A Message From Proverbs 3
Here’s 10 New Years Resolutions from Proverbs chapter 3. I went through them and modernized the terms using the Message Bible and posted the Resolutions on My Business Blog in a Message entitled “Don’t Assume You know it All .
The Message Bible verse references are listed below this article.
10 New Years Resolutions for The Wise
Resolution 1- Let Love and Faithfulness Never Leave You
V 3-4
Resolution 2- Trust in The Lord with All Your Heart
V 5-6
Resolution 3- Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Resolution 4- Honor The Lord With Your Wealth
9 Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
This starts with tithing – God’s Law of harvest.
Resolution 5 Do Not Despise The Lord’s Discipline
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Resolution 6. Search Diligently For Wisdom and Find it
V 13-24
1. Wisdom comes from INFORMATION
2. KNOW-HOW- Knowledge is a key component of Wisdom
Resolution 7- Have No Fear
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Resolution 8- Do Not Withhold Good From Those Who Deserve It
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” — when you now have it with you.
Resolution 9- Do Not Plot Harm Against Your Neighbor
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse a man for no reason — when he has done you no harm.
Resolution 10 Do Not Envy a Violent Man or Choose His Ways
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. inherit honour, but fools he holds up to shame.
Proverbs 3 (The Message)
Don’t Assume You Know It All
1-2 Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
a long life lived full and well.
3-4 Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.
5-6 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
7 Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
8. Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
9-10 Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
11-12 But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.
13-24 The Very Tree of Life is Wisdom
13-18 You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom,
when you make friends with Madame Insight.
She’s worth far more than money in the bank;
her friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
With one hand she gives long life,
with the other she confers recognition.
Her manner is beautiful,
her life wonderfully complete.
She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.
Hold her tight—and be blessed!
19-20 With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth;
with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface,
and dew to descend from the night skies.
Never Walk Away
21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
25-26 No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
27-28 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time”
or “Try me tomorrow”
when the money’s right there in your pocket.
29-30 Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
always spoiling for a fight.
31-32 Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
Why be a bully?
“Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls.
It’s the straightforward who get his respect.
33-35 God’s curse blights the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor;
stupid living gets the booby prize.