Proverbs 3:1-4 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
God loves life. He desires to pour out blessings. When I ignore God’s wisdom and make foolish, self-centered choices it only leads to misery and self-destruction. But if I marinate in God’s wisdom – studying the Bible daily and putting it into practice – he promises to prolong my life and bring prosperity. In addition to gaining wisdom, God wants me to grow in love and faithfulness. If I do, he promises favor and a good name – not only in his sight but in the eyes of others. I experienced this very tangibly when I retired from P&G several years ago. An embarrassingly large number of fellow employees, direct reports, and bosses celebrated my career and spoke well of me. I saw that God used me to impact many lives for good and, despite a few who despised me for being an outspoken Christian, that God gave me a good name across 24 years at one company. He continues to do that in my job today.
Father, thank you for access to your Word and the rich wisdom you offer within its pages. May my life always reflect Christ. Please use me to win souls and to make disciples, to seize every opportunity. Holy Spirit, fill me and give me your courage today.