He Will Make Your Paths Straight
This is an edited version of a children’s sermon at FCBC Walnut.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
If we trust in God then he will make our paths straight. This serves as a general promise from God’s word. Making our paths straight means that you will live morally and rightly. When you and I don’t live morally and rightly - the Bible calls us sheep who have gone astray. Sheep don’t really know where to go. They wander. They get lost. Instead, we need to trust God to make our paths straight.
But how do we know that this is true? Is there any weight behind these words? Is the Bible telling us to just trust God blindly? Or are there reasons why we should trust him? When we look at more verses in Proverbs 3, we’ll see two reasons why we can and should trust the Lord. Of course, there are more than just two reasons on why we can and should trust in God, but we’ll just look at two from our passage today.
1. Trust the Lord because he loves you
Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
God is said to discipline those whom he loves. When the Bible talks about God’s discipline, it means the way that God brings things into our lives to help us grow. In this context, discipline can be said to be difficulties or hardships. Sometimes they are because of sin. Or they are because God is showing us something. Or it may just be a way that God is causing us to grow. We don’t always know the reasons why God brings hardships to our lives, but we can know that God still loves us throughout it all. Don’t forget that God wants to have a relationship with you.
This proverb actually gives us a very clear illustration. God disciplines his children like a father disciplines his sons. My children might think that I make life hard for them. I don’t always do what they want. I remember one time when I was trying to teach them to put on their socks and shoes. They wanted me to do it for them. But I said no, and I said we’re going to sit here and practice. They thought I was making life hard for them. Of course, I was just trying to teach them so they could grow up to be able to put on their own socks and shoes. I did it because I love them, and this is like God’s discipline. God wants us to grow.
Be Happy and Holy
So, will you trust God’s love in the way he disciplines you in your life? Trusting God’s love in your life means being happy and holy. It means being happy because you know God loves you, but also being holy in the way you respond to God’s discipline. You won’t get angry or upset at him, but you’ll seek to grow and learn to be more like Jesus. People will say that if your life is hard, God does not love you. That’s not true. The Bible says that God disciplines us because he loves us. If you get sick or hurt, you can show your trust in God by praying to him, continuing to worship him, and telling others that God is still good no matter what happens. If God is disciplining you because of your sin, you can remember to repent. You can trust God the Father will be ready to forgive and embrace your return.
2. Trust the Lord because he is wise
The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew. (Proverbs 3:19-20)
The second reason to trust the Lord is because he is wise. While knowledge is knowing facts, wisdom is knowing how to apply that knowledge in a way that pleases and praises God. In our passage, we see God’s wisdom as he creates and sustains the earth. We also see that God established the heavens by understanding. In our technological age, we think that we are so smart. But the Bible reminds us that even something basic like the earth and the weather are things that only God is wise enough to truly understand. Don’t forget that God is your maker.
This proverb gives us a very interesting example of wisdom. When we think of wise people, we might picture an old man sitting on a chair and just saying smart things. That’s not the picture that the Bible paints for us. The Bible gives us a picture of God taking action. Look at all the verbs in this verse: founded, established, breaking open, dripping with dew. As God works and takes action in your life, you can believe that God is orchestrating everything in his wisdom. He is the active agent in your life. He is participating in the plan he has for you. Our God is not a dead, lifeless idol - our God takes action.
Be Happy and Humble
So, will you trust God’s wisdom in the way he takes action in your life? Trusting God’s wisdom in your life means being happy and humble. It means being happy because you know God is doing what’s best for you, while also being open to what God will show you, where he will have you go, what he will have you do. Sometimes our life does not go the way we plan or want. You might think you know what is best for yourself. The truth is that you do not know it all. You might say of course, but sometimes your actions say otherwise. This is called pride - and the Bible says that God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. Have a humble confidence that trusts God’s wisdom in your life.
He Will Make Your Paths Straight
Trust the Lord because he loves you and because he is wise. If you stop and think, you’ll see that God’s love and wisdom was best displayed in Jesus. We have his example as the perfect person who showed God’s love and wisdom best.
It’s interesting that Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. In his wisdom and love, Jesus our Good Shepherd takes care of his sheep and makes sure not one of them is lost. He goes back and gets those who have wandered off. His sheep hear his voice, and they know him. I pray that you will trust in the Good Shepherd to make your paths straight.
