THE BIBLE SANDWICH
Proverbs 3:5-10 NLT
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
The title of this devotional was intentional. I am taking some license here when I talk about the Bible sandwich, so bear with me.
This third chapter of Proverbs has some of the most quoted verses of all the Proverbs. Verses 5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” I know Joy has used these verses for years, helping our staff as they learn to meditate the Scriptures. These are two great verses to live by. So are verses 9-10, “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.” These verses are some of the ones I quote when teaching on being a good manager of our money. I have quoted these verses and taught on these verses for years and will continue to do so they are excellent. Those are the bread verses that make up our sandwich.
Now, to the middle part of the sandwich. Verses 7-8: “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Here are verses that I have not quoted nearly enough yet they are a very vital part of our biblical sandwich. Verses 5-6 speak of how we are to trust the Lord and acknowledge Him. Then, He directs and guides us. Those are important blessings. Verses 9-10 talk about honoring the Lord with our finances and how when we put Him first He honors us and brings increase into our lives. And no one is balking at that. But verses 7-8 talk to us about relinquishing the human pride that trips us up. And out of respect for the Lord, we turn away from evil. This is certainly challenging but it also comes with blessings.
Out of respect for the Lord, we turn away from all things evil. The benefit is not reduction of fun, but health and strength for our bodies. I am not sure why I have not quoted these verses just as much as the verses that speak to trusting the Lord and honoring the Lord. But strength and health are vitally important. This is why I called this the Bible sandwich. These verses are covering some of the key components of our life. There is instruction here that tells us how to trust, how to honor, and how to respect and fear the Lord. And there are promises here that offer us direction, guidance, increase, health, and strength. How good is that!!
I can quote verses 5-6 and 9-10 by heart in the New King James Version. I am going to memorize verses 7-8. I want the whole sandwich.
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for the wisdom You have provided in Your word. And thank You for the wonderful promises that elevate my life.