Character Studies in Proverbs : Lesson #5 How to Live a Long, Healthy and Prosperous Life

(Proverbs 3:1-10) 

This is the goal of about every person that I know. I think everyone wants to be healthy and live along time just ask anyone who is sick or has a disease of some kind. But not only does everyone want to be healthy but everyone at least has a goal of being prosperous. Now one may say that they are not really interested in money but prosperous applies to more than money. Some consider having their kids grow up and serve the Lord to be a very prosperous life regardless of how much money they make. So in this lesson we will see what the Bible say about being healthy, prosperous, and living a long life.

Verses 1-2 :

Here we see where everything really starts and that is it all starts with God’s word. In verse 1 it says “but let thine heart keep my commandment”. What you do with the word of God can determine or health, prosperity, and length of life. Jesus said if you love him that you would keep his words (John 14:23). Now someone might say well I know someone that does not believe the Bible let alone do what it says and they have a lot of money. Yes but are they happy? And do they really have a prosperous life? One day this world and everything in it will burn up (2 Peter 3:10-12) and then in eternity they will not consider themselves to have had a prosperous life.

Now the benefit of keeping God’s word is found in verse 2. “Length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add unto thee”. This matches Ephesians 6:1-3 and in this passage we are told that obeying our mother and father can increase our days on the earth.

Verses 3-4 :

Here we see that keeping mercy (Psalms 100:5) and truth (John 17:17) will get us favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Note also that they are to be written on the table of our heart. We need the word of God in our heart because out of the heart are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Verses 5-6 : 

This is probably one of the best known scriptures for saved people and yet it is probably one of the least followed scriptures.

1) The first step is to Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. So many times we trust in ourselves or in others rather than God. This is seen very plainly in Christian Book stores today in America. There are books on how to save your marriage, how to raise your children, how to spend your money, and any other topic you wish. And while there is some good advice in many of these books what is wrong is that saved people will go to these books before and ahead of seeing what the Bible says about these things. Note the following verse on trust.

Psalm 118:8-9 (Trust God ahead of man every time)

2) The second step is to lean not unto thine own understanding. This is where we as saved people have a problem. We want to understand everything. But we need to remember that if we are trusting God as step one says then why do we need to understand everything. This is why we have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). A   good verse to go with this is Proverbs 28:26. (Look it up!)

3) The third step is to acknowledge God in all your ways. This means that in every decision that you make whether little or big you should ask God what he thinks about it. (Philippians 4:6) Now every day we should ask God where would he have me go today, what would he have me wear today, what would he have me say when I get there. You should seek God’s counsel on where to go to school, where to go to work, where to go on        vacation. The problem comes when we think that we can make these decisions on our own.

Now we see the benefit of doing what is in the above steps, “and he shall direct thy paths”. Now when we feel like God is not or has not directed our path then it will be a failure on our part in one of the 3 steps given in the text.

Verses 7-8 :

Once again we see that the wisdom of man is nothing when compared to the wisdom of God (1Corinthians 1:18-25). We also see the fear of the Lord here and this is essential to having knowledge and wisdom.  Now the benefits of this are found in verse 8 and they are having good health.

Verses 9-10 :

In these verses we see something about giving to the Lord, and he will bless us for it. Now some will say that we don’t have to tithe in the New Testament. But we are told to give as God has told us to give in our heart. The passage for giving in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.  According to this passage we should give as we have purposed in our heart and not grudgingly or of necessity but with a cheerful heart. The result will be that God will bless you if you give to him.

Character Studies in Proverbs : Lesson #6 How to Live a Long, Healthy, and Prosperous Life (Proverbs 3:1-10)

Handout

1)  According to our text where does everything really start when it comes to having a long,

healthy, and prosperous life?

2)  What does Jesus say a person will do if he loves him? Give a reference.

3)  What 2 things are we to keep so that we will have favour and good understanding in the sight

of God and man?

4)  What are the 3 steps to getting the Lord to direct our paths found in verse 5-6?

5)  What does it mean to acknowledge God in all thy ways?

6)  What does the Bible say about the wisdom of man?

7)  What is the New Testament passage that instructs us on how to give?