There’s an old Woody Allen movie called Love and Death, set in 18th-century Russia, starring Allen (Boris) and Diane Keaton (Sonja). It’s a comedy about a neurotic soldier and his distant cousin who formulate a plot to assassinate Napoleon.
In one scene, Boris walks past Sonja’s room. He hears voices and stops to inquire.
Boris: “I heard voices.”
Sonja: “I was praying.”
Boris: “I heard two voices.”
Sonja: “I do both parts.”
How many of us are like Sonja and do both parts? We talk to God—and then we tell Him what the answer should be.
In Proverbs 3:5–6, one of the most searched and shared passages of Scripture, the wise man offers a very different perspective on our relationship with God:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
There are five essential lessons we can learn from the wise man.
(1) Trust God.
We live in a world where trust is lacking. Many people don’t trust politicians. Big corporations. Or even preachers and churches. A recent AP poll once indicated a general lack of trust among Americans toward one another, with nearly two-thirds saying “you can’t be too careful” in dealing with other people.
Trust has to do with confidence, conviction, and assurance. When we trust someone, we believe in their integrity, rely on their word, and live in hope of their promises.
The famous preacher Dwight L. Moody once said, “Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you. Trust in money, and it may be taken from you. Trust in your reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it. But trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.”
(2) Give God your whole heart.
The Bible uses the word heart to refer to a person’s entire being. It includes our feelings and emotions—but it is more than that. It involves our will, our intellect, and our conscience.
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).
“All your heart” means totality. Your whole life. Your entire purpose and reason for living wrapped up in Him.
We understand this kind of commitment when we take our marriage vows and say, “forsaking all others…” That means our whole heart. That’s what God desires.
(3) Give up your human wisdom.
Trusting God with your whole heart finally says, “You were never meant to do this on your own.” Human knowledge is limited. Worldly wisdom is often flawed. Fleshly feelings can be deceptive.
Without God, we lack eternal perspective. Our view is dim, and our insight is confined by our narrow range of experience.
May we say with the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation” (Isa. 12:2).
(4) Acknowledge God.
Recognize the power of God. Admit the supremacy of God. Defer to the wisdom of God. Receive the goodness of God. Submit to the authority of God. Experience the love of God. And accept the answers of God.
How? In all your ways. Every day. In every way.
(5) Follow God’s path.
Ultimately, our trust in God, our acceptance of Him, and our wholehearted commitment will lead us to follow His voice—not our own.
In the words of the songwriter Ernest W. Blandy,
“Where He leads me, I will follow.
I will go with Him, with Him, all the way.”
Don’t do both parts. Talk to God. Then listen to His answers—and to His Word.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
(Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in January 2016 and is being reblogged this week while I focus on some special sermon preparation. Though written 10 years ago, its message remains timeless. BTW, these original posts have been edited by Grammarly and ChatGPT. #2016)
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