I recently posted a poll on Proverbs 3:5-6. Many of you will be familiar with this passage as most of us have either heard it or said it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
My poll question concerned the extent of its application (see below for the poll results). I’ve heard this passage quoted so many times for so many different reasons that it prompted me to examine its meaning and consequently the extent of its application. My poll asked if Proverbs 3:5-6 has an unlimited application or limited application. In other words, if we trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding in anything does God make our paths straight? Or does the passage say something like trust in the Lord with all our heart in a particular situation and God will make our paths straight?
Results
The results of the poll: 69 people voted (I added 13 votes from a previous poll on the same question; 92% of which believed Prov 3:5-6 has an unlimited application).
80% (56 votes) claim Prov. 3:5-6 has an unlimited application (in other words, if the Christian trusts in the Lord for anything God will guide their path).
09% (6 votes) claim Prov. 3:5-6 has a limited application (in other words, if the Christian trusts in the Lord for something specific God will guide their path).
11% (7 votes) claim they didn’t know to what extent Prov. 3:5-6 could be applied.
So What?
You may be thinking, so what? Well, it matters because we need to be true to the intent of the inspired author if we want the blessing of God’s truths in Scripture. We are not the inspired author, so we must try to maintain, to the best of our ability, the inspired author’s intent. If we truly believe that Scripture is God-inspired, then we must be seeking the inspired truth, not just something we think it says or want it to say. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
I think all Bible-believing Christians can affirm that we want God’s truth, not our own best guess at it. The Bible is clear that “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” Therefore, we must seek and submit to its inspired revelation. We cannot add to it or take away from it, just as Deuteronomy 4:2 claims: “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.”
Context of Proverbs 3:5-6
Okay, let’s get on with it. Proverbs 3:5-6, like any passage, has a context that we must be cognizant of. The context of Proverbs 3:5-6 lies within 3:1-12. It is a fairly short passage, so give it a quick read.
1My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.4So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; 10So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. 11My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, 12For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:5-6 falls within three paragraphs that make up 3:1-12. Let me summarize each section.
- if you desire a peaceful decision (vv. 1-4),
- your life’s moral decisions need to be entrusted to God’s guidance with all your heart (vv. 5-7),
- and your obedience to His guidance will be the proof that you desire this type of moral lifestyle (vv. 9-12),
- thus, a peaceful decision will be the result (vv. 1-4).
Consider this summary of Proverbs 3:1-12: In making a moral decision, place your trust and obedience in the Lord and He will properly guide you, and your obedience will be the proof that you trust in God’s direction; consequently, you will have peace in your decision.
Extent of Application for Proverbs 3:5-6
The results of our poll contradict this interpretation by an astounding margin. 80% claimed Proverbs 3:5-6 has an unlimited application, 09% claimed it has a limited application, and 11% didn’t know to what extent it could be applied.
*The context of 3:5-6 concerns moral decision-making. Christian, when you have a moral decision to make, you must trust in the Lord with all of your heart and your obedience to Him will bring about a peaceful decision.
Say you are questioning a moral decision. By God’s grace, His Spirit has prompted you, maybe even convicted you, about some moral situation in your life, but you don’t know what to do. How far can I engage intimately with him or her before marriage? Should I drink alcohol and if so how much? Should I divulge all of my income to the government for tax purposes? Can I bet even if it’s only $5 on black? Do I share my Coke at lunch with my wife because I get endless refills or should I buy my own? You may have to come up with your own moral dilemma, but hopefully you get the gist.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is telling you that you need to entrust your moral dilemma and outcome to God. Not all of our moral dilemmas are going to be a struggle. We know robbing a bank is wrong and we shouldn’t do it, but sometimes things aren’t so clear. When you approach that moral dilemma, Proverbs 3:5-6 is telling you that if you desire God’s will for your decision, you need to entrust your moral dilemma to Him with all your heart and then move by faith in what His Word says to do and peace will be the result. Divulge that extra income even though it’s going to put you in a tough financial spot because God will provide. Pay for that Coke even if you don’t think the burger company needs more money because God’s Word says it’s stealing. Your obedience to God’s will for your particular situation will make your paths straight and you will have peace in your decision. God will give you the right answer when you seek Him diligently, you need to follow it, and the outcome will be straight paths and peace for that particular decision even if on the front end it doesn’t make sense.
Conclusion
Consider the context when you read any Bible passage — it’s vital to properly understanding and applying God’s Word. Otherwise, Scripture can often be used in a very damaging way. Unless there’s some moral dilemma, Proverbs 3:5-6 is not a passage to be used with someone who is struggling with a prodigal child. It is not to be used when somebody’s trying to determine which school to go to or which job to take. It is not to be used when someone has some sort of health struggle. If we fire off Proverbs 3:5-6 without deeply considering our friend’s situation and whether they’re in a moral dilemma, the implication is that they aren’t trusting God in life’s struggles. I’ve seen Proverbs 3:5-6 used in just this way — trust me it’s damaging to our brothers and sisters when used out of context.
Consider Proverbs 3:5-6 the next time you enter a moral dilemma. Entrust your moral challenge to God with all your heart and be obedient to God’s will in Scripture for that particular dilemma. If you do, God will make your paths straight and bring peace upon your decision.
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Dan Naulty says
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Blessings,
Dan