Do You Possess Good Understanding?
Proverbs 3:3-4, "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."
The Hebrew word God used in Proverbs 3:4 translated "good understanding" is found in the Bible sometimes translated discretion, knowledge, prudence, sense, wisdom, or wise.
1. Without good understanding, we make decisions without considering the consequences. We fulfill an immediate gratification, a desire, a lust for something we wanted to do without ever thinking about the effect of what we are doing. People who possess understanding have an insight into what happens, and they apply that to their decisions because they can see not just what is now, but also what is going to happen.
2. Too many people are satisfied knowing words without understanding. This is a problem for anyone, you can get knowledge or information on your own, but good understanding comes from the Lord. Simply knowing what the Bible says is not enough to successfully navigate through life. God makes it clear to us that no understanding that we have in spiritual matters is inherent within ourselves. Proverbs 1:5 says, "A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel."
3. Solomon followed his own advice about the importance of understanding. When Solomon was still a teenager, he became the king of Israel. 1 Kings 3:5 says, "... the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said ask what I shall give thee?" What would you ask for first? What is most important to you to receive from God? When Solomon was presented with the opportunity to ask anything from God, why did he ask for understanding rather than something else? It is unusual for us to be given that opportunity and not to ask for things like power, money, long life, or many other things. However, Solomon asked for understanding, and his motivation was to be the right kind of king.
4. Solomon wanted to have the same kind of relationship with God as David his father. This principal of emulation of our heroes is so important. A person's heroes will tell where he is presently in life and the direction he is heading. Our heroes ought to be men and women who are God's servants. There is no higher calling in life than to be the servant of God.
To have the greatest biblical influence in a person's life we must possess divine understanding. May we seek "good understanding" through prayer and bible study.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
PONDER & MEDITATE
1. Have you made decisions without considering the consequences? Why?
2. Who must you depend upon if you are going to increase in understanding? What will you do to help this happen?
3. If you had the opportunity to ask God for whatever, for what would you ask and why?
4. What one person would you like to follow here on earth? What have they done to have such a high place in your life?