Two foundational commitments

Greenland is the world’s largest island. It is also the site of one of history’s great real estate scams. Eric the Red was a Viking who was forced to leave his homeland. In 982 AD he sailed west and arrived at a new land. He discovered what we call today Greenland. His discovery was a terribly bleak land. Eighty-five percent of the island is covered in a thick coating of ice. Eric the Red didn’t want to live there by himself. He wanted to encourage others to live there also. Who would live in such a difficult, desolate place? His solution was to name the island Greenland!

The Icelanders bought his ploy hook, line and sinker. In fact, 25 boats filled with 500 settlers quickly made the journey from Iceland to Greenland. Eleven of the boats were lost on the journey. Those who arrived discovered it was not what they expected. They should have read the fine print. Many people today follow the wrong authority. They build their lives on the wrong foundation and the results are devastating.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 Solomon deals with the question of ultimate authority. God, through Solomon, points us to the proper foundation for our lives. Solomon, in Proverbs 3:5-6, reveals two foundational commitments every person must make. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “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.”

The first commitment is that we must accept God’s Word as our final authority. We dare not trust our own wisdom. We must rest in God’s wisdom. Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding….” (Proverbs 3:5). Trust means “to put your complete weight on something.” It means to rely on something. In this context it means to lean completely upon the Lord (Yahweh). We dare not trust human wisdom as our final authority. Evolution, postmodernism, naturalism, pluralism and humanism are all dead ends.

Note the contrast with the second half of the verse. “…and do not lean on your own understanding…” (verse 5) We are not to lean on human understanding. Solomon is not discounting the importance of sound thinking. Our abilities to think and reason are gifts from God but Solomon is talking about ultimate authority. Later in Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Do not be pushed into the mindset of the age in which you live.

The Bible must be the foundation of your life. You must trust God’s Word on everything. The Scripture is God’s supernatural revelation that points toward Jesus. The Bible is the perfect standard.

The second commitment is that we must obey God’s Word in our daily lives. Proverbs 3:6 reads, “…in all your ways acknowledge Him…” The Hebrew word for ways refers to a path or rut. Ancient wagon wheels or feet cut ruts into the ground. They passed over the same ground again and again. Metaphorically, it refers to the habits and patterns of our lives. We must obey the Bible.

Solomon ends with an amazing promise. “…in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” “Straight paths” is not a promise for an easy life. It is speaking of morally straight or spiritually straight. If you accept the Bible as your final authority and obey the Bible you will live a life that pleases God. There is only one path to God and it is through Jesus. Jesus died for our sins. He lived a perfect life. The penalty for our sins was placed upon Jesus. Through repentance and faith in Christ we can have eternal life! The Bible commands us to believe the gospel (1 John 3:23). Trust in the Lord Jesus today.

There are many people today like Eric the Red. They come to steal, kill and destroy. God is true (Romans 3:4). He is trustworthy and reliable. The person who builds their life on the words of Jesus will never be disappointed (Matthew 7:24-25). When the storm of God’s judgment comes they will stand strong!

Ethan Hansen is the pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.