Message by Rev. Bob Laning
November 12, 2023
Proverbs 3:1-10
TODAY WE WILL TALK ABOUT OUT NEED FOR SECURITY AND HOW GOD PROVIDES IT FOR US.
A. TO BEGIN WITH, WE RECOGNIZE OUR BUILT-IN NEED FOR SECURITY
– Can’t avoid it
– Crave a feeling of peace no matter what the circumstances. Especially during hard times.
– It is why we worry.
– It is why we work hard for good grades in school or want the best job.
– It is why we plan for the future.
B. IN NAVIGATING THROUGH LIFE, WE WILL ALWAYS TRUST IN SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. We hope this person or thing will provide the security we crave.
- Involves trust in someone or something can’t avoid this either. Must trust in something/someone.
- Faith / trust in God actually works in leading a confident, peaceful, secure life
C. BRING GOD INTO OUR DECISIONS, AND HE HAS PROMISED TO BRING US THROUGH. HE WILL SHOW US WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO GO.
This is not new, but I need to be reminded that God is my security many times. Especially when life and people don’t make sense.
Let’s go further.
- First, we must understand that God approaches us totally from love. The Father says we can call him “Abba,” which means Daddy. Jesus died for us because of His love for us. The Holy Spirit constantly prays for us because He loves us.
- NEXT, WE HAVE TO FEEL SECURE AND WILL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, TO FEEL THAT WAY.
- This is what can make us workaholics or …
- It’s the way we’re made. It’s built-in. Try not striving to feel secure.
- It is why we work hard for good grades in school or want the best job. I studied very hard in college and grad school.
- It is why we plan for the future. For my adult working years, I saved money each paycheck into a 401K for retirement.
- It is why we go to the doctor. We want to make sure we are healthy to do the things we want to accomplish. And if we are sick, we want to be healed.
- Life is very difficult to navigate. We don’t understand which way to go. We go through life trying to understand all things. This can bring lots of insecurity.
3. WE WILL TRUST SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TO PROVIDE OUR SECURITY.
- WHAT IS FAITH / TRUST? What does it mean to trust someone or something?
- (Hebrews 11:1) 11 Now faith is confidence (the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution. confidence, firm trust, assurance) in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. It’s an expectation that something or someone will come through and not let us down.
- It means having an expectation that something or someone will come through no matter what.
- We expect that the sun will rise tomorrow (except in winter in western Michigan) 🙂
- We expect that while driving the cars in the opposite lane will not swerve into your lane.
- We expect that when we are flying in a plane it won’t fall out of the sky.
4. WE ALL KNOW THE NORMAL THINGS WE TRUST FOR SECURITY. THESE CAN BE GOOD THINGS TO STRIVE FOR, BUT NOT TRUST WITH OUR SECURITY.
- The thought that money can buy me happiness and security pensions and 401Ks. Strive to be debt-free. I am fortunate to have a pension from the years that I worked as a federal prison chaplain.
- Things. Enough things, best, newest, the latest technology.
- People–friends, family, teachers, even clergy
- Government–social security, politicians (presidential candidates) promise security.
- Cameras are everywhere. On the streets, in homes, doorbells with video
- If I get the perfect job with the perfect company, I will be secure for the rest of my life.
- Best School / degree to provide security.
5. THESE ARE ALL WORTHWHILE AND VALUABLE, BUT DON’T TRUST THEM FOR SECURITY BECAUSE THEY DON’T WORK PERFECTLY,
- Can lose job for various reasons
- Governments can cut programs
- People will always at some point let us down and break promises.
- The perfect school might not admit us.
- Marriages end in divorce or death or far away jobs. Families are not perfect.
- Our physical health can break down.
6. GOD SAYS WE CAN TRUST (EXPECT) HIM TO COME THROUGH EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
- Difficult to trust someone we can’t see, touch, or feel.
- What if it looks like He has let us down in the past? What if we did all the right things, and life still is difficult? What do we do in a job loss? If our sickness isn’t getting better? Our marriage is still not working?
- Sometimes He has something different in mind for us than we thought or desired.
- Have the same expectancy as with the sun rising each day, or that a chair will hold you up. Expect God to come through, in His time and His way.
7. AS WE BRING GOD INTO OUR DECISION-MAKING AND EVERYDAY LIVES (acknowledge him, Proverbs 3:6)
- In each situation, I have found that when I ask God what to do and how to do it, I get creative ideas and thoughts.
- He brings me to Bible verses that apply.
- I ask other people for advice. God uses spouses, friends, co-workers, and others to lead us.
- On tests, He helps us to think and recall information.
- He opens and closes doors.
- He provides money when and where we need it. Nancy and I have experienced the stretching of budgets. We were at various times able to pay bills when our checkbook said that we didn’t have the money. And we never bounced a check (when we still wrote checks). 🙂
- As Nancy and I moved from Miami where I worked as a chaplain, he helped Nancy and me to sort out our journey to Holland from Miami, upon my retirement.
- He worked out every cost, obstacle, and situation for us to move to Holland for our retirement.
- This is not a promise of an easy life. We’ll be taken out of our comfort zones.
- There are and will be hardships and uncertainty. This is where faith in God can get very difficult. What we see contradicts what God has promised.
- But Proverbs 3:5 says not to depend on what circumstances or people look or think or feel like. God is still working. He has promised to work everything out for our good. (Romans 8:28).
- We acknowledge and worship God even when circumstances are difficult. We expect Him to come through in His own way, in His own time.
8. SOME COMMON SENSE GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR SECURITY FROM PROVERBS 3
- Turn from evil. Be aware of activities that would lead to a destructive slippery slope.
- Reasonably give money away to be financially secure! This will keep wealth in proper perspective. Money is good. We can’t do without it. However, don’t let money become our main priority at the expense of God. (Money is a root of all kinds of evil) Don’t live beyond our means. Be wise with your finances.
- Proverbs 3:7) Don’t be wise in your own eyes, but always be open to helpful criticism and suggestions. This also helps to improve physical health.
- Proverbs 3:3-4) Love and faithfulness (dependability) bring favor on the job and with other people. This works on the job, in relationships, and generally, in life. Showing love has positive effects. Be dependable and reliable on the job. Bring love to your relationships.
9. ANOTHER RELATED BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
- Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- thank God for his answers, provision, security, etc. Thank and worship Him when things are not going well. It shows that we trust Him.
- Tell God what we and others need.
- This will somehow bring a feeling of peace and security. I don’t understand it but it has worked for me.
SOOOOO….
- The need for security is built in. We have to feel secure, and will do what we need to feel secure.
- We will trust in something or someone to provide us the craved security.
- Trusting anything or anyone except God, won’t ultimately work. It will somehow fail.
- If we expect God to come through, and ask His direction, guidance, and provision for every step, He will come through at the best time and way.
- Not an easy thing to do, but it will make life more exciting and fulfilling.
- We truly can worry less!