The Proverbs Series: Two Things That Will Guarantee Access To The Good Life.
Walking the Wise Path to the Good Life
Dear #DailyFollower,
Introduction
How are you today? How’s the week going?
These aren’t rhetorical questions; I genuinely want to know. Please let me know in the comments section below.
We continue on our journey in Proverbs today, diving into Proverbs 3.
If you’ve just found the #DailyFollower newsletter, I’m excited you’ve stopped to read this letter, giving it 2-3 minutes of your precious time. If you have a few more minutes, check out my post on why I write these letters here and all of the letters from the Proverbs Series here - these letters share profound wisdom that sets us on paths that take us to the good life.
Today, we listen to King Solomon’s advice to his son and us, advice he hopes we’ll pay attention to as people who understand the value of wisdom.
Let’s hear from Solomon.
The Text
Proverbs 3:1-2, KJV
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.
Proverbs 3:1-2, EXB
1 My ·child [son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law], but ·keep my commands in mind [let your heart/mind protect my commands].
2 Then ·you will live a long time, and your life will be successful [length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].
Some Thoughts
To advice is to present a better way. The advisor always has a perspective or experience to share to help listeners achieve specific outcomes. Advice offered can be ignored or rejected by listeners, and as such, listeners ignoring or rejecting the advice can’t expect to benefit from the accompanying benefits of following the instructions contained in such advice.
Solomon advises us not to forget his teachings (instructions, laws) but to take them to heart and obey them. In Solomon’s words, we hear God speaking to us, telling us not to forget His teachings and follow them.
There’s a promise for all who listen (hear and obey) to Solomon’s (and God’s) advice! They will live exciting lives worth living filled with success and peace.
A Few Questions To Ponder
How badly do you want to be successful, live long, and enjoy a peaceful existence? What would you give to get it all, i.e., be successful, live long and enjoy peace?
Libraries and bookstores are filled with books that help readers identify actionable steps to success, longevity, and a peaceful existence.
Our text today summarises all these books to give us these two actions we must consistently take to enjoy success, longevity, and a peaceful existence:
Remembering God’s Word (His instructions and laws), and
Obeying God’s Word.
Conclusion
God gives us a line-by-line guide on remembering and obeying His Word in the instructions He gave Joshua when He charged him with taking Israel into the Promised Land after Moses’ death.
Here’s God’s guideline from Joshua 1:8, AMPC:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
To remember and obey God’s Word, God says we should:
Speak His Word consistently. To do this, we must know His Word.
Think deeply about His Word consistently. To do this, we must know His Word.
Do His Word consistently. To do this, we need to know His Word.
Knowing God’s Word is all we need to pay attention to to remember and obey God’s Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit, as we pay attention to knowing the Word of God, He helps us craft systems that enable us to speak, think deeply about, and do His Word consistently.
On the other side of engaging in these activities daily is [good] success with prosperous ways, longevity, and peace - that’s the good life.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.