3:3 Two important character qualities are mercy and truthfulness. Both involve actions as well as attitudes. A merciful person not only feels love, he also acts responsibly and faithfully. A truthful person not only believes the truth, he also works for justice for others. Thoughts and words are not enough—our lives reveal whether we are truly merciful and truthful. Do your actions measure up to your attitudes?
3:5, 6 When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone—not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide; and then follow God’s leading.
3:6 To receive God’s guidance, said Solomon, we must acknowledge God in all we do. About a thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? Where is God on that list? What is his advice? Make him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
3:9, 10 Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford to donate anything, they do so. These people may be sincere and contribute willingly, but their attitude is nonetheless backward. It is better to give God the first part of our income. This demonstrates that God, not possessions, has first place in our lives and that our resources belong to him (we are only managers of God’s resources). Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, helps us properly manage God’s resources, and opens us to God’s special blessings.
3:11, 12 Correction is a vital part of discipline, and discipline means “to teach and to train.” Discipline sounds negative to many people because some disciplinarians are not loving. God, however, is the source of all love. He doesn’t punish us because he enjoys inflicting pain but because he is deeply concerned about our development. He knows that in order to become morally strong and good, we must learn the difference between right and wrong. His loving discipline enables us to do this.
3:11, 12 It’s difficult to know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later. Not every calamity that happens to us comes directly from God, of course. But if we rebel against God and refuse to repent when he has identified some sin in our lives, God may use guilt, crises, or bad experiences to bring us back to him. Sometimes, however, difficult times come when we have no flagrant sin. Our response then should be patience, integrity, and trust that God will show us what to do.
3:13-15 How do people become successful in their family life, in business, or in athletics? By hard work and consistent discipline. The Christian life is much the same. Some people think it takes too much work, but achieving anything worthwhile requires hard work. Being a Christian is not a shortcut to an easy life. When you search for wisdom, working hard at living as God asks, you discover that no worldly success can compare with the joy of knowing God.
3:16, 17 Proverbs has many strong statements about the benefits of wisdom, including long life, wealth, honor, and peace. If you aren’t experiencing them, does that mean you are short on wisdom? Not necessarily. Instead of guarantees, these statements are general principles to make us think. In a perfect world, wise behavior would always lead to these benefits. Even in our troubled world, living wisely usually results in obvious blessings—but not always. Sometimes sin intervenes, and some blessings must be delayed until Jesus returns to establish his eternal Kingdom. That is why we must “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We can be sure that wisdom ultimately leads to blessing.
3:21 What is the difference between wisdom and discretion? Discretion is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices. Wisdom, however, he gives only to those who follow him. Wisdom includes discretion, but goes beyond it. It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction, training, and discipline; the understanding that comes through discernment; and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truths.
3:27, 28 It is easy to get into debt and hard to get out of it. Unfortunately, debt owed to a friend can destroy trust and divide even the best of friends. Delaying the payback is unfair, not just inconvenient. Be as eager to repay your loans as you were to get them, and pay them back ahead of schedule, if possible.
3:30 This verse implies that there is a time for fighting. Injustice must be combated, sin resisted, and evil confronted wherever it appears. But don’t waste time and energy on needless fights, arguing about trivial matters or personal inconvenience. Save your energy for the real battles against sin and God’s enemies.