begins with accepting God as the owner of all that we receive. Things are temporary, but God is eternal. We should esteem God above earthly possessions. We are admonished to acknowledge God as the giver of earthly possessions, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights." We demonstrate that we are not attached to things by bringing a portion of our increase as an offering to God. What we bring as an offering to God should be the firstfruits of the increase; we should not wait to see if anything is left over after we spend, or use, what we want. God' s offering should be removed from the increase of possessions first, and then we are free to use what remains as stewards of it. In exchange for our obedience in this matter, God's word promises that we will have plenty to the point of overflowing beyond our needs. The more we demonstrate our trustworthiness as stewards of what God gives us, then the more God entrusts us with. God rewards us for good stewardship. Likewise, we are to view personal punishment and correction by God as acts of His love towards us. We grow to understand the relationship between punishment and love within human families. If children of God were allowed to do whatever we choose to do, then that would suggest that God doesn't possess the love of human parents. Certainly, God's love for His children exceeds anything that humans could ever provide. God's correction of us is indicative of His delight in us. When we examine the advice in this lesson, it is evident that we need an unusual amount of trust in an invisible God for us to put ourselves in such a situation without any proof of the outcome other than that which is accepted by faith in God's word. This advice promises great outcomes. But these outcomes must be preceded by trusting God without any other proof than belief in His worthiness of such trust. We offer a submissive heart in obedience and worship of God, and we align our actions to demonstrate such obedience. Abandoning our own abilities precede receiving directions from God, A reverent fear of God and righteous living precede physical wellbeing. Offering the firstfruits of our increase to God precedes barns being filled to the point of overflowing. Chastisement and correction precede understanding the nature and extent of God's love towards us. As we accept these conclusions, then we appreciate the benefits of being members of God's divine family. People of faith must first be people of trust. Robert C. Hudson December 29, 2023