Six Traits You Want In Your Life - 1. Obedience - Proverbs 3:1-2 - Quick Observations
Quick links to the passage: KJV NKJV NASB NIV
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Obedience, to some of us, seems like such an overbearing issue. A lot of people struggle with authority that has been placed over them, especially when it has been a difficult, or even possibly an abusive, issue in the past. I met someone recently that caused me to think about my issues of obedience.
My son had to go to the children’s ward of the hospital last month because of a medical condition he has. I am not going to go into all the details of that at the moment. There was another little boy there also who was missing his left leg just above the knee. When my son and I were in the common play area for the children’s ward, the boy shared with me what had happened to him. He was involved in a lawnmower accident. My heart when out to him. I thought about how much his future in now altered because of this incident. Then I remembered how much my father would warn me of the dangers of the lawnmower when he told me to cut the lawn. I must admit, I was weary of his advice over and over again. But if I did not obey what my father was telling me, that could have been me when I was younger.
Notice in the passage that Solomon asks obedience in two ways.
First, he says for his son to not forget his law (verse 1a). This implies that his son has been informed what has been required of him by his father. This is the first aspect of obedience: the instruction or command. The one in authority must communicate what is expected of those he or she is responsible for. Obedience cannot happen without the information to be obedient to. Those who are receiving the instructions or commands must listen to what is given them.
Second, Solomon tells his son to keep his commands (verse 1b). This implies action that is required in accordance to the instructions or commands. This is the second aspect of obedience: compliance. This is the fundamental choice of the one under authority to do what is required.
Notice now the benefits of obedience as a life trait in verse 2. There are two listed here. This first is protection. The one who obeys will have length of days and long life. Your life will not be cut short or limited because of the protection of obeying to keep you safe. Second is peace. The one who obeys will find that peace is in his life.
If you struggle with obedience to authority, whether it is your parents, your boss, your government, or God Himself, consider the benefits of obedience and then listen and keep the things required of you.
