Freedom is Good News Part 7

In the previous article I mentioned Proverbs 3:5-6 and talked about it in relation to trusting in the LORD and so having our “paths” made smooth, pleasant and straight. But there was one phrase I never dealt with. Verse 5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” So what is this phrase about not leaning upon one’s own understanding?

I think there are many who believe that they do have a trust in God. If we believe in God and understand that He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, then we have to put our trust in Him. We would be crazy not to! But where do we draw the line in trusting Him and trusting our own understanding? This is a matter of introspection for all of us who desire a deeper relationship with God.

Last time I mentioned that it is with all of our heart that we trust Him. And what did I say the definition of the word “heart” was? In Hebrew, “it includes our motives, feelings, affections, desires, aims, principles and our thoughts”. It encompasses the entirety of our personality. So let me ask again, where do we draw the line in our trust? Then the scripture goes on to say, “lean not on your own understanding”.

We humans will certainly have a problem with this statement. But let me ask you; did you create yourself? Did you somehow understand (before birth) how your DNA was to be configured? Did your parents? Can you bring forth from one seed, the sprout, the stem, the leaves and then the fruit? This reminds me of the questions that God asked Job in chapter 38 of the book with that title, verse 4, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth. Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” Job had no answer for these and the other questions God asked him.

And what about our Savior Jesus, surely He leaned upon His own understanding didn’t He? In the book of John 5:19 Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” In the same book, chapter 7:16, Jesus said, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me.” In the next chapter verse 28, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am! And that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” John 12:49, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and so to speak.” John 14:10, “…the words I say to you are not just my own. Rather it is the Father abiding in me who is doing His works.” And lastly in 14:24, “He who does not love me will not obey my words. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

Might I state that the Son of God, on six separate occasions, said that He “leaned not on His own understanding”? So, where should we draw the line?

Until next time, may you trust in the LORD.

Freedom is Good News Part 6

In the last article I mentioned how valuable the book of Proverbs is. In this book wisdom and riches are found beyond measure. One of my favorite scriptures is found in the book of Proverbs, in chapter 3 verse 5 and 6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

It goes on from there with some beautiful instruction but let’s start with just these two verses. “Trust” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to be reliant, to trust, to hasten toward refuge”. And the word for “heart” literally means “the center of something”. To go a little further with this word, we can see that the organ that pumps blood is somewhat at the center of our bodies. But this word also includes the center of who we are. By definition in Hebrew “it includes our motives, feelings, affections, desires, aims, principles and our thoughts”. This is really a huge word. It encompasses the entirety of our personality.

This suggestion that we “trust the LORD with all our heart” looms large in our devotion to the Creator. At what point do we leave His understanding out of our lives? At what point do we not accept His instruction or wisdom? Does He not know all things? Does He not see all things? In Psalm 139:4 it says, “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD”. If we desire to have a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of all things and He tells us to “trust in Him with all that we are”, I believe we shall find this to be a good thing. Oh, and by the way, if you find this to be news to you, then lets just call it “good news”.

This is a very powerful statement, my friends and neighbors. Let me say that it takes guts and determination to put all of our trust in God.

So what does the second part of this statement in Proverbs say? “In all your ways acknowledge Him…” The words “all your ways”, is another way of saying “with all your heart”. Once we have put our trust in Him and asked for His advice or guidance, as we come out the other side of that situation, I do believe we must acknowledge His leading and help.

And then what happens? The next part of this scripture states, “and He will make your paths straight.” This word “straight” has the sense of being smooth, pleasant or prosperous.

Doesn’t it seem obvious that we would want our paths to be pleasant or prosperous? Why would we want it any other way? Our God desires good things for those that trust and acknowledge Him. And that is of course “good news”.

There is still more to come.