5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3 begins with a challenge from Solomon to his son. He said, “do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart.” The promised result is a long and prosperous life. What is it exactly that Solomon taught and commanded his son to do? While the book of Proverbs as a whole provides the answer to this question, I think the nutshell answer is found in verse 3, “let love and faithfulness never leave you...”

In the New Testament, a teacher of the law approached Jesus and asked him, “Of all the commandments, which one is most important?” Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:28-30) It sounds like Solomon was on to something . . . love and faithfulness.

When we read a book like Proverbs which is full of practical wisdom, it’s possible to get overwhelmed with things to do. Chapter 3 alone tells us . . . “Don’t be wise in your own eyes, honor the Lord from your wealth, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, do not withhold good from those who deserve it, do not plot harm against your neighbor etc.” This is all great advice and perhaps one or more of these truths applies to a specific situation in your life right now, but it is a lot to remember.

Do you remember what it was like to learn how to drive? I think my mother aged a few years in a few days when I was learning how to drive. In my defense, there is a lot to remember. You have to remember to take your foot off the gas before you can apply the brake (a concept that I tested!). You have to follow the 3 second rule of spatial distance with the vehicle in front of you (a concept I almost tested several times!). You always have to be alert, use your blinkers, plan your next move, watch for pedestrians etc... It’s complicated! But after many hours of study, practice and test drives with mom and dad, driving becomes second nature.

My prayer is that walking with God would become for us second nature. In Proverbs 3:5-6, I think Solomon lays out how to make this happen. This was one of the verses that I memorized as a young believer that the Lord has used in my life again and again to “reset” my focus.

First, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Look to the Lord believing that He is your heavenly father who knows what you need before you ask. He will guide you and protect you and provide for you. When he says ‘no,’ its for good reason. Give thanks for all things and trust him.

Second, lean not on your own understanding. Why not trust in yourself? Because your understanding is limited and informed by your biased self. God, on the other hand, is all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful. His understanding is inscrutable and his ways are perfect. Trust in him.

Third, in all your ways acknowledge him. Recognize that the Lord is sovereign over every area of your life. He is your creator and sustainer. His will is for you to glorify him in all things. He invites you to pray about everything and you can know with rock solid confidence that he will hear and answer according to his perfect will.

The result is that he will make your paths straight (or smooth). Does this passage promise a perfect life to all who are yielded to him? No. The rain falls on everyone, the righteous and the unrighteous. What it does promise is spiritual fruitfulness and peace of mind to all who will trust the Lord and follow him. He will lead us faithfully because he loves us.

Put it all together and you see the Lord’s love and faithfulness directed toward us through the promises of this text. We can faithfully love him because he faithfully loves us.