Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
PROVERBS 3
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Application Notes
3:3 Love and faithfulness are important character qualities. Both involve actions, but they start with attitudes. A loving person not only feels love; he or she also acts faithfully and responsibly. A faithful person not only understands what is important and true; he or she also works hard to achieve justice for others. Thoughts and words are not always enough; sometimes what we do shows what we truly feel. Do your actions measure up to your attitudes?
3:5-6 Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust anyone—even God. But God knows the best path for us. He is a better judge of what we need than we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason, but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes (see 3:7). We should listen to and accept correction from God's Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your guide, and then follow God's leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you.
3:6 To receive God's guidance, said Solomon, we must submit to God in all our ways. This means turning every area of life over to him. About a thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). Examine your values and priorities. What is important to you? Where is God on that list? In what areas have you failed to submit to him? In many areas of your life you may already submit to God, but the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence will cause you grief. If you make God a vital part of everything you do, he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
3:9-10 This refers to the practice of giving for God's use the first and best portion of the harvest (Deuteronomy 26:9-11). Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford to donate anything after the bills are paid and their wants are met, they do so. These people may be sincere and contribute willingly, but their attitude is nonetheless backward. To give God the first part of our income demonstrates that he has first place in our lives and that our resources belong to him. We are only managers of God's resources. Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, prioritizes our role in contributing to God's kingdom work in the world, and opens us up to receive the special blessings he promises to those who put him and his purposes above all else.
3:11-12 To discipline means to teach and to train. The idea of discipline feels negative to many because some of the discipline they received growing up wasn't given by a loving person. God, however, is the source of all love. He doesn't punish us because he enjoys inflicting pain but because he is deeply concerned about our growth in him and wants us to develop in character and maturity. He knows that for us to become people of spiritual strength and integrity, we must discern between good and evil. His loving discipline enables us to do just that.
3:11-12 Sometimes we can't know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later. Not every calamity that happens to us comes directly from God, of course. But if we rebel against God and refuse to repent when he has identified some sin in our lives, he may allow guilt, crises, or bad experiences to bring us back to him. Sometimes, however, difficult times come even when we have no flagrant sin. Then, our response should be patience, remembering that God loves us, and confidence that he will show us what to do.
3:16-17 Proverbs contains many strong statements about wisdom's many benefits, including long life, wealth, honor, and peace. If you aren't experiencing these benefits, does this mean you are short on wisdom? Not necessarily. Instead of guarantees, proverbs give general principles to make us think and reevaluate what we are doing. They are not written to be infallible promises. In a perfect world, wise behavior would always lead to these benefits. Even in our troubled world, living wisely usually results in obvious blessings—but not always. Sometimes sin intervenes, and some blessings will be delayed until Jesus returns to establish his eternal kingdom. That is why we must "live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). But we can be sure that wisdom will ultimately lead to blessing.
3:27-28 If we ignore opportunities to do good to others, especially those who need help, we are being selfish, uncaring, and unjust. We must be helpful and generous to others not because of any reward we might receive but because doing so is the mark of a committed follower of God. The evidence of this kind of attitude is shown in actions, such as helping an elderly neighbor with yard work, visiting someone in the hospital, or buying a meal for a homeless person. Withholding what is in our power to give begins to create in us an attitude of greed and a lack of compassion. Be as eager to do good to others as you are to have good done to you.
3:30 This verse implies that there is a time for fighting. Injustice must be combatted, sin resisted, and evil confronted wherever it appears. But don't waste time and energy on needless fights, arguing about trivial matters or personal inconvenience. Save your energy for the real battles against sin and God's enemies.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)