Thoughts for the Day

My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Honour the Lord with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Happy are those who find wisdom,
and those who get understanding,
for her income is better than silver,
and her revenue better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.

My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
keep sound wisdom and prudence,
and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
Then you will walk on your way securely
and your foot will not stumble.
If you sit down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Chapter 3 of Proverbs is largely about trusting in God. Solomon bids his son to "Trust in the Lord with your whole heart". The word 'trust' means the kind of trust a baby has in its parent that it will be fed and totally supported. The king argues that we should all put our confidence in God for He is worthy of our complete and total trust, whatever our situation.

The trouble is though, that we like to hedge our bets, or as we might say we don't put all our eggs in one basket. In other words we simply don't put all our trust in God. We're not like babies, indeed we think we're more capable than a baby, so we try to sort out our problems on our own. The 17th century theologian, John Trapp (who wrote a wonderful Bible commentary full of witty sayings and comments) once said this:

• “They trust not God at all that do it not alone. He that stands with one foot on a rock, and another foot upon quicksand, will sink and perish as certainly as he that stands with both feet on quicksand.”

In other words we may put some trust in God, but at other times we go it alone!

So how do we 'trust in the Lord with our whole heart'? It's simple really, or so it seems. We take everything to God before we carry out any action, rather than making all kinds of plans and starting a project only to realise we haven't actually 'touched base with God'.

Lord God,
as a child looks to their parent
for providence and protection,
give us the strength
to trust you wholly and completely,
not just occasionally,
but in every circumstance,
and throughout our life.
Amen.