Proverbs 3:1-18
September 15, 2024
preached by Pastor Ryan Bouton
Download

Time of Reflection Quotations

“The object of magic is misdirection. Audiences are more apt to believe what they hear than what they see, and intelligent people are the easiest to fool because they don’t expect me to use some childish gimmick to deceive them. On the other hand, children are hard to fool, because they watch closely and don’t listen.”

~ John Hamman (1927-2000), close-up magician and Marianist Brother, in his acceptance speech for the first St. Louis Magical Heritage Award

“Son, son, it must be one way or the other. Either the day must come when joy prevails and all the makers of misery are no longer able to infect it: or else for ever and ever the makers of misery can destroy in others the happiness they reject for themselves. I know it has a grand sound to say you’ll accept no salvation which leaves even one creature in the dark outside. But watch that sophistry or you’ll make a Dog in a Manger the tyrant of the universe.”

~ The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, a British writer, literary scholar, and lay theologian

“Our God is utterly dependable. His character makes it impossible for Him to lie. His wisdom is so great He can never make a mistake. Our God can be trusted. He has high and holy purposes and no ulterior motives. His love is so limitless He can never be unkind. Yet perfect love is always balanced by absolute holiness. As Preston Moore, a preacher friend of mine, says, ‘He will never let us go, never let us down, and never let us off.’ So we can trust Him. We must trust Him. We must trust Him with all our heart. Anything less is an insult. A divided heart and a double mind are almost as bad as no trust at all. However, God is patient; He will begin a relationship with us when we have only a flawed faith, but He demands complete commitment. He expects us to trust Him even in the darkest times, and He expects our trust to grow.”

~ Exploring Proverbs by John Phillips, Assistant Director of the Moody Correspondence School

Sermon Passage

Proverbs 3:1-18 (ESV)

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
² for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
¹² for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
¹³ Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
¹⁴ for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels,
and 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 ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed